Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 17 June 2011 Volume 64, 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 .....................................................................131 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ........................................................................135 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ......................................................................................137 Department of Education ............................................................................................................143 Department for Employment and Learning ....................................................................................183 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ..........................................................................191 Department of the Environment ...................................................................................................203 Department of Finance and Personnel .........................................................................................213 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ...............................................................231 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................240 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................249 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................258 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, 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, Mrs 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 17 June 2011 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 17 June 2011 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Radio Advertisement on the Devolution of Policing and Justice Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the cost to their Department of purchasing air time and making the radio advertisement on the devolution of policing and justice which OFCOM recently ruled was in breach of the Communications Act 2003; and how they intend to reimburse the public purse for this expenditure. (AQW 204/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The total cost of purchasing air time and making the radio advertisement on devolution of policing and justice was £3,539.20. The OFCOM ruling did not require OFMDFM to reimburse the public purse for this expenditure. The radio advertisement was part of a community consultation process and our decision to publicise the availability of the Hillsborough Castle Agreement was vindicated by the fact that almost 16,000 people sought copies. Ethnic Minority Projects Ms Lo asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the funding for this financial year for ethnic minority projects. (AQW 211/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: A formal announcement on the Minority Ethnic Development Fund will be made shortly and successful applicants will receive letters of offer for the first six months of the 2011/12 funding scheme as soon as the necessary formalities have been completed. Arthur Cottage, Ballymena Mr Frew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what action their Department can take to assist with the restoration of Arthur Cottage, Ballymena which was recently damaged by fire. (AQW 327/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: It was with great sadness that we heard of the fire damage to Arthur Cottage, near Cullybackey. OFMDFM does not have any funding streams that would be able to support the restoration of the cottage. We have, however, asked Executive colleagues to keep us informed of developments. Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland Dr McDonnell asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the notifications which have been given to the staff at the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland (ERINI) since February WA 131 Friday 17 June 2011 Written Answers 2011, including staff who transferred to the organisation in 2004, in relation to (i) the organisation’s closure; (ii) the redundancy packages on offer; and (iii) the arrangements in place to deal with any post- closure redundancy matters; and to outline their Department’s current position on the closure of ERINI. (AQW 405/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Since February 2011, the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland staff have been informed of progress in relation to the closure of the organisation by letters from the ERINI board. The Director has also communicated verbally or in writing during that time, with individual staff on related queries. All staff received a letter from the Board on 30 March 2011 outlining the respective redundancy packages it had recommended to the Department. In addition, this letter confirmed that the period of notice for staff had been extended for a further three months until 22 June 2011 and explained the reasons for the decision. The letter also informed staff that they would be advised of the practical arrangements for the closure of the organisation by management as soon as possible. The Board sent a further letter on 26 May 2011 to staff who were formerly employed by the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre (NIERC), one of the two bodies involved in the merger which created ERINI. This letter confirmed to staff that the Department, having taken legal advice, had drafted a business case which proposed calculating their compensation packages under the