Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 12 November 2010 Volume 57, 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 .....................................................................205 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ........................................................................206 Department of Education ............................................................................................................207 Department for Employment and Learning ....................................................................................225 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ..........................................................................229 Department of the Environment ...................................................................................................232 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................239 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................254 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................257 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................262 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................267 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission .......................................................................................273 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 Adams, Gerry (West Belfast) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Bannside, The Lord (North Antrim) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Bradley, P J (South Down) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) McNarry, David (Strangford) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Easton, Alex (North Down) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Ford, David (South Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Gibson, Simpson (Strangford) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) South Tyrone) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Brian (North Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Vacancy (Foyle)* * Vacancy due to the resignation of Mark Durkan on 9 November 2010 Friday 12 November 2010 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 12 November 2010 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Miss M McIlveen asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the value for money provided by, and the effectiveness of, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People since its establishment in 2003. (AQW 1828/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is the sponsoring body for the Commissioner for Children and Young People. In this role, we are obligated under Treasury guidance, the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum to carry out a review of the Commissioner every three years. The purpose of the review is to determine the value for money and the effectiveness and efficiency of the operation of the Commissioner within the legislative terms set out in the Commissioner for Children and Young People (NI) Order (2003). It also looks at how delivery of these services can be improved in the future. The first review of the Commissioner was carried out in 2007. A copy of the review report can be found on www.allchildrenni.gov.uk website. OFMDFM commissioned the second review of the Commissioner at the beginning of 2010. Information on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Commissioner will be detailed in the review report soon to be published. It would be premature to speculate at this time what the findings of the review will be. Comprehensive Spending Review Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister if they will make a statement to the Assembly on the implications for women of the Comprehensive Spending Review. (AQW 1837/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: As we outlined in our answer to AQW 1613/11, dated 4 November 2010, the implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement will be very challenging for all concerned. We will be doing everything we can to minimise its impact on Section 75 groups including women. As part of the outworkings of the budget process, departments will be paying due regard to their equality responsibilities and we will maintain this responsibility throughout our consideration of the Spending Review options and when making final budget decisions. Public Open Space Land Dr S Farry asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how much public open space land is owned by their Department and its associated bodies. (AQW 1912/11) WA 205 Friday 12 November 2010 Written Answers First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Department and its associated bodies do not currently own any public open space land. However, the objective of the Peace Bridge and Parade Ground contracts at the Ebrington Barracks site is to create a public space at this historic site. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Protection of Marine Environments Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in relation to the protection of marine environments, why her Department has yet to agree a position with the Department of the Environment on the boundaries of non-disturbance zones. (AQW 1647/11) Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): A position has been agreed with the Department of the Environment and my Department will now be bringing forward Regulations to establish sea fishing exclusion zones in the Lough. Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for her assessment of the threat to pig producers as a result of the Irish Government’s introduction of a Sow Housing Welfare scheme, set up under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS); and whether she has any plans togive