Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 8 October 2010 Volume 56, 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 ............................................................................4 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ..........................................................................................6 Department of Education ................................................................................................................8 Department for Employment and Learning ......................................................................................50 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ............................................................................51 Department of the Environment .....................................................................................................56 Department of Finance and Personnel ...........................................................................................63 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety .................................................................77 Department of Justice ..................................................................................................................85 Department for Regional Development ...........................................................................................94 Department for Social Development ..............................................................................................99 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission .......................................................................................105 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) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Bannside, The Lord (North Antrim) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bradley, P J (South Down) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) 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) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) McNarry, David (Strangford) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Easton, Alex (North Down) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) 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) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Gibson, Simpson (Strangford) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) South Tyrone) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Brian (North Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 8 October 2010 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister New York Stock Exchange’s New Premises in Belfast Mr S Anderson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the potential economic benefits of the New York Stock Exchange’s new premises in Belfast. (AQW 549/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The New York Stock Exchange’s new premises in Belfast reflects its confidence in Northern Ireland and is an example of the mutual benefit to be gained from ongoing engagement between those of us involved in economic development and key investors. It sends a strong message to other potential investors, that this is an exceptional place to do business. This investment is an example of how, by building strong relationships with potential investors, we increase the chances of attracting world-class companies to set up and develop their operations here, which is vital to growing our economy. We attended the official opening of NYSE Technologies’ new Belfast premises at Adelaide Exchange, on 16th September 2010. This expansion of Belfast operations will create up to 400 high-quality technical, operational and corporate jobs, over a 3 to 4 year period. Invest NI has agreed to provide financial assistance of £9,578,364 to the expansion project. Capital Projects in the North Down Area Mr P Weir asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on all their Department’s capital projects in the North Down area that (i) were or will be commenced or completed in 2010/11; (ii) are planned for 2011/12; and (iii) have been postponed because of budgetary constraints. (AQW 596/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: OFMDFM is not currently undertaking any capital projects in the North Down area in 2010-11, nor are any planned in 2011-12. No such projects have been postponed for any reason. Invest NI Business Park at Melmount Road, Strabane Mr P Doherty asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the Planning Appeals Commission will reconsider its decision to retain the designation of the Adria site in Strabane for industrial use only, in light of the recent announcement that planning permission has been granted for an 11.5 hectare Invest NI Business Park at Melmount Road, Strabane. (AQW 668/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Planning Appeals Commission is an independent tribunal Non-Departmental Public Body. Given its independent tribunal status, its Chief Commissioner has been asked to provide a response directly to you, and we understand that she has written to you in the following terms: “I have been asked to provide you with information requested in the above Assembly Question. WA 1 Friday 8 October 2010 Written Answers The Commission issued a decision to refuse this appeal on 26 October 2009. Once a decision has been made on an appeal, the Commission cannot review or revise its determination. PAC decisions may be challenged by application for a judicial review to the High Court. However, this must be done promptly or in any event within three months of the appeal decision. I would be happy to provide any further information you require arising out of this response or to meet with you to discuss the matter if that would be more suitable.” Child Poverty Strategy Mr D McKay asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline any work their Department is currently undertaking in relation to child poverty and developing a Child Poverty Strategy. (AQW 673/11) First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Child Poverty Act 2010, that gained Royal Assent on 25 March this year, requires us to develop three-year child poverty strategies that will lead to the eradication