Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 4 April 2014 Volume 94, No WA1 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 1 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ...................................................................... WA 2 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 14 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 19 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 24 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 31 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 35 Department of Finance and Personnel ..................................................................................... WA 51 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ........................................................... WA 54 Annex .................................................................................................................................... WA 56 Department of Justice ............................................................................................................ WA 72 Department for Regional Development ..................................................................................... WA 82 Department for Social Development ........................................................................................ WA 89 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 101 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) McCallister, John (South Down) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Alasdair (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and Cameron, Mrs Pam (South Antrim) South Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McKinney, Fearghal (South Belfast) 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 (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, Stephen (North Down) Milne, Ian (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) 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, Chris (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) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 4 April 2014 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Omagh Ethnic Community Support Group Mr McElduff asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the contribution of Omagh Ethnic Community Support Group to working towards a more cohesive community. (AQO 5113/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): We believe that the Omagh Ethnic Community Support Group has an important role to play in Omagh and the surrounding district in helping minority ethnic people to feel that they belong and in building good race relations and a more cohesive community. We are pleased to be providing financial support through the Minority Ethnic Development Fund to the Group. Our current funding commitment to the Group totals £45,000 for each of the two financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15. This funds two posts within the group to deliver a range of activities to foster a more cohesive community. Preventative Spending Mr McKay asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what consideration they have given to the need for preventative spending within their departmental budget. (AQW 31808/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Department has been investing in a number of preventative initiatives such as the Social Investment Fund, Delivering Social Change Framework, Childcare Strategy and Together: Building a United Community. St Lucia Barracks, Omagh Mr Hussey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, pursuant to AQO 5603/11-15, whether they have had any discussions with the (i) Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure over the establishment of a military museum and resource centre within the walled barracks; (ii) Minister for Social Development over uses that his Department may have for buildings outside the walled barracks, such as the housing adjacent to the former military buildings; and (iii) Minister of the Environment on possible relocation of his Department from its County Hall location to the barracks. (AQW 31998/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: OFMDFM currently owns a portion of the St Lucia site. Discussions are ongoing with MOD regarding the historic portion of the site which is still owned by MOD. We have not had discussions with the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure over the establishment of a military museum and resource centre within the historic walled barracks. Our officials are having ongoing discussions with officials in the Regional Development Office of the Department for Social Development and with the Housing Executive over uses for buildings on the site and outside the walled barracks including former military housing. WA 1 Friday 4 April 2014 Written Answers We have not had any discussions with the Minister of the Environment on possible relocation of his Department from its County Hall location to the barracks. Play and Leisure Policy Mr Sheehan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Play and Leisure Policy. (AQO 5827/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Executive’s Play and Leisure Policy Statement published in 2009 has been delivered through the Play and Leisure Implementation Plan which runs until 2016. Delivery against the Plan is progressing well. To further support the Implementation Plan and build on its achievements, Junior Ministers Bell and McCann announced on 8 October our agreement to invest up to £1.6 million over three years to enhance opportunities for play and leisure across Northern Ireland. This will be provided as a Signature Programme through the Delivering Social Change framework, details