Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 6 January 2012 Volume 70, No WA4 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 543 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 548 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 551 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 558 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 579 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 580 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 590 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 605 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 630 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 636 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 643 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 650 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 6 January 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 6 January 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Public Appointments to the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation Mr Craig asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on progress in making public appointments to the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation. (AQO 610/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): A public appointment process to select a chairperson and up to six members for the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation is under way. We cannot comment in detail about the process, as it is ongoing. The regeneration of the site has the potential to act as a social and economic generator, in line with our commitment to maximise the economic, historical and reconciliation potential of the Maze/Long Kesh site. Initial development of the two anchor projects will provide a catalyst to attract further investment and, we hope, thousands of jobs. Cost of Answering Assembly Questions Mr F McCann asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an estimate of the average cost to their Department to respond to written and oral Assembly Questions tabled by Jim Allister MLA, since May 2011. (AQW 4663/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: OFMDFM does not currently estimate the cost of answering Assembly Questions, but we are investigating the possibility of doing so. Fuel Allowance Payment Mr Elliott asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the rationale used to determine eligibility for the one-off fuel allowance payment; (ii) whether consideration was given to families with disabled children; and (iii) why these families are not eligible. (AQW 5859/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Social Protection Fund was established by the Executive in March 2011 to mitigate the impact of the financial cuts on the most vulnerable in our society. Acknowledging that exceptional circumstances existed in relation to vulnerable individuals as a result of the impact of increased household energy costs, including on those who are already likely to experience high levels of fuel poverty, the Executive identified the delivery of a Winter Poverty Payment Scheme as the key priority this year for the Social Protection Fund. When considering who would qualify for the associated payments, we sought to target those individuals and groups who it was felt would be most vulnerable during the cold winter months and, with this in mind, identified those on low income, including older people and individuals on means tested benefits. WA 543 Friday 6 January 2012 Written Answers It was also felt that cancer patients suffer from a particular set of circumstances which meant that they were also deemed as eligible for payment. The Executive is committed to supporting the most vulnerable in our society and to providing assistance to those in greatest need. We will continue to monitor and assess who, and how best to provide support from the Social Protection Fund in the coming years. Winter Fuel Allowance Mr P Ramsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what consideration was given to including people with disabilities in the extension of the Winter Fuel Allowance. (AQW 5868/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Social Protection Fund was established by the Executive in March 2011 to mitigate the impact of the financial cuts on the most vulnerable in our society. Acknowledging that exceptional circumstances existed in relation to vulnerable individuals as a result of the impact of increased household energy costs, including on those who are already likely to experience high levels of fuel poverty, the Executive identified the delivery of a Winter Poverty Payment Scheme as the key priority this year for the Social Protection Fund. When considering who would qualify for the associated payments, we sought to