Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 1 June 2012 Volume 75, No WA2 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 115 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 123 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 135 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 151 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 172 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 175 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 182 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 183 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 187 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 203 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 227 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 245 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 1 June 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 1 June 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister EU Non-Structural Funds Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what progress has been made towards increasing EU non-structural funds by 20 percent. (AQW 6266/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The Executive is committed to increasing the drawdown of competitive EU funding over the current budget period to 2015. EU competitive funds include non-structural funds and INTERREG B and C monies. In 2011/12, £15,826,939 of competitive funding was secured, an increase of £4,868,926 from the 2010/11 baseline of £10,958,013. The table below gives the non-structural funds element of this drawdown. Financial Year 2010-11 (baseline) Financial Year 2011-12 Total drawdown of EU non-structural funds Total drawdown of EU non-structural funds (£ value) (£ value) £8,327,361 £13,936,160 Substantial capacity building has been undertaken in 2011 to deliver long-term benefits. Four Thematic Desk Officers took up posts in March 2012 and are now located in the Executive’s Brussels Office providing dedicated support to departments in delivering the Executive’s European Priorities, including increased engagement in EU competitive funding programmes. Civil Service’s Submission to the Review of the Operation of the Freedom of Information Act Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the process, including Ministerial involvement, in the dratting of the Civil Service’s submission to the review of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act by the Westminster Justice Committee. (AQW 10044/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Secretary of State for Justice, Kenneth Clarke, wrote to us on 1 December 2011 with details of a post-legislative assessment of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 being carried out by the Justice Committee, and invited us to submit evidence to the Committee. As each of the departments here are separate ‘public authorities’ under the terms of the legislation, we agreed to a cross-departmental consultation taking place at official level, and to a co-ordinated submission of evidence to the Justice Committee being composed by our officials. Ministers had no role in drafting the Civil Service’s submission. WA 115 Friday 1 June 2012 Written Answers Community Relation Council Funding Mr Wells asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what proportion of Community Relation Council funding for 2011/12 was awarded to victims groups (i) from the unionist community; (ii) from the nationalist community; and (iii) that are cross-community. (AQW 10360/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: A total of £7,323,556.26 was awarded by the Community Relations Council (CRC) in 2011/12 to victims groups. A breakdown of funding as requested is not available. Funded groups provide CRC with information on the perceived community background of end beneficiaries but CRC have not yet received information from all groups for 2012. Groups themselves are not classified by community background. The community background of groups is not and cannot be a factor considered in any decision-making process for the allocation of funds from the CRC. Employment for People with Disabilities Lord Morrow asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they will introduce legislation to encourage employers, particularly those with a large workforce, to employ more people with disabilities rather than offering voluntary placements. (AQW 10485/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: As we continue to legislate to meet our commitments under Programme for Government, EU obligations, case law requirements and emerging issues, we are currently considering the need for legislative reform in the area of disability. Part 2 of the Disability Discrimination Act says that it