Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 28 February 2014 Volume 92, 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 ............................................................... WA 157 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 161 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 176 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 184 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 196 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 202 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 209 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 217 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 224 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 248 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 251 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 28 February 2014 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Ilex Urban Regeneration Company Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether any advance payments have been made to Ilex Urban Regeneration Company office holders or members; and if so, when the payments were made and for what reason. (AQW 26650/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): Ilex has confirmed that no advance payments have been made by the company to office holders or members at any time. Good Relations: Funding Ms McCorley asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Central Good Relations Funding Programme. (AQO 5006/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Central Good Relations Funding Programme 2013/14 opened for applications on 4 October 2013, closed on 15 November 2013 and funding has been awarded to groups. The 2014/15 Central Good Relations Fund opened for applications on 22 November 2013 and closed at 4pm on 10 February 2014. The Fund supports productive, time bound projects which contribute to the promotion of good relations and to building a united and shared community as identified in the good relations strategy, Together: Building a United Community, published on 23 May 2013. Illegal Organisations: Government Funding Mr Dallat asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what action they are taking to ensure that illegal organisations, such as the IRA, UVF or UDA, do not benefit, directly or indirectly, from any government funding. (AQW 28729/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Our Department does not fund illegal organisations. OFMDFM undertakes financial and other checks on all groups and organisations in receipt of departmental funding. Social Mobility Mr Agnew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail how their Department measures social mobility and to provide the indicators of social mobility, for each of the last five years. (AQW 29504/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Executive’s anti-poverty and social inclusion strategy, Lifetime Opportunities, adopted a ‘lifecycle’ approach to tackling poverty and social exclusion, WA 157 Friday 28 February 2014 Written Answers recognising that in order to prevent a cycle of deprivation persisting through generations, issues affecting early years, children and young people are crucial. The Lifetime Opportunities Monitoring Framework Update Report 1998/99 - 2010-11, published by our department in August 2013, presents a range of statistical targets and indicators endorsed by the Northern Ireland Executive Sub-Committee on Poverty and Social Inclusion in support of Lifetime Opportunities. The report reflects many of the commonly agreed EU and UK indicators, but also includes a number of additional indicators specific to here. A further update is anticipated in 2014. Delivering Social Change has adopted and extended the lifecycle approach to tackling poverty and social exclusion, aiming to break the cycle of multi-generational problems by improving children and young people’s health, well-being and life opportunities and reducing poverty and associated issues across all ages. However, we do not specifically measure social mobility. Chair of the Community Relations Council Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) how many applicants there were for the position of Chair of the Community Relations Council; (ii) how many were interviewed; (iii) who comprised the interview panel; and (iv) whether there was ministerial sign off of the appointment. (AQW 29748/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: We have no role in the selection or appointment of the Chair of NICRC. In accordance with the NICRC’s Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, the Chair is independently appointed by the NICRC and under the supervision and assurance of the CPANI. There were 10 applicants for the position of Chair of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council (NICRC); 5 candidates were