Friday Volume 37 13 February 2009 No WA 3 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) CONTENTS Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister [p199] Department of Agriculture and Rural Development [p205] Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure [p214] Department of Education [p223] Department for Employment and Learning [p246] Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment [p250] Department of the Environment [p264] Department of Finance and Personnel [p271] Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety [p272] Department for Regional Development [p285] Department for Social Development [p292] Northern Ireland Assembly Commission [p307] £5.00 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. 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For more information please contact the Northern Ireland Assembly, Printed Paper Office, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3XX Tel: 028 9052 1078 ASSEMBLY MeMBerS Adams, Gerry (West Belfast) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Armstrong, Billy (Mid Ulster) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Dr William (South Antrim) Bradley, Mrs Mary (Foyle) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Bradley, P J (South Down) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McFarland, Alan (North Down) Bresland, Allan (West Tyrone) McGill, Mrs Claire (West Tyrone) Brolly, Francie (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Browne, The Lord (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McHugh, Gerry (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Burns, Thomas (South Antrim) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Burnside, David (South Antrim) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Butler, Paul (Lagan Valley) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McNarry, David (Strangford) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Clarke, Willie (South Down) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Cobain, Fred (North Belfast) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Coulter, Rev Dr Robert (North Antrim) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Cree, Leslie (North Down) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Deeny, Dr Kieran (West Tyrone) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Dodds, Nigel (North Belfast) Neeson, Sean (East Antrim) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Donaldson, Jeffrey (Lagan Valley) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Easton, Alex (North Down) O’Loan, Declan (North Antrim) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Empey, Sir Reg (East Belfast) Paisley, Rev Dr Ian (North Antrim) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Paisley Jnr, Ian (North Antrim) Ford, David (South Antrim) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Purvis, Ms Dawn (East Belfast) Gallagher, Tommy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Robinson, Mrs Iris (Strangford) Hanna, Mrs Carmel (South Belfast) Robinson, Ken (East Antrim) Hay, William (Speaker) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Savage, George (Upper Bann) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Shannon, Jim (Strangford) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Simpson, David (Upper Bann) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) McCallister, John (South Down) Wells, Jim (South Down) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Wilson, Brian (North Down) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Friday 13 February 2009 Written Answers NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY Friday 13 February 2009 Written Answers to Questions Office of the FirST MiniSter and depUTY FirST MiniSter 90th Anniversary Remembrance Day Commemorations Mr D Simpson asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister what role it played in promoting better community relations in relation to this year’s 90th anniversary Remembrance Day commemorations. (AQW 4253/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): OFMDFM has a general responsibility for the promotion of good relations between the communities with the overarching aim of building a shared and better future for all. OFMDFM provides funding directly and through the CRC to promote greater understanding. We also monitor good relations via the Good Relations indicators. We are currently working on our Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy which will aim to encourage tolerance, understanding and respect in the building of better relations and increased integration. Loyal Order Parades Mr S Moutray asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister what work it has completed to promote better community relations surrounding Loyal Order parades. (AQW 4255/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: Although our Department has not completed any specific work to promote better community relations surrounding Loyal Order parades, the work on the promotion of good community and good relations, led by this Department, has the overarching aim of building a shared and better future for all our people and we endeavour, through the community relations funding streams and our sponsored bodies, to support such work on a consistent, sustained and meaningful basis. Orange Halls Mr S Moutray asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister what assessment it has carried out of the community relations benefits of the new insurance regulations for Orange Halls. (AQW 4256/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: There are plans to change the Statutory Compensation arrangements – a scheme offering compensation for attacks on community halls – including Orange halls. However, this is a reserved matter for the Northern Ireland Office. Catholic Maintained Schools Mr D Simpson asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister what steps it will take to amend the provisions of the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 to ensure the removal of the requirement to hold a Catholic certificate to teach in Catholic maintained schools. (AQW 4399/09) WA 199 Friday 13 February 2009 Written Answers Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: Article 71 of the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 provides that the Order does not apply to the recruitment of teachers in schools. There are no current proposals to change this position. We will keep this situation under review. Devolution of Policing and Justice Mr J Spratt asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister what discussions have taken place with the UK Government about funding for the devolution of policing and justice. (AQW 4433/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: We met with the Secretary of State on 18 November 2008 to discuss a process for engaging on budget issues in relation to the devolution of policing and justice matters. We also met with the Secretary of State and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in London on 17 December 2008 and met the Secretary of State again on 4 February. NSMC Meeting Mr N McCausland asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister the cost was holding the recent NSMC meeting in Derry/Londonderry broken down by (i) accommodation; (ii) travel; (iii) staff time preparing papers and making arrangements for the meeting; (iv) public relations; and (v) any other costs. (AQW 4443/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: The costs of holding the NSMC Plenary on 23rd January 2009 in Derry/Londonderry are yet to be finalised but estimated costs are included in the table below: Category Estimated Costs Accommodation £1182 Travel £1496 Public Relations £1270 Other Costs £7412 Total £11,360 With regards to staff time preparing papers and making arrangements for the meeting, since this is part of officials’ normal duties it cannot be quantified. Review of the Civic Forum Mr C Boylan asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister if has studied the model and remit of the European Economic Social Committee in terms of informing best practice for any new civic forum. (AQW 4498/09) Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister: The terms of reference for the Review of the Civic Forum included drawing on experience elsewhere in determining the most appropriate mechanism for engaging with civic society. The Review Team has conducted research into relevant experience elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Ireland,