Official Report (Hansard) Written Answers to Questions Friday 30 April 2010 Volume 51, 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 ..........................................................................14 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ........................................................................................25 Department of Education ..............................................................................................................37 Department for Employment and Learning ......................................................................................64 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ............................................................................68 Department of the Environment .....................................................................................................76 Department of Finance and Personnel ...........................................................................................84 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety .................................................................87 Department of Justice ................................................................................................................111 Department for Regional Development .........................................................................................115 Department for Social Development ............................................................................................129 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission .......................................................................................136 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) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCrea, Dr William (South Antrim) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Bradley, P J (South Down) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McNarry, David (Strangford) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Dodds, Nigel (North Belfast) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Donaldson, Jeffrey (Lagan Valley) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Ford, David (South Antrim) Paisley, Rev Dr Ian (North Antrim) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Paisley Jnr, Ian (North Antrim) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) 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) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Leonard, Billy (East Londonderry) Shannon, Jim (Strangford) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Simpson, David (Upper Bann) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Weir, Peter (North Down) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 30 April 2010 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister ‘Invest to Save’ Initiative Dr S Farry asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what bids their Department has made in relation to the ‘Invest to Save’ initiative; and what consideration was given to bids that seek to address communal segregation in service provision and to promote integration. (AQW 5168/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The purpose of the ‘Invest to Save’ fund is to provide additional financial support to Departments to cover the upfront costs of making efficiency savings in 2010/11 and beyond. Having carefully considered the intended purpose of the fund, our Department, has not at this stage, identified a need for additional financial support to assist with the delivery of our efficiency savings. Whilst we have not identified any specific projects requiring support from the ‘Invest to Save’ fund per se, our core functions will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the efficient and effective use of public funds in the future. For example, improving relationships between and within communities in Northern Ireland and building a shared and better future continue to be high priorities for OFMDFM and the Executive. The programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration is currently being developed and funding for the promotion of community relations and good race relations has been increased by a third to almost £30 million during 2008-2011. In addition, our Department has provided funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improving community relations which when effective reduce the future requirement for separate and sometimes less efficient facilities and services. Undocumented Irish Immigrants in America Mr P J Bradley asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail what representations were made, on behalf of undocumented Irish immigrants in America, when they met with President Obama in Washington. (AQW 5903/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister: During our meeting with President Obama on Wednesday 17 March the plight of the undocumented Irish was raised by the deputy First Minister. The deputy First Minister’s comments in support of the undocumented Irish were acknowledged, not only by the President, but also by Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton and General Jones, Director of the National Security Council, who were all present at that meeting. Childcare Places in Women’s Centres Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what plans they have to support childcare places in women’s centres to assist women returning to employment, education and training. (AQW 5986/10) First Minister and deputy First Minister: There is a small amount of support for childcare in 13 women’s centres currently funded by the Department for Social Development. However, Ministers are WA 1 Friday 30 April 2010 Written Answers aware of the wide range of issues existing in this area and the need for a more strategic approach to the problem. The Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People tasked members of its cross- departmental sub-group on Child Poverty to undertake an exercise to consider issues around the provision of good quality, affordable childcare. A preliminary report was completed in June 2009 and the Sub-Committee agreed that an economic appraisal be carried out on a range of strategic options. Due to the fragmented nature of the childcare sector, it has taken some time to gather the considerable amount of detailed information required from several departments on the funding and nature of existing childcare provision including provision in Women’s Centres. It is hoped the economic appraisal