Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)

Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard)

Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 11 May 2012 Volume 74A, No WA4 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 255 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 256 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 265 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 271 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 279 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 289 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 295 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 304 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 314 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 331 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 341 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 358 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 365 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) Brown, Ms Pam (South Antrim) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) 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) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hazzard, Christopher (South Down) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 11 May 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 11 May 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister 100th Anniversary of the Ulster Covenant Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in keeping with the precedent of the 50th anniversary of the Ulster Covenant, whether any discussions have been held about marking the 100th anniversary with a public holiday. (AQW 8411/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): At its meeting on 11 March, the Executive agreed its approach to commemorative anniversaries. A framework within which to consider these occasions was agreed and the Ministers for Culture, Arts and Leisure and Enterprise, Trade and Investment will take the lead in organising events around them. No discussions have taken place about marking the 100th anniversary of the Ulster Covenant with a public holiday. Youth Unemployment Mr D McIlveen asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what funding their Department has allocated to address youth unemployment to ensure that it does not have a destabilising effect on the political situation. (AQW 9320/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Executive is considering a Northern Ireland specific approach to tackling youth unemployment. The package proposed by the Minister for Employment and Learning seeks to link economic and social policy in a way that will help to rebuild and rebalance the local economy while continuing to address the social consequences of unemployment among our young people. OFMDFM has not specifically allocated funding to address youth unemployment. However, addressing the range of issues that can lead to the disengagement of our young people will be a key component of the CSI strategy as it develops, and the finalised strategy will inform any additional actions required in respect of the allocation of resources and funding. Freedom of Information Requests Mr Copeland asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they will give a commitment that Freedom of Information requests will remain accessible and free to all as under existing guidelines. (AQO 1779/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: We will abide by the fees regulations made under the Freedom of Information Act, which presently state that requests should be processed without any charge unless the cost involved exceeds £600. WA 255 Friday 11 May 2012 Written Answers Funding Renewal Process for Community Groups Mr Hilditch asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the funding renewal process for community groups; and the length of time it takes to reach a final decision on each funding application. (AQW 10835/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Due process is followed for all applications to funding schemes operated by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to ensure that all funding decisions are subject to robust scrutiny in line with guidance on public expenditure. We acknowledge that this can impact on the duration of the decision-making process and in recognition of this, are currently considering proposals for a funding scheme which will support projects with a practical impact on departmental priorities particularly in relation to equality of opportunity and good relations. Social Investment Fund Mr D McIlveen asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the Social Investment Fund will become operational. (AQO 1788/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Following the consultation on the proposed operation of the Social Investment Fund, we published a report, on 16 March, which outlines the key issues raised by respondents. The findings from the report have been extremely useful in helping to inform our consideration of the final

View Full Text

Details

  • File Type
    pdf
  • Upload Time
    -
  • Content Languages
    English
  • Upload User
    Anonymous/Not logged-in
  • File Pages
    122 Page
  • File Size
    -

Download

Channel Download Status
Express Download Enable

Copyright

We respect the copyrights and intellectual property rights of all users. All uploaded documents are either original works of the uploader or authorized works of the rightful owners.

  • Not to be reproduced or distributed without explicit permission.
  • Not used for commercial purposes outside of approved use cases.
  • Not used to infringe on the rights of the original creators.
  • If you believe any content infringes your copyright, please contact us immediately.

Support

For help with questions, suggestions, or problems, please contact us