Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 4 March 2011 Volume 62, 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 .....................................................................309 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ........................................................................313 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ......................................................................................320 Department of Education ............................................................................................................331 Department for Employment and Learning ....................................................................................371 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ..........................................................................383 Department of the Environment ...................................................................................................388 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................396 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................400 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................419 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................427 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................439 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 Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCallister, John (South Down) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Bannside, The Lord (North Antrim) 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) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bradley, P J (South Down) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Callaghan, Pól (Foyle) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) 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) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Empey, The Lord (East Belfast) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Ford, David (South Antrim) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gibson, Simpson (Strangford) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) South Tyrone) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Weir, Peter (North Down) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 4 March 2011 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 4 March 2011 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Inland Watercourses and Waterways Mr Pól Callaghan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to list the Departments and agencies which have a statutory role in the management or control of (i) inland watercourses and waterways; and (ii) coastal marine environments. (AQW 2913/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The Department of Environment including the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development including the Rivers Agency, the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and the Department for Social Development have a statutory role in the management or control of inland waterways and watercourses. The Department of Environment including the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development including the Rivers Agency and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure also have a statutory role in relation to coastal marine environments. Social Protection Fund and Social Investment Fund Mr R Beggs asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of the creation of the Social Protection Fund and the Social Investment Fund, for an assessment of how they will avoid the deflection of funds away from similar schemes designed to address deprivation, such as the Department for Social Development’s Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. (AQW 3792/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Social Investment Fund and the Social Protection Fund will be additional and complementary to existing programmes including the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. Ensuring this will be a key consideration as the schemes continue to be developed. Budget for the Play and Leisure Policy Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of their Department’s draft budget and savings plans, what is the new budget for the Play and Leisure Policy; and for their assessment of how the Play and Leisure Implementation Plan will be taken forward with a budget of £0.55m per year. (AQW 3804/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Play and Leisure Policy and Play and Leisure Implementation Plan are cross-departmental matters and all Government Departments have individual responsibility for relevant actions detailed within the Plan. It is for individual Ministers to address the actions which are specific to their Department and to ensure that the associated resources are in place to deliver on their commitments. The Budget is out for public consultation and the final figure allocated to Play & Leisure has not yet been decided. The WA 309 Friday 4 March 2011 Written Answers £0.55m you refer to relates to savings within the budget for the Play and Leisure Policy. However, the actions remaining within the Plan for OFMDFM will require minimal resources and the savings will not impact on our ability to deliver on those actions. The impending budget cuts were fully recognised during the development of the Implementation Plan. Nonetheless, we will continue to closely monitor the delivery of the plan so that any potential issues can be identified and addressed at an early stage. Investment Strategy and the Programme for Government Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the Investment Strategy and the Programme for Government will be published for consultation, given that the Department of Finance and Personel’s guidance states that they should have been published alongside the draft Budget. (AQW 3805/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: Our officials have been working with departments over the past number of months on a draft Programme for Government and we, together with our Executive colleagues, need to consider the most opportune timing for consulting