Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 18 February 2011 Volume 62, 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 .........................................................................1 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ..........................................................................11 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ........................................................................................34 Department of Education ..............................................................................................................42 Department for Employment and Learning ......................................................................................61 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ............................................................................73 Department of the Environment .....................................................................................................95 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................109 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................122 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................136 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................141 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................163 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 18 February 2011 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 18 February 2011 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Presbyterian Mutual Society Savers Mr C Lyttle asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the number of older and infirm savers in the Presbyterian Mutual Society, what steps the Executive has taken to address the urgent and immediate needs of these savers; and when proposals will be forthcoming to solve this issue. (AQW 2865/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): Since the PMS went into administration in the autumn of 2008, Ministers have worked tirelessly to seek to resolve this matter. This has involved difficult and complex negotiations with a number of stakeholders. Considerable progress has now been made and it would appear that a satisfactory end is in sight. Resources have been secured from the Treasury in the form of a £175 million loan and a £25 million contribution to a Mutual Access Fund. The Executive’s draft budget also includes provision for the Executive’s contribution to the Mutual Access Fund. The money will be available in financial year 2011/12. The Executive has also now agreed a scheme which it is hoped will resolve the matter in a satisfactory manner. A number of outstanding issues remain but it is hoped these can be resolved in the coming weeks which will allow for payments to be made early in the new financial year 2011/12. As part of the solution it is hoped that PMS members with less than £20,000 will receive most, if not all, of their money back. Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they will consider making an examination of approaches to children’s budgeting a priority work area for the Ministerial Sub- Committee on Children and Young People. (AQW 3810/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: Since the delivery of services to children is a cross- cutting issue, it is intended to discuss children’s budgeting at the next meeting of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People, with particular reference to the National Assembly of Wales’ Committee for Children and Young People paper on children’s budgeting. Ministers will discuss approaches to children’s budgeting at this time. Maze / Long Kesh Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of the allocation of £21.38m to the Maze/Long Kesh site in their Department’s Budget and Savings Plans 2011-15, whether any WA 1 Friday 18 February 2011 Written Answers additional money would be required if the bid for EU funding for a Peace and Conflict Resolution Centre was successful; and if so, how much additional money would be needed. (AQW 3853/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The £21.38m is a four year capital allocation for the Maze/ Long Kesh site which will ensure the completion of the remediation work, and allow the work to start to provide internal and external transport infrastructure and utilities, vital to underpin investment. Development of the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre is at a very early stage therefore the costs are at present estimated. The total project cost is estimated at £20.7m made up of £18.2m (€20m) being sought from PEACE III Programme and an investment of £2.5m being sought from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre will be income generating primarily from rental of space, and from visitors and event fees. It is assessed that as demand grows by year 5 it would have the potential to operate at a surplus. Whilst this may be ambitious in terms of timescale, income to the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre is expected to over time allow the Centre to be self- sustaining. Initially, over the first four years of operation (2014/15 - 2017/18) some £0.5m pa