Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 17 January 2014 Volume 91, 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 6 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure .................................................................................. WA 13 Department of Education ........................................................................................................ WA 16 Department for Employment and Learning ................................................................................ WA 25 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ...................................................................... WA 30 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................... WA 33 Department of Finance and Personnel ..................................................................................... WA 38 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ........................................................... WA 39 Department of Justice ............................................................................................................ WA 47 Department for Regional Development ..................................................................................... WA 49 Department for Social Development ........................................................................................ WA 52 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................... WA 73 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) McCallister, John (South Down) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Alasdair (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and Cameron, Mrs Pam (South Antrim) South Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McKinney, Fearghal (South Belfast) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Ms Maeve (Foyle) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) McNarry, David (Strangford) Easton, Alex (North Down) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Farry, Stephen (North Down) Milne, Ian (Mid Ulster) Fearon, Ms Megan (Newry and Armagh) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Ford, David (South Antrim) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hay, William (Speaker) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hazzard, Chris (South Down) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Rogers, Sean (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 17 January 2014 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister UK Commission on Child Poverty and Social Mobility Mr Agnew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they will appoint representatives to the UK Commission on Child Poverty and Social Mobility. (AQW 23501/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): This matter is currently under consideration. Childcare Strategy: Welfare Reform Mr Agnew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what guarantee they can give that the childcare strategy will be published and implemented before the introduction of the provisions contained in the Welfare Reform Bill. (AQW 27555/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: “Bright Start” was launched on 25 September 2013. The first phase of the Bright Start Strategy sets out a strategic direction and lists 15 key first actions that will be put in place to address the main childcare priorities identified during consultation and research. All key actions will be initiated in 2013/14. The Executive has yet to conclude its discussions on Welfare Reform. Social Investment Fund Implementation: South East Zone Mr Dunne asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the implementation of the Social Investment Fund implementation in the South East zone. (AQW 28553/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Ten projects were submitted by the South Eastern Steering Group and are currently going through the appropriate economic appraisal procedures. On the basis of present projections, we are hopeful of supporting all these projects, subject to satisfactory economic appraisals. Until this work is completed it is not possible to comment further. Victims and Survivors Service Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Victims and Survivors Service. (AQO 5114/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Victims and Survivors Service has undertaken nearly 2,000 individual needs reviews and funded a total of 68 Victims and Survivors groups to date. WA 1 Friday 17 January 2014 Written Answers However, we are aware that issues have been raised in relation to the Service, which we take extremely seriously. We have therefore established a Programme Board, chaired by the Director of Equality and Strategy Directorate. The Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, Kathryn Stone, and the VSS Chief Executive, Anne Dorbie, also sit on the Board along with Special Advisors. We will work together to resolve these issues and see this through to a conclusion to ensure that victims and survivors receive the best possible support. City of Culture 2013 Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) tenders awarded; and (ii) funding provided to organisations in Derry to deliver the City of Culture 2013. (AQW 28766/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: In relation to the City of Culture’s 2013 cultural programme, all contracts were entered into with Derry City Council, therefore the Department did not award any tenders. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure secured approval for a business case to provide £12.6m funding for the City of Culture programme which was paid to Derry City Council. This included a contribution of £1.5m from OFMDFM through Ilex. In addition, a further contribution of £250k was provided by OFMDFM through Ilex to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to assist with the marketing of the city during 2013. Child Poverty Mr Agnew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the forecast by the Institute for Fiscal Studies that child poverty is set to increase significantly by 2020 based on their current policy interventions, (i) whether they intend