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Friday Volume 43 2 October 2009 No WA 4 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) CONTENTS Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister [p163] Department of Agriculture and Rural Development [p169] Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure [p179] Department of Education [p184] Department for Employment and Learning [p190] Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment [p197] Department of the Environment [p209] Department of Finance and Personnel [p219] Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety [p223] Department for Regional Development [p247] Department for Social Development [p276] Written Answers [p301] Revised Written Answers £5.00 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. 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For more information please contact the Northern Ireland Assembly, Printed Paper Office, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3XX Tel: 028 9052 1078 ASSEMBLY MeMBerS Adams, Gerry (West Belfast) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Dr William (South Antrim) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bradley, P J (South Down) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Brolly, Francie (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McNarry, David (Strangford) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Dodds, Nigel (North Belfast) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Donaldson, Jeffrey (Lagan Valley) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Paisley, Rev Dr Ian (North Antrim) Ford, David (South Antrim) Paisley Jnr, Ian (North Antrim) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hanna, Mrs Carmel (South Belfast) Robinson, Mrs Iris (Strangford) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Shannon, Jim (Strangford) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Simpson, David (Upper Bann) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) McCallister, John (South Down) Wells, Jim (South Down) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 2 October 2009 Written Answers NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY Friday 2 October 2009 Written Answers to Questions Office of the FirST MiniSter and depUTY FirST MiniSter Allegations of Child Abuse Mr D Simpson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister if, within the Department’s responsibilities relating to children and young people, they will seek a meeting with (i) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; (ii) the Chief Constable; and (iii) the Children’s Commissioner in order to press for a thorough investigation of allegations of child abuse in (a) St Patrick’s home on the Glen Road, Belfast; (b) Termonbacca in Londonderry; and (c) any care facility organised by (i) the Roman Catholic Church; (ii) any other church or religious organisation; and (iii) any care facility run by the state. (AQW 255/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): • The issue of child protection and the safeguarding of children is a key priority for all of us and an issue which impacts on the work of several departments in the devolved administration, as well as the Northern Ireland Office. • OFMDFM has recently published a major policy statement on Safeguarding Children which has brought together developments underway across the Northern Ireland Executive, NIO and Court Service. It has helped us to identify gaps and where further initiatives are required. • Regulation, inspection and provision of arrangements for vulnerable children here have been strengthened significantly over many years. An independent Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority has been established with statutory responsibility and powers to inspect services. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council, the independent public regulatory body for the social care workforce in Northern Ireland, is dedicated to improving and regulating standards of training and practice for social care workers. • Under current legislative procedures here, individuals who wish to work in a paid or unpaid capacity with children in a regulated position will be subject to pre-employment vetting procedures. New Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups legislation will be introduced next month to strengthen further protection for children in workplace situations. DHSSPS also intends to establish a regional Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland next year. This will strengthen further safeguarding arrangements within Northern Ireland. • In February 2008 the NSMC considered a paper on child protection and agreed that a cross-border group of officials from relevant departments would intensify co-operation on child protection and report progress to NSMC. The Executive has also proposed child protection as a new work stream within the British Irish Council. The Council has deferred a decision on the proposal pending the outcome of the various enquiries into the Baby P case, but has tasked officials to consider the matter. • We share concerns about allegations of abuse against children and want to see full investigations of any specific incidents take place. We would strongly urge if anyone has evidence of abuses committed within this jurisdiction against them, if they have not already done so, to bring it to the attention of the PSNI for investigation. We have agreed to put the issues that you have raised on the agenda of the next Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People for discussion. WA 163 Friday 2 October 2009 Written Answers Sexual Abuse of Children Mr D Simpson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister if their Department has had any discussions with the Children’s Commissioner regarding the question of sexual abuse of children in (i) any environment of trust organised by the Roman Catholic church; (ii) any environment of trust organised by any other church or religious organisation; (iii) any state run care environment. (AQW 291/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The issue of child protection and the safeguarding of children is a key priority for all of us and an issue which impacts on the work of several departments in the devolved administration, as well as the Northern Ireland Office. Because of the cross cutting nature of this issue and its direct link to the ‘living in safety and with stability’ aspect of the 10-year strategy for children and young people, we took the initiative to co-ordinate the development of the recently published Safeguarding Statement which pulls together the work of a number of departments. We worked closely with the Commissioner for Children and Young People on the development of the cross- departmental Safeguarding Statement but our Department has not been approached by the Commissioner regarding sexual abuse of children in any specific environment or organisation. Under current legislative procedures here, individuals who wish to work in a paid or unpaid capacity with children in a regulated position will be subject to pre-employment vetting procedures. New Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups legislation will be