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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 11 October 2013 Volume 88, 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 189 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 205 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 218 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 222 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 257 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 267 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 280 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 293 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 297 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 313 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 326 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 346 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) Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 11 October 2013 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Visit to the USA Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the total cost of their recent visit to the USA; and (ii) who accompanied them on their visit. (AQW 2637/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The cost of our delegation’s visit to the United States in September 2011 is broken down as follows: Flights £38,388.33 & $4,080.00 Accommodation £9,519.71 Car Hire $13,665.76 Subsistence £1,059.85 We were accompanied on our visit by five members of staff, two of whom are Special Advisers. Ulster Covenant Parade Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of the Parades Commission’s determination, for their assessment of the behaviour witnessed outside St. Patrick’s Church, North Belfast and St. Matthews Church, East Belfast during the Ulster Covenant Parade on 29 September 2012. (AQO 2653/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The right to assembly, the right to express cultural identity, the right to protest and the rights of those in and living in proximity to parades are at the heart of the proposals agreed at Hillsborough on parades and protests. We are convinced that the principles of mutual respect and tolerance are key to resolving the issue of disputed parades and counter-parades. Both paraders and protesters should behave in a respectable and dignified manner, and the rule of law should be observed. Departmental Press Office: Irish News Mr Flanagan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether their is a policy or understanding within their Department’s press office that not all Minister’s will engage with the Irish News. (AQW 18901/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: All OFMDFM press releases are distributed to all media outlets. We routinely undertake a broad range of interviews with all sections of the media, be it print, broadcast or online. Journalists are invited to departmental events. WA 189 Friday 11 October 2013 Written Answers Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy Mr D Bradley asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy. (AQO 3228/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Good Relations Strategy “Together: Building a United Community” is available online. Total Spend on Hospitality by the Department Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what was the total spend on hospitality by their Department in 2011/12. (AQW 19483/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The total spend on hospitality by our Department in 2011/12 was £160,864. A significant proportion of the Department’s hospitality spend relates to activities in the Department’s offices in Washington DC and Brussels. The role of these offices is to support Northern Ireland’s engagement with North America and the EU and to raise the positive profile of Northern Ireland. South America: Visit Mr Wells asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they plan to visit South America during 2013 to promote investment in Northern Ireland. (AQO 3350/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: As part of our work to build relationships with the world’s leading economies, we visited Brazil in March and undertook a programme of activities in São Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro to develop economic, political, educational, sporting, tourism and cultural links between Brazil and Northern Ireland. Our visit laid the foundations for a follow-up trade mission to Brazil in May which was led by our colleague, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Good Relations Indicators Update Mrs Overend asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the publication of the latest Good Relations Indicators Update. (AQO 3353/11-15) Mr P
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