Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)
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Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 10 February 2012 Volume 72, 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 ................................................................... WA 1 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ...................................................................... WA 7 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 17 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 31 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 57 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 66 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 82 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 105 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 128 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 138 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 149 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 170 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 187 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 10 February 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 10 February 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Public Realm Works at Ebrington Barracks, Derry Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the progress of the public realm works at Ebrington Barracks, Derry. (AQW 6206/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The public realm works at Ebrington are substantially complete. A phased approach to the construction of the public realm has been taken. Phase One was opened in June 2011 to coincide with the launch of the Peace Bridge that allowed access through the site via St Columbs Road/Browning Drive. Phase Two will provide public access from the Limavady Road via Cunningham Square leading to The Square at Ebrington Parade Ground which will be officially opened on 14 February 2012. The final phase of work running from the Star Fort wall down to the Foyle River will be completed later in the year. Introduction of Social Tariffs Mr Girvan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether a social tariff will be introduced as a priority within the Programme for Government. (AQW 6539/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The draft programme for Government includes proposals to develop a range of initiatives aimed at reducing fuel poverty. The Department for Social Development will lead on this specific area but this topic will also be an aspect of the task we set for the Advisory Group on Financial Hardship that we propose to establish in February 2012. In addition, to alleviate the pressure of fuel poverty especially amongst the elderly, those in most need and others in need as a result of medical conditions, special payments will be paid from the Social Protection Fund. We hope that this will offer some short-term assistance to those most in need. We expect payments to issue by February 2012. We have prioritised payments to the most vulnerable to ensure an important contribution to addressing the need whilst recognising the pressures on public finances Taken together these plans will contribute both practically in the short term and strategically in the medium term to address this key issue. The issue of fuel poverty remains a high priority for the Executive as a whole. However, we recognise that strategic actions are required. We will be examining the issue of social tariffs along with a range of other proposals. WA 1 Friday 10 February 2012 Written Answers Winning in Europe: European Priorities 2011-12 Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what progress has been made with the key objective to establish linkages with other thematic strategies, such as competitiveness and climate change, as detailed in ‘Winning in Europe: European Priorities 2011-12’. (AQW 6781/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Barroso Taskforce Working Group includes in its membership the lead officials from each of the four working groups pursuing the themes outlined in “Winning in Europe: European Priorities 2011-12”. This establishes and reinforces links between the four thematic strategies. In addition, the Social Cohesion thematic strategy includes the lead from the Competition and Employment thematic strategy to encourage linkages between them. A dedicated officer has been appointed to specifically focus on each of the four themes and will move to Brussels mid February. These Desk Officers will be working closely to achieve their thematic aims and will collaborate to identify opportunities that will contribute across all of the themes. Children’s Strategy Mr Lyttle asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the internal review of the structures supporting the Children’s Strategy covered