Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 16 March 2012 Volume 74, 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 ................................................................... WA 1 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................... WA 15 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 17 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 25 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 46 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 55 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 77 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 112 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 126 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 138 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 151 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 161 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 176 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, 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) 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, Ms 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 16 March 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 16 March 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Draft Childcare Strategy Mr Agnew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the timescale for the publication of the draft Childcare Strategy. (AQW 7218/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): We intend to carry out a public consultation later in the year on our proposals for a Strategy to promote the availability of good quality, accessible, integrated and affordable childcare provision. Department’s Equality Unit Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the current (i) number; and (ii) annual cost of staff employed in their Department’s Equality Unit. (AQW 7654/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The OFMDFM Equality and Human Rights Unit currently employs five members of staff: The total annual staff cost for the Unit is £212,238. Childcare Strategy Mr Lyttle asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the development of a Childcare Strategy. (AQO 1216/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: We are leading on the development of a Childcare Strategy in support of the draft Programme for Government action to implement a strategy for integrated and affordable childcare. This action requires co-operation and joint working across departments and agencies. In December 2011, the first meeting of a high level working group, the Childcare Strategy Group, was convened. This Working Group is chaired by a senior OFMDFM official and comprises senior officials from key departments involved in childcare provision. Two further meetings of the Working Group were held in January. The work of this Group will take account of the views of stakeholders, as well as other relevant information and research, and will put forward proposals to us on the development of the Childcare Strategy. The intention is to carry out a public consultation later in the year on proposals for a Strategy to promote the availability of good quality, accessible, integrated and affordable childcare provision. The Executive has allocated additional funding of £12 million across the Comprehensive Spending Review Period to support the development of the Childcare Strategy. This funding will not replace existing baseline provision for the delivery of childcare services. WA 1 Friday 16 March 2012 Written Answers Public Services Available to Older People Mr D McIlveen asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how they ensure that older people are aware of all the public services available to improve their quality of life; and how much funding has been allocated for this purpose in each of the last five years. (AQW 8154/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: We appointed Dame Joan Harbison as Older People’s Advocate from December 2008 until December 2011. Dame Joan Harbison worked closely with the age sector and departments and highlighted the importance of reaching out to older people to ensure they are aware of what they are entitled to. She also attended many meetings with older people and used her regular newsletters to advise older people on the services available to help them. In November 2011, we appointed Claire Keatinge as the Commissioner for Older People. The Commissioner will encourage best practice in the treatment of older people and has advised the Department on the most appropriate methodologies to reach older people who are difficult to contact. The Department also engages regularly with organisations representing the interests and rights of older people, including Age NI and the Age Sector Platform, and Executive Ministers support the work of the Pensioners Parliament. Department Spend on Conferences, Away-days