Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 9 December 2011 Volume 70, 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 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister ................................................................... WA 1 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ...................................................................... WA 8 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 19 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 39 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 59 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 69 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 79 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 108 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 119 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 140 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 154 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 177 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 192 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) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McNarry, David (Strangford) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Durkan, Mark H (Foyle) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Ford, David (South Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hale, Mrs Brenda (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) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) 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) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lewis, Ms Pam (South Antrim) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 9 December 2011 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 9 December 2011 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Consultation on the Social Investment Fund Mr McGlone asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what formal notice was given to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister about the launch of the consultation on the Social Investment Fund on 27 September 2011. (AQO 491/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): After agreeing the Social Investment Fund (SIF) consultation document, we wrote to the Chair of the OFMDFM Committee on 27 September providing a copy of the document and inviting comments as part of the consultation process. We organised the sectoral consultation launch in order to publicise the start of the consultation period as we have also been dealing with a significant number of enquiries from the voluntary and community sector. Our officials have since briefed the OFMDFM Committee in more detail on the SIF prior to the undertaking of consultation events. The Committee received a full schedule of the public consultation events and were advised of their commencement on 26 October 2011. Officials have also undertaken to update the Committee during the consultation process. Invites to the sectoral consultation launch event were issued, on OFMDFM’s behalf, by NICVA and were to be members of the Ministerial led Poverty and Social Inclusion Stakeholder Forum. Information about the launch had, however, been circulated wider than the Forum. Historical Institutional Abuse Mr Doherty asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse. (AQO 498/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Following consultations with victims and survivors over the summer and considering the recommendations of an interdepartmental taskforce, we called a special Executive meeting to agree on establishing an inquiry and investigation into institutional abuse, over the period 1945 to 1995. We are currently considering potential legislative options which will provide the necessary statutory powers to the Inquiry, to enable the Chairperson to call for and compel any person or document, as required to be made available to the Inquiry. Victims and survivors will have the opportunity to recount their individual experiences to the Inquiry within the confidential environment of an independent acknowledgement forum. This should be established early in the New Year. WA 1 Friday 9 December 2011 Written Answers The Inquiry and investigation will conclude within a 2½ year period from the commencement date and the chairperson will be required to provide a report to the Executive within 6 months of its conclusion. We have also committed to establishing an Advocates Service that will provide support to victims and survivors before, during and after the Inquiry. Work is well underway to progress all of the aspects of this work and we continue to liaise with victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in relation to their needs and the steps that we are taking. Whilst we work towards full implementation of the Inquiry and Advocacy Service we are conscious to ensure the needs of victims and survivors are catered for in the short term. We have instructed officials to explore ways in which an interim support service can be provided and we expect to be in a position to confirm these arrangements shortly. St Andrews Review into North-South Implementation Bodies and Areas of Co-operation Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of whether the first term of reference of the St Andrews Review into North-South Implementation Bodies and Areas of Co-operation, embraces the option