Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 25 June 2010 Volume 53, 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 .....................................................................121 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ........................................................................123 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ......................................................................................125 Department of Education ............................................................................................................129 Department for Employment and Learning ....................................................................................166 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ..........................................................................168 Department of the Environment ...................................................................................................174 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................180 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................183 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................195 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................216 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................226 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission .......................................................................................237 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) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCrea, Dr William (South Antrim) 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) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McNarry, David (Strangford) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Dodds, Nigel (North Belfast) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Easton, Alex (North Down) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Ford, David (South Antrim) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Paisley, Rev Dr Ian (North Antrim) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Paisley Jnr, Ian (North Antrim) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hay, William (Speaker) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Shannon, Jim (Strangford) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Simpson, David (Upper Bann) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Weir, Peter (North Down) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 25 June 2010 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill Mr P Ramsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they have any plans to meet with the Human Rights Commission in relation to the Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill before the summer recess. (AQW 7480/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): A meeting with the Human Rights Commission is being arranged by OFMDFM officials. Newtownards Castlebawn Development Project Mr J Dallat asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any contact they have had in the last four years with (i) the Planning Appeals Commission; or (ii) the Department of the Environment in the relation to the Newtownards Castlebawn development project. (AQW 7516/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) is an independent tribunal Non-Departmental Public Body which operates at arms length from Government and exercises its functions independently and free from influence by the Department or any other body. The Chief Commissioner is responsible for the financial, operational and administrative management of the Commission. OFMDFM holds sponsorship responsibility for the Commission and provides the financial and administrative support to the Commission but has no locus in planning appeal matters or referred work and has no operational remit. We have had no contact with the Planning Appeals Commission in relation to the Newtownards Castlebawn development project. Factual information on the status of this referral from DOE was sought at official level from the Commission during 2009 to inform responses to representations from local representatives. Responsibility for planning policy rests with the Department of the Environment (DOE). At our request in 2009, DOE provided information on its decision to refer this major planning application for public inquiry and the date and scope of the referral. This information was incorporated into our responses to representations by local representatives regarding the Castlebawn major planning application. In addition, we provided information to DOE to confirm our Department’s and the Chief Commissioner of the Planning Appeals Commission’s responsibilities in relation to the Castlebawn major planning application. Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Lord Morrow asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People; and to detail the main achievements to date. (AQW 7552/10) WA 121 Friday 25 June 2010 Written Answers First Minister and deputy First Minister: 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 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 whether the Commissioner’s Office continues to be the best way to deliver the services for which it is responsible; and if it is, 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