Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 28 June 2013 Volume 86, No WA3 This publication contains the written answers to questions tabled by Members. The content of the responses is as received at the time from the relevant Minister or representative of the Assembly Commission and has not been subject to the official reporting process or changed in any way. Contents Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister ............................................................... WA 301 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 304 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 308 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 347 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 359 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 368 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 377 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 380 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 386 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 408 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 418 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 467 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 477 Suggested amendments or corrections will be considered by the Editor. They should be sent to: The Editor of Debates, Room 248, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX. Tel: 028 9052 1135 · e-mail: [email protected] to arrive not later than two weeks after publication of this report. Assembly Members Agnew, Steven (North Down) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brown, Ms Pam (South Antrim) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Ms Maeve (Foyle) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Durkan, Mark H (Foyle) McNarry, David (Strangford) Easton, Alex (North Down) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Fearon, Ms Megan (Newry and Armagh) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Ford, David (South Antrim) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hay, William (Speaker) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hazzard, Christopher (South Down) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 28 June 2013 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 28 June 2013 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Key Skills and Employment Training: Young People with a Diverse Range of Needs Ms Fearon asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what funding is available from their Department for organisations who provide key skills and employment training for young people with a diverse range of needs. (AQW 22952/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): An important component of the ‘Together: Building a United Community’ Strategy, published on 23 May 2013, is the development of a ‘United Youth Programme’ focused on offering structured employment, work experience, volunteer and leisure opportunities to those young people who are not in either employment, education or training. Work is ongoing to progress this proposal across departments and full details of how the programme will operate and be delivered, including any potential funding opportunities, will be detailed in due course. We are also aware that a number of employability projects, including several aimed at increasing the skills and employment opportunities for young people, are included within the Area Plans submitted to the Department by the Social Investment Fund (SIF) Steering Groups. These projects are now being assessed through an internal economic appraisal and verification process prior to a decision on funding. In addition, funding is currently being provided to GEMS NI from the Minority Ethnic Development Fund to support its Minority Ethnic Employability Support Project. The project aims to improve the employability of minority ethnic individuals from a range of age groups including young people. European Union Nationals: National Insurance Numbers Mr Kinahan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what support is in place to help newly arrived European Union Nationals to attain National Insurance numbers, schooling and basic health support prior to January 2014. (AQW 22971/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Regional services tailored to meet the needs of European Union Nationals, have been set up by the Department of Education and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. These include the Northern Ireland New Entrant Service (NINES), designed to meet EU migrants’ health and social wellbeing needs and a newcomer pupils’ service to support curriculum access for school age children whose language is not English. In addition, the Social Security Agency offers face-to-face National Insurance application support to locals and EU migrants alike. WA 301 Friday 28 June 2013 Written Answers Maze Regeneration Board: Remuneration Arrangements Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQW 14065/11-15, to detail the remuneration arrangements for the members of the Maze Regeneration Board. (AQW 23184/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Chair of the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation receives up to £30k per annum plus expenses and Board Members £6k per annum plus expenses. Exemptions from Equality Legislation: Faith Groups Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what exemptions from equality legislation exist to protect faith groups. (AQW 23583/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Article 70 of the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 provides exceptions in relation to employment or occupation of clergy or Ministers of a religious denomination; and around any employment or occupation where the essential nature of the job requires it to be done by a person holding, or not holding, a particular religious belief. Dignity at Work Cases Mr Spratt asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how