Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 9 November 2012 Volume 79, No WA2 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 149 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 155 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 166 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 188 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 195 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 212 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 227 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 242 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 258 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 272 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 281 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 Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) Tyrone) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) McLaughlin, Ms Maeve (Foyle) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Durkan, Mark H (Foyle) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Easton, Alex (North Down) McNarry, David (Strangford) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Fearon, Ms Megan (Newry and Armagh) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ford, David (South Antrim) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hay, William (Speaker) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hazzard, Christopher (South Down) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) Friday 9 November 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 9 November 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Single Equality Bill Mr Swann asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the introduction of the Single Equality Bill. (AQW 13980/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): There are currently no plans to develop a Single Equality Bill here. Our Department continues to legislate in order to provide legal protection against discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity. European Union Events Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the jurisdictional issues arising from the suggestion that European Union events should be hosted in Northern Ireland under the aegis of the upcoming Irish Presidency of the European Council. (AQW 14553/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: We do not consider that any jurisdictional issues are likely to arise. Community Relations Council Mr Nesbitt asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) how many times since 2007 they have carried out reviews into the effectiveness of the Community Relations Council and (ii) how often the Community Relations Council has requested such a review. (AQW 14830/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The last review into the effectiveness of the Community Relations Council was in 2007. An effectiveness review has been the subject of discussion at quarterly liaison meetings with the Community Relations Council. We are currently considering all options for a review within the context of the development of the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy. Goal Line Youth, Portadown Mrs Dobson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) for their assessment of the contribution of Goal Line Youth, Portadown; (ii) whether they are aware of its present urgent funding needs which, if unmet, will lead to the organisation closing its doors on 31 October 2012; and (iii) what assistance their Department can provide to the organisation as it seeks to continue to meet the needs of over two hundred children, almost 50 percent of whom have special educational and disability needs. (AQW 14999/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Our Department has had no involvement or funding relationship with Goal Line Youth in Portadown and has no plans to fund this organisation. WA 149 Friday 9 November 2012 Written Answers We understand that the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) has provided core funding to the organisation since 2010/11 and there are no immediate plans to change this. Reinvestment and Reform Initiative Mr P Ramsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the current status, balance and priorities for the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. (AQW 15205/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Reinvestment and Reform Initiative (RRI) commenced implementation in 2002. Elements of the Initiative have since been subsumed into a number of key Executive programmes, including the Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland. The Programme for Government, which includes actions in relation to a number of former military sites previously included in the RRI, was published in March 2012 and the Investment Strategy, which outlines how the Executive will allocate its capital investment funding was published in October 2012. Under RRI, six former military sites were gifted to the Executive. The regeneration of the Maze/Long Kesh (2 sites) is being taken forward by the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation, the two initial projects being the building of a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre on the site and the sale of 65 acres of land to the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society who are moving the Balmoral Agricultural Show by 2013 and creating a new Centre of Rural Excellence at the site. The development of the Ebrington site is being delivered by the Urban Regeneration Company Ilex. OFMDFM is directly taking forward the development