Written Answers to Questions Official Report (Hansard) Friday 17 February 2012 Volume 72, 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 195 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development .................................................................. WA 202 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ................................................................................ WA 210 Department of Education ...................................................................................................... WA 219 Department for Employment and Learning .............................................................................. WA 255 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment .................................................................... WA 263 Department of the Environment ............................................................................................. WA 279 Department of Finance and Personnel ................................................................................... WA 285 Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ......................................................... WA 289 Department of Justice .......................................................................................................... WA 311 Department for Regional Development ................................................................................... WA 338 Department for Social Development ...................................................................................... WA 356 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ................................................................................. WA 378 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 17 February 2012 Written Answers Northern Ireland Assembly Friday 17 February 2012 Written Answers to Questions Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Social Investment Fund Mr McKay asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how their Department intends to ensure that the Social Investment Fund assists the most deprived communities in the Moyle and Ballymoney council areas. (AQW 5488/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness (The First Minister and deputy First Minister): The public consultation process ended on 23 December 2011; the outcome of this will inform how the Social Investment Fund will operate and how specific areas and communities here will benefit. Areas in need should benefit from a co-ordinated and strategic approach to issues of poverty and disadvantage which will see those communities determine the priorities in their areas and develop responses in partnership with Government, the statutory sector and the voluntary and community sector. Recruitment Process for the Police Ombudsman Mr Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) whether the criteria that will be used to recruit the new Police Ombudsman has been determined; (ii) when the post will be advertised; and (iii) what involvement the Commissioner for Public Appointments has had in relation to the recruitment process for the Police Ombudsman. (AQW 5637/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: Criteria to be applied in the recruitment process for the office of Police Ombudsman have been determined. They were included in an information pack about the recruitment process and an application form which were provided to prospective applicants. Advertisements inviting applications for the post were published in the press from 15 December 2011, with a closing date for applications of 20 January 2012. The recruitment process will be subject to regulation by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, and our officials met with the Commissioner when planning the arrangements. Strategic Support Fund application by FAIR Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) when the Departmental Solicitor’s Office received a request for guidance from the Community Relations Council, in relation to the Strategic Support Fund application by FAIR; and (ii) why there has been a delay in providing a response. (AQW 6929/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: This question relates to the provision of legal advice by the Departmental Solicitor’s Office to a Public Body. The provision of such advice is confidential and privileged. Therefore it is not appropriate for us to discuss or comment on such provision. WA 195 Friday 17 February 2012 Written Answers Planning Appeals Commission Mr Lunn asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the rules applied by the Planning Appeals Commission if objections that are notified at an early stage are later withdrawn. (AQW 7126/11-15) Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness: The Planning Appeals Commission is an independent tribunal Non-Departmental Public Body. Given its independent tribunal status, its Deputy Chief Commissioner has been asked to provide a response directly to you, and we understand that she has written to you in the following terms: “If an objection(s) is withdrawn in an appeal or public inquiry, the Planning Appeals Commission’s practice is to notify all parties who are directly involved in that particular appeal of the withdrawal. No further consideration is given to the objection. This procedure is followed irrespective of the stage of processing reached. I would be happy to provide any further information you require arising out of this response or to meet with you to discuss the matter if that would be more suitable”. After School Clubs Mr Moutray asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister