All questions answered by All Ministers, weekending/10/2015

Following the approval of the business case for the project on 5 December 2014 the Education Authority took forward the procurement of an Integrated Design Team. This appointment has now been completed and Isherwood & Ellis are the successful Design Team. Officers from the Education Authority held the first briefing meeting with Isherwood & Ellis on Wednesday 28 October 2015 to take forward the development of a design for the new school. This design will provide a modern place of learning and teaching for the future pupils of Devenish College on its new site at Tempo Road, Enniskillen.

It is currently planned for the new build to be on site in November 2017 with completion estimated for March 2019.

Under the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 Programme, key outcomes and targets relate specifically to the progression of participants, whether that is into employment or into further training. Whilst the Programme has overall targets in this respect, each individual project funded under the Programme also has specific targets relating to the progression of participants. As such, ESF Project Promoters will be keenly involved to ensure that participants are in a position to progress in either respect, and therefore contribute to the achievement of the overall Programme targets.

Where a potential Steps 2 Success participant is already engaged in Departmental provision, such as the ESF Programme, then my Department is permitted to allow a further 90-day period of participation before the individual is mandated to participate on Steps 2 Success. This will allow, when required, for many ESF participants to complete their training, given the relatively short-term nature of most provision under the ESF Programme.

However, as part of my Department’s ongoing process of monitoring progress against targets under the ESF Programme, I will be keeping this matter under continuous review.

The Department of Education does not hold this information. The flying of flags at schools is an internal school management issue and therefore a matter for each individual school’s Board of Governors.  

The display of flags at schools is not a matter for my Department, this is an issue for the relevant employing authorities such as the Education Authority, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, or the individual Board of Governors of Voluntary Grammar or Grant Maintained Integrated schools.

In relation to guidance for schools, the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) has an agreed procedure, TNC 2009/3 Joint Declaration of Protection, which is available on the Department of Education website. This states at paragraph 4:

All schools will promote a good and harmonious work environment by prohibiting:

 The display of flags, emblems, posters, graffiti or the circulation of material or deliberate articulation of slogans or songs perceived to be of a divisive or sectarian nature and likely to give offence or cause apprehension to particular groups of staff.  Only the authorised display of flags and emblems which are in line with the spirit and purpose of this declaration will be permitted;

TNC is made up of representatives from employers, sectoral interests, the Department and the five recognised teaching unions.  Procedures agreed through the forum of the TNC form part of teachers’ terms and conditions, and are applicable to all grant-aided schools.

The following table indicates the number of schools in the Maintained, Controlled, Controlled Integrated and Grant Maintained Integrated sectors that have been announced in the last five years and are either complete or are currently at construction stage.

There are a number of new build projects from all school sectors that are currently at the various stages of planning, some of which are due on site shortly.

School Sector	Number of Schools Complete	Number of Schools Currently at Construction Stage
Maintained	8	4
Controlled	4	2
Controlled Integrated	-	1
Grant Maintained Integrated	-	-

The following table indicates the number of schools in the Maintained, Controlled, Controlled Integrated and Grant Maintained Integrated sectors that have been announced in the last five years and are either complete or are currently at construction stage.

There are a number of new build projects from all school sectors that are currently at the various stages of planning, some of which are due on site shortly.

School Sector	Number of Schools Complete	Number of Schools Currently at Construction Stage
Maintained	8	4
Controlled	4	2
Controlled Integrated	-	1
Grant Maintained Integrated	-	-

The following table indicates the number of schools in the Maintained, Controlled, Controlled Integrated and Grant Maintained Integrated sectors that have been announced in the last five years and are either complete or are currently at construction stage.

There are a number of new build projects from all school sectors that are currently at the various stages of planning, some of which are due on site shortly.

School Sector	Number of Schools Complete	Number of Schools Currently at Construction Stage
Maintained	8	4
Controlled	4	2
Controlled Integrated	-	1
Grant Maintained Integrated	-	-

The number of pupils entitled to free school meals, who received a free school meal on Census day in each of the last two years is contained in the following table.

Table 1. Number of pupils receiving free school meals, by South Eastern Region schools; 2013/14 – 2014/15.

School Name	2013/14	2014/15
Abbey Primary School	65	73
Academy Primary School	38	37
Alexander Dickson Primary School	26	18
All Childrens Integrated Primary School	36	44
Anahilt Primary School	11	10
Andrews Memorial Primary School	23	34
Annsborough Primary School	18	17
Ardmore House Special School	5	*
Assumption Grammar School	54	74
Ballinderry Primary School	14	19
Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School	12	23
Ballyholme Primary School	42	38
Ballymacash Primary School	72	65
Ballymacrickett Primary School	44	44
Ballymacward Primary School	13	16
Ballymagee Primary School	53	40
Ballynahinch Primary School	42	40
Ballyvester Primary School	19	7
Ballywalter Primary School	45	45
Bangor Academy and 6th Form College	154	244
Bangor Central Integrated Primary School	119	115
Bangor Central Nursery School	13	9
Bangor Grammar School	37	72
Barbour Nursery School	10	14
Beechlawn Special School	45	50
Belvoir Park Primary School	55	60
Blackwater Integrated College	63	57
Bloomfield Primary School	142	149
Braniel Primary School	65	58
Brookfield Special School	41	47
Brooklands Primary School	88	107
Brownlee Primary School	40	34
Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche	38	27
Cairnshill Primary School	32	42
Carr Primary School	*	10
Carrickmannon Primary School	9	*
Carrowdore Primary School	35	40
Carryduff Primary School	31	26
Castle Gardens Primary School	46	46
Castlereagh Nursery School	6	10
Castlewellan Primary School	20	21
Cedar Integrated Primary School	17	32
Christ The King Primary School, Ballynahinch	35	43
Christ the Redeemer Primary School	226	190
Clandeboye Primary School	62	85
Clifton Special School	31	32
Comber Primary School	52	46
Convent of Mercy Nursery School	22	17
Crawfordsburn Primary School	26	19
Cregagh Primary School	51	52
Cumran Primary School	39	41
De La Salle High School	69	98
Derryboy Primary School	9	11
Donaghadee Primary School	61	82
Down High School	22	47
Down High School Prep Dept	*	*
Downpatrick Nursery School	8	8
Downpatrick Primary School	61	55
Downshire Primary School,Hillsborough	30	32
Dromara Primary School	36	44
Drumlins Integrated Primary School	44	46
Dundonald High School	67	89
Dundonald Primary School	72	67
Dunmurry Primary School	42	39
Fort Hill College	86	88
Fort Hill Integrated Primary School	72	83
Friends' School	16	29
Friend's School Prep Dept	0	*
Gilnahirk Primary School	44	49
Glasswater Primary School	9	11
Glastry College	79	119
Glenbrook Nursery School	11	18
Glencraig Integrated Primary School	9	10
Glenlola Collegiate	30	86
Glenlola Collegiate Prep Dept	*	*
Good Shepherd Nursery School	28	18
Grange Park Primary School	37	50
Grey Abbey Primary School	9	13
Harmony Hill Primary School, Lisburn	63	50
Holy Trinity Nursery School	9	8
Holywood Nursery School	0	0
Holywood Primary School	48	64
Kilcooley Primary School	106	108
Killard House Special School	59	53
Killinchy Primary School	20	12
Killowen Primary School, Lisburn	70	65
Killyleagh Primary School	36	38
Kilmaine Primary School	52	40
King's Road Nursery School	6	*
Kircubbin Community Nursery School	0	0
Kircubbin Integrated Primary School	49	62
Kirkistown Primary School	19	14
Knockbreda High School	87	124
Knockbreda Nursery School	5	*
Knockbreda Primary School	34	30
Knockevin Special School	25	32
Knockmore Primary School	58	74
Lagan College	164	218
Lakewood Special School	0	0
Largymore Primary School	62	75
Laurelhill Community College	83	120
Lead Hill Primary School	13	13
Lisburn Central Primary School	77	85
Lisnagarvey High School	105	130
Lisnasharragh Primary School	63	60
Londonderry Primary School	110	96
Longstone Special School	62	84
Loughries Primary School	6	14
Loughview Integrated Primary School	28	29
Maghaberry Primary School	20	17
McKinney Primary School Dundrod	16	12
Meadow Bridge Primary School	15	15
Millennium Integrated Primary School	13	18
Millisle Primary School	69	69
Moira Primary School	20	28
Moneyrea Primary School	7	8
Movilla High School	108	86
Nendrum College	94	99
Newcastle Primary School	45	42
Newtownards Model Primary School	70	60
Newtownards Nursery School	11	11
Newtownbreda High School	133	202
Oakwood Integrated Primary School	28	20
Old Warren Primary School	39	49
Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School	128	133
Our Lady and St Patrick's College	17	32
Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School	41	53
Parkview Special School	63	66
Pond Park Nursery School	8	9
Pond Park Primary School	84	89
Portaferry Integrated Primary School	18	26
Portavogie Primary School	23	20
Priory College	96	135
Rathmore Primary School	53	59
Regent House Grammar School	50	83
Regent House Prep Dept	*	*
Riverdale Primary School	13	14
Rowandale Integrated Primary School	8	10
Sacred Heart Primary School, Dundrum	25	15
Saintfield High School	19	34
Scoil na Fuiseoige	65	55
Seymour Hill Primary School	57	64
Shimna Integrated College	58	104
Spa Primary School	9	12
St Aloysius Primary School	96	105
St Anne's Primary School, Donaghadee	11	20
St Bernard's Primary School, Belfast	17	17
St Brigid's Primary School, Downpatrick	76	77
St Caolan's Primary School	9	8
St Colman's High School, Ballynahinch	56	79
St Colman's Primary School, Lisburn	52	66
St Colmcille's High School, Crossgar	53	87
St Colmcille's Nursery School	24	17
St Colmcille's Primary School, Downpatrick	111	136
St Colm's High School, Belfast	262	264
St Columbanus' College	77	112
St Columba's College	27	35
St Comgall's Primary School, Bangor	29	18
St Finian's Primary School	38	29
St Francis' Primary School, Drumaroad	25	30
St Ita's Primary School	18	13
St Joseph's Primary School, Ballycruttle	24	15
St Joseph's Primary School, Carnacaville	29	20
St Joseph's Primary School, Carryduff	18	25
St Joseph's Primary School, Crossgar	15	12
St Joseph's Primary School, Killough	31	35
St Joseph's Primary School, Lisburn	42	31
St Joseph's Primary School, Strangford	10	7
St Joseph's Primary School, Tyrella	15	14
St Kieran's Nursery School	25	17
St Kieran's Primary School	270	285
St Luke's Nursery School	11	10
St Luke's Primary School	140	147
St Macartan's Primary School, Downpatrick	16	20
St Malachy's High School, Castlewellan	190	278
St Malachy's Primary School, Bangor	77	84
St Malachy's Primary School, Castlewellan	83	98
St Malachy's Primary School, Kilclief	15	12
St Malachy's Primary School, Kilcoo	36	35
St Mark's Primary School	194	181
St Mary's High School, Downpatrick	106	143
St Mary's Primary School, Ardglass	12	20
St Mary's Primary School, Aughlisnafin	33	36
St Mary's Primary School, Comber	8	7
St Mary's Primary School, Killyleagh	34	27
St Mary's Primary School, Kircubbin	17	19
St Mary's Primary School, Newcastle	104	129
St Mary's Primary School, Portaferry	31	31
St Mary's Primary School, Saintfield	5	6
St Nicholas' Primary School, Ardglass	13	42
St Patrick's Academy, Lisburn	85	115
St Patrick's Grammar School, Downpatrick	37	78
St Patrick's Primary School, Ballynahinch	96	82
St Patrick's Primary School, Castlewellan	12	11
St Patrick's Primary School, Holywood	20	24
St Patrick's Primary School, Legamaddy	45	51
St Patrick's Primary School, Portaferry	7	9
St Patrick's Primary School, Saul	23	27
St Therese's Nursery School	16	20
Strangford Integrated College	97	164
Sullivan Upper School	17	37
Sullivan Upper School, Prep Dept	*	*
The Good Shepherd Primary School	179	177
The High School Ballynahinch	21	30
The Holy Family Primary School	32	37
Tonagh Primary School	111	112
Tor Bank Special School	37	39
Towerview Primary School	37	34
Trinity Nursery School	14	11
Tullycarnet Primary School	34	49
Victoria Primary School, Ballyhalbert	30	25
Victoria Primary School, Newtownards	115	113
Wallace High School	18	38
Wallace High School, Prep Dept	0	0
West Winds Primary School	95	108

Source: School Meals Census

* indicates suppression of a figure less than 5

The Sure Start Programme is targeted towards children in the 20% most deprived areas, and I have been able to expand these services into the 25% most deprived areas, significantly increasing the annual funding to around £25million.

In times of constrained finances it is increasingly important to ensure that money is spent on activities which are helping to secure improved well-being and developmental outcomes for children and families in the most disadvantaged areas. Findings from the Independent Review of Sure Start (2014), together with existing research, provide reassurance that our targeting of available resource in areas of highest deprivation is likely to have greatest impact on those children and families that can benefit most from Sure Start services.

Given the evidence of the high return on investment of intervention with socially disadvantaged children in the early years, the focus of the Sure Start Programme here will continue to be on the most disadvantaged areas, where the most positive and beneficial outcomes for children can be realised.

The current system seeks to ensure that those selling and purchasing, possessing or using fireworks do so responsibly and safely. Under the legislation those who wish to retail fireworks must be licensed or registered. This permits checks to be carried out on the applicant’s fitness. In addition, the proposed retail site and any associated storage are assessed from a health and safety perspective. Anyone wishing to purchase, possess or use fireworks must obtain a licence.

I have no plans at present to review the legislation.

All preparatory work has been completed on the Redevelopment of Magilligan Project pending a decision by the Executive on its capital budget.

My officials will continue to make a strong case to secure funding for the redevelopment of Magilligan, and other NIPS Capital Estates Programme Projects, in advance of the Executive’s decision on its capital budget.

Mr McDermott did not receive a severance package.

Since 2006, the Women’s Centres Childcare Fund has continued as an emergency funding package pending development, by OFMdFM, of a new childcare strategy, which is currently the subject of consultation. In the context of the childcare strategy I have indicated that this will be the last year of funding under WCCF.

DENI ref	School name	Overall Effectiveness
1036388	St Mary's Primary School, Divis St	Good
1036565	St Kevin's Primary School	Very good
1036576	Holy Child Primary School, Belfast	Very good
1036589	St Teresa's Primary School, Belfast	Good
1036602	St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Belfast	Very good
1036620	St Peter's Primary School, Belfast	Good
1036621	St Joseph's Primary School, Slate Street	Very good
1036623	Holy Trinity Primary School, Belfast	Good
1036624	St Paul's Primary School, Belfast	Good
1036630	St Clare's Primary School, Belfast	Very good
1036688	St John The Baptist Primary School, Belfast	Inadequate
1036697	John Paul II Primary School	Good
1046501	Bunscoil Phobal Feirste	Outstanding
1046571	Gaelscoil Na Bhfal	Good
1046593	Bunscoil An Tsleibhe Dhuibh	Very good
1046671	Gaelscoil na Mona	Good
1046672	Gaelscoil an Lonnain	Satisfactory
4036081	St Luke's Primary School	Very good
4036134	St Mark's Primary School	Good
4036285	The Good Shepherd Primary School	*
4036480	St Kieran's Primary School	Good
4036591	Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School	Outstanding
4036618	Christ the Redeemer Primary School	Outstanding
4046600	Scoil na Fuiseoige	Outstanding

* inspection pre-dated the introduction of performance levels (descriptors) for overall effectiveness.

The following table details the primary school projects in the West Belfast constituency that have been announced in the last five years and have since either been completed or are currently ongoing.

Catholic Maintained sector

I announced Holy Evangelist’s Primary School, Twinbrook to be taken forward in planning in June 2014. This project is currently at design stage.

In addition there is a School Enhancement Project, currently that I announced in January 2013 for John Paul 11 Primary School. This project is also currently at design stage.

Irish Medium sector

In 2010 a new school build was announced for Scoil Na Fuiseoge, this new school was completed in November 2012.

The data requested for 2012/13 – 2014/15 can be found in the tables below:

Catholic Maintained schools

2012/13

	Approved enrolment	Actual enrolment	% of pupils with special educational needs
Christ the Redeemer Primary School	570	573	17.45
Holy Child Primary School, Belfast	775	493	34.89
Holy Trinity Primary School, Belfast	600	636	34.91
John Paul II Primary School	-	-	-
Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School	348	352	7.1
St Aidan's Christian Brothers Primary School	504	133	48.87
St Bernadette's Primary School	522	129	52.71
St Clare's Primary School, Belfast	581	409	29.58
St John The Baptist Primary School, Belfast	425	425	16.71
St Joseph's Primary School, Slate Street	340	192	33.33
St Kevin's Primary School	610	496	32.86
St Kieran's Primary School	650	366	36.89
St Luke's Primary School	665	185	36.76
St Mark's Primary School	611	310	26.77
St Mary's Primary School, Divis St	130	138	21.74
St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Belfast	825	583	14.07
St Paul's Primary School, Belfast	416	239	24.27
St Peter's Primary School, Belfast	547	275	17.82
St Teresa's Primary School, Belfast	633	415	35.18
The Good Shepherd Primary School	823	312	28.21

2013/14

	Approved enrolment	Actual enrolment	% of pupils with special educational needs
Christ the Redeemer Primary School	580	572	14.16
Holy Child Primary School, Belfast	775	505	44.55
Holy Trinity Primary School, Belfast	600	654	34.1
John Paul II Primary School	275	260	42.69
Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School	348	352	8.24
St Aidan's Christian Brothers Primary School	-	-	-
St Bernadette's Primary School	-	-	-
St Clare's Primary School, Belfast	581	408	35.78
St John The Baptist Primary School, Belfast	425	406	22.17
St Joseph's Primary School, Slate Street	340	200	44.5
St Kevin's Primary School	610	528	33.33
St Kieran's Primary School	650	371	37.2
St Luke's Primary School	665	208	25.96
St Mark's Primary School	611	303	36.63
St Mary's Primary School, Divis St	130	134	20.15
St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Belfast	825	614	16.94
St Paul's Primary School, Belfast	416	247	32.79
St Peter's Primary School, Belfast	547	275	17.45
St Teresa's Primary School, Belfast	633	442	38.91
The Good Shepherd Primary School	823	314	28.34

2014/15

	Approved enrolment	Actual enrolment	% of pupils with special educational needs
Christ the Redeemer Primary School	610	591	14.38
Holy Child Primary School, Belfast	775	540	42.59
Holy Trinity Primary School, Belfast	600	637	35.79
John Paul II Primary School	275	262	40.08
Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School	348	358	12.29
St Aidan's Christian Brothers Primary School			-
St Bernadette's Primary School			-
St Clare's Primary School, Belfast	581	432	33.56
St John The Baptist Primary School, Belfast	425	415	26.27
St Joseph's Primary School, Slate Street	340	214	33.64
St Kevin's Primary School	610	517	31.33
St Kieran's Primary School	525	390	40.51
St Luke's Primary School	665	231	27.71
St Mark's Primary School	611	282	35.82
St Mary's Primary School, Divis St	130	132	21.21
St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Belfast	825	639	15.18
St Paul's Primary School, Belfast	416	254	36.22
St Peter's Primary School, Belfast	547	290	25.52
St Teresa's Primary School, Belfast	633	462	37.23
The Good Shepherd Primary School	343	301	28.24

Irish medium schools

2012/13

	Approved enrolment	Actual enrolment	% of pupils with special educational needs
Bunscoil An Tsleibhe Dhuibh	203	146	35.62
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste	406	235	28.09
Gaelscoil an Lonnain	71	44	45.45
Gaelscoil Na Bhfal	290	162	25.93
Gaelscoil na Mona	125	92	21.74
Scoil na Fuiseoige	145	113	23.01

2013/14

	Approved enrolment	Actual enrolment	% of pupils with special educational needs
Bunscoil An Tsleibhe Dhuibh	203	153	31.37
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste	406	242	28.93
Gaelscoil an Lonnain	71	49	40.82
Gaelscoil Na Bhfal	290	159	26.42
Gaelscoil na Mona	125	94	35.11
Scoil na Fuiseoige	145	115	33.04

2014/15

	Approved enrolment	Actual enrolment	% of pupils with special educational needs
Bunscoil An Tsleibhe Dhuibh	203	157	31.85
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste	406	255	32.16
Gaelscoil an Lonnain	71	51	39.22
Gaelscoil Na Bhfal	290	158	24.68
Gaelscoil na Mona	125	93	39.78
Scoil na Fuiseoige	145	125	30.4

Source: NI school census

Notes:

Most recent figures relate to the 2014/15 academic year. While the 2015/16 school census took place on the 9th October this year, provisional figures will not be available until December 2015 and will not be finalised figures until February 2016.

An approved enrolment number is the number of pupils a school can admit. Please note that the number of unfilled places in a school is not the difference between the approved and actual enrolments; statemented children and children admitted by appeal or by direction of the ECB are supernumerary. A school can only exceed this number with the permission of the Department.

Figures for primary includes reception and year 1 - 7 classes.

SEN figures include pupils at stages 1 – 5 on the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

This matter is now subject to legal challenge and it is not appropriate for me to comment further pending the outcome of the judicial process.

Departmental programmes are available to all citizens across Northern Ireland, irrespective of location.

Translink has advised me that for school pupils using its bus services on a daily basis they can avail themselves of multi-journey smartcard products where any journeys loaded onto the card can be used as required over a 12-month period.

Translink has no plans to introduce a similar product for rail travel. Translink does not offer any single leg product for any group of customers on its rail network nor is it aware of any similar products available from any rail operator in GB mainland for monthly/annual travel in one direction. Smartlink products for rail travel can be used on any service at any time of day or on any day of the week.

Translink wrote to fare paying pupil pass holders in June 2015 to inform them of its plans and to provide information on alternative products, including Smartlink products.

My Department funded a three year SEN Early Years capacity building pilot in DE-funded early years’ settings which finished at the end of September 2014.

The pilot aimed to improve early identification, assessment and intervention for children with SEN and / or disability in statutory nursery settings and voluntary and private settings offering funded Pre - School Education Programme funded places.

ETI positively reviewed the pilot and subsequently the Early Years Inclusion Service, which is provided by the Education Authority (EA), commenced on 1 September 2015 and will build on the progress achieved during the Pilots and the Interim Arrangements.

I have recently provided further funding to the EA to extend the development of the Early Years training model used for pre-school settings to early years’ children with SEN entering primary schools at P1.

The current Extended Schools criteria, based on information provided via the Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM 2010), apply equally across all schools. My Department includes all schools for Extended Schools funding with:

51% or more of pupils from a Neighbourhood Renewal Area or the 30% most disadvantaged wards/super output areas; and/or

37% or more of pupils with a Free School Meal Entitlement or in the case of Nursery Schools, pupils with parents in receipt of Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance at or above 37%.

The programme is not subject to an application process; funding is made available to all schools which meet the eligibility criteria. Schools entitled to Extended Schools funding are identified by my Department via the data submitted by individual schools as part of the annual School Census exercise.

The Independent Review of Sure Start carried out by RSM McClure Watters (Consulting) included a Literature Review to identify best practice in relation to delivering Sure Start services. This included an assessment of alternative approaches to Sure Start, as part of which the Flying Start programme was considered.

The literature review noted that the Flying Start programme is located within areas of deprivation, and that, similar to Sure Start, services are universal within the designated areas. Flying Start includes free childcare as one of the core components, which is the main variation from the Sure Start approach here. Qualitative research conducted with high need families showed that parents reported that the Flying Start programme had helped them become more confident as a parent, manage their child’s behaviour and engage more with their educational development.

There were however no statistically significant outcomes between Flying Start and non Flying Start areas in terms of child cognitive and language skills, social and emotional development and independence and self regulation.

I have no plans to meet with the Chief Constable to discuss changes to the police recruitment process. The PSNI recruitment process is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board in relation to such matters.

My Department does not have responsibility for the introduction of defibrillators in Further and Higher Education facilities, which is a matter for those institutions.

I would be content to respond to any such requests to discuss any inter-departmental strategy.

No applications for funding have been refused solely because the applicants’ accountant was not a member of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB).

CCAB is not the only accountancy organisation which my Department identified as providing acceptable assurance. Other organisations included; The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and included any bodies affiliated to these organisations.

During the last three months my Department identified 71 applications for rejection because the applicants’ accountant does not operate under the membership requirements of any of the acceptable accountancy organisations.

Any applicants who have had their applications refused, because their accountant is not a member of one of the acceptable accountancy bodies, can if they wish ask their accountant to provide them with details of the body they are members of, or affiliated to, and the applicant can forward these to the Department for consideration.

The Erasmus+ programme offers a wide range of opportunities for all our young people and teachers to participate in partnership and exchange activities across Europe. The EU programme aims to boost skills and employability whilst modernising education, training and youth work. In the 2014 and 2015 funding rounds, circa 67 schools and youth service providers here have benefited from the programme receiving funding in excess of 3.3 million Euros.

My Department is continuing to work with the British Council and the Department for Education and Skills in the south to promote the programme to schools and the youth sector to ensure that participation in Erasmus+ is maximised.

International youth work is the overall name given to a strand of youth work which focuses on the engagement of youth service participants, leaders and policy makers with their peers from a wide range of countries, cultures and backgrounds. International youth work provides the opportunity to explore and appreciate diversity.

Support for those organisations and young people wishing to participate in international youth work is provided through the Youth Council (YCNI) in the form of:

Training and promotional activities;

Assistance with the Erasmus+ application process;

One to one clinics for potential applicants;

Provision of up to date information through – E bulletins.

Additional funding provided by EU funded initiatives such as Erasmus+ provide the sector with opportunities to complement and support the implementation of Priorities for Youth.

My Department does not hold this information. You may wish to contact the institutions directly.

A final Outline Business Case was received from the Northern Regional College on 15 October 2015 and is being assessed by my Department.  It sets out the College’s proposals for addressing its accommodation needs in the Coleraine, Ballymoney and Ballymena areas. 

Following my acceptance of the Business Case proposals, further approval will be required from the Department of Finance and Personnel before the College’s plans can be made public. 

Forest Service’s draft Woodland Register identifies 112 thousand hectares of forest which equates to approximately 8% of land area of the north of Ireland. The forest comprises 67 thousand hectares of broadleaved and 45 thousand hectares of coniferous woodland.

I have allocated up to £17.4 million to support woodland expansion and the management of existing woodland during the 2014 – 2020 Rural Development Programme. This is sufficient to create 1,800 hectares of new woodland and sustain the management of approximately 4,000 hectares of woodland created under previous programmes.

The matter was discussed in the Assembly on Monday 12 October where I placed on record my thanks to all staff who worked in the affected areas during very difficult times.

However, as the matter is a cross cutting issue requiring legislation to provide a route for payment and substantial funding would have to be found within already challenging budgets; it remains with the Executive for consideration.

As the Executive has not agreed how to resolve this issue and, as there is no budget available to make such a payment, a business case has not been developed or considered by the Executive.

The matter was discussed in the Assembly on Monday 12 October where I placed on record my thanks to all staff who worked in the affected areas during very difficult times.

However, as the matter is a cross cutting issue requiring legislation to provide a route for payment and substantial funding would have to be found within already challenging budgets; it remains with the Executive for consideration.

As the Executive has not agreed how to resolve this issue and, as there is no budget available to make such a payment, a business case has not been developed or considered by the Executive.

I have been in discussion with the Health Minister on the issue of Air Ambulance provision and am considering the options for funding such a scheme.

I have met with the Health Minister on the issue of Air Ambulance provision.

I have made internal allocations totalling £12.4m which were funded from my 2015-16 Savings Delivery Plan provision of £13.4m. I discussed this at my briefing to the Education Committee on Wednesday 4 March and the £13.4m provision is included in DE’s published 2015-16 Savings Delivery Plan.

The £12.4m internal allocation is detailed in the table below.

Allocation	£m
Schools Maintenance	9.0
Furniture & Equipment for capital projects	1.3
SEN costs: VGS/GMI schools	1.0
Other (less than £1m)	1.1
Total	12.4

No discussions took place or were required between my Department and the Department of Finance and Personnel prior to my decision to make these allocations.

I have made internal allocations totalling £12.4m which were funded from my 2015-16 Savings Delivery Plan provision of £13.4m. I discussed this at my briefing to the Education Committee on Wednesday 4 March and the £13.4m provision is included in DE’s published 2015-16 Savings Delivery Plan.

The £12.4m internal allocation is detailed in the table below.

Allocation	£m
Schools Maintenance	9.0
Furniture & Equipment for capital projects	1.3
SEN costs: VGS/GMI schools	1.0
Other (less than £1m)	1.1
Total	12.4

No discussions took place or were required between my Department and the Department of Finance and Personnel prior to my decision to make these allocations.

I have made internal allocations totalling £12.4m which were funded from my 2015-16 Savings Delivery Plan provision of £13.4m. I discussed this at my briefing to the Education Committee on Wednesday 4 March and the £13.4m provision is included in DE’s published 2015-16 Savings Delivery Plan.

The £12.4m internal allocation is detailed in the table below.

Allocation	£m
Schools Maintenance	9.0
Furniture & Equipment for capital projects	1.3
SEN costs: VGS/GMI schools	1.0
Other (less than £1m)	1.1
Total	12.4

No discussions took place or were required between my Department and the Department of Finance and Personnel prior to my decision to make these allocations.

In my previous responses I indicated that the munitions dumping area at Beaufort Dyke is within Scotland’s territorial waters and not those under the jurisdiction of the North, and that I had not been in contact with the Ministry of Defence on this matter. This remains my position.

This is not a matter for DOE. It is primarily a public safety issue and in this regard, where munitions are discovered, they are dealt with by the PSNI, the Coastguard Agency and if required, the Army’s Joint services Explosive Ordnance Team.

The safety and well-being of prisoners is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Prison Service whilst they are in lawful custody. This responsibility does not extend to prisoners who become unlawfully at large.

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) in councils are warranted by my Department, under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, to enforce the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 in relation to the licensing of firework displays.

EHOs carry out an inspection and risk assessment of all firework display sites to ensure safety requirements are met. EHOs may exercise the various enforcement powers specified in Articles 22, 23 24, 25(6) & 27 and may also instigate prosecutions under Article 36 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

In addition, EHOs have council powers which may also be relevant.

The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister incurred £291,573 spend on consultancy costs during 2014-15. A breakdown of this cost is shown in the following table:

	Cost (£)
DFP Consultancy charges to OFMDFM	246,524
ILEX review	10,856
Land Quality Assessment for site	30,000
Recruitment costs	3,458
Other	735
Total	291,573

The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister incurred £706,581 spend on professional costs during 2014-15. A breakdown of this cost is shown in the following table:

	Cost (£)
Legal costs	226,710
Construction fees	821
Valuation fees	75
Statistical Services fees	9,203
Audit and Accountancy fees	48,530
Other Professional fees	117,782
Other Professional costs	303,460
Total	706,581

It is not the case that where evidence is presented for the Young Farmers’ Payment and Regional Reserve supported by a qualified and independent accountant who is not a member of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, that applications are being rejected on this basis.

As part of the 2015 application process, published guidance for both the Young Farmers’ Payment and Regional Reserve advised that applications needed to be accompanied by supporting evidence to demonstrate how applicants met the eligibility criteria. In regard to Head of Holding evidence, the guidance stated: “Applicants must provide a statement/letter from a qualified independent accountant”. The definition of a qualified independent accountant in the guidance stated:

“By qualified independent accountant, we mean someone who has qualified with and is a current full member of an organisation which is considered to be a member of CCAB or someone who is qualified with and is a current full member of CIMA or AAT or additionally CIOT and is independent of the applicant and the business and is not a member of the same household as the applicant.”

In order to attain and retain membership of the specified bodies members have to achieve specific qualifications and comply with a professional code of ethics. DARD placed reliance on these requirements to provide assurance that the statements being made, in accordance with applicant’s instructions, are being made in accordance with and governed by a recognised code.

The main bodies were referred to in scheme guidance however, during the assessment process membership of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and any institutions or associations affiliated to it were also accepted.

The requirement to have independent verification by a qualified independent accountant is in line with the requirements adopted for similar schemes by other paying agencies in Britain and the south of Ireland.

The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister had seven off payroll engagements in place in 2014-15 to fill posts within the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. The cost of the engagements was £699,478.31.

The University’s decision to reduce course, staff and student provision is the inevitable outworking of the budget cuts to my Department and the higher education sector.

Northern Ireland is now, in fact, the only region in the UK actively disinvesting in higher education at a time when it has never been more intrinsic to our success. The model we currently use to support higher education in Northern Ireland is no longer sustainable.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI) is in the lead in promoting Project Kelvin. My Department is of course happy to provide any assistance to DETI should it be required.

The Department publishes statistics on pupil suspensions on its website. The information is provided annually by the Education Authority (EA). The table below details the number of pupil suspensions in each of the last five years broken down by Primary and Post Primary School

	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14
Primary	248	185	200	191	228
Post Primary	4471	4055	3594	3296	3380

Figures for 2014/15 are in the process of being analysed and will be published on the Departments website in due course.

The Board of Governors (BoG) of every grant-aided school is under a duty to ensure that policies designed to promote good behaviour and discipline on the part of pupils attending the school are pursued at the school. 

Each school must therefore have a discipline policy which details the required standards of behaviour expected of pupils and the sanctions, including suspension and expulsion, which may be imposed whenever a pupil contravenes these standards.  It is a matter for the school to periodically review this policy and ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Overarching this, each employing authority within the education sector is also required to prepare a scheme specifying the procedures to be followed, by schools under its management, in relation to suspensions or expulsions.

In April 2015, the Education Authority (EA) issued an interim scheme to all controlled schools setting out procedural steps which must be rigorously followed when suspending or expelling a pupil. This scheme was informed by and builds upon the best practice that existed within the former ELBs and other employing authorities, including CCMS.

This will be reviewed before the EA adopts a scheme for long term use. As part of this, a consultation will be undertaken with controlled schools and other key stakeholders.

A number of projects in Limavady and Coleraine benefitted from the North West Socio Economic Development Programme 2014/ 15 including:

Limavady

Project	Amount
Limavady Cultural Programme	£20,000
St.Mary’s School Cultural Hub Equipment	£30,000
Glens Community Association Cultural Hub Equipment	£8,000
Stendhal Festival	£130,000 (£100k capital, £30k resource)

Coleraine

Project	Amount
Ballysally Youth & Community Centre Cultural Hub Equipment	£20,000
WOMAD Coleraine 'Culture of Peace' Legacy Programme	£20,000
The Milk Cup	£7,000
Coleraine Event Staging	£100,000
North Coast Sports Village	£1,249,000

My officials continue to work closely with stakeholders in the North West to support partnerships and opportunities to maximise the long term impact of City of Culture 2013. A particular priority will be working with organisations in areas of high social need including those groups and organisations working with children in care.

Ensuring a lasting legacy from the City of Culture will remain a priority for my Department over the next twelve months.

It is not possible to provide this information. The Valuation List and the internal databases that lie behind it do not specifically identify amateur sports clubs as a categorisation. 

The Certificate in Religious Education is an employment requirement of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS). As CCMS is a Non Departmental Public Body of the Department of Education, any decision to cease the provision of the certificate is outside the jurisdiction of my Department.

Following the Executive’s approval of the Community Asset Transfer Framework policy in May 2014 Bangor Courthouse was identified as one of eight pilot projects chosen to test the policy framework.

An expression of interest was received from Bangor Shared Space, a constituted organisation of arts based interests who wish to acquire the building as an Arts Centre. A draft Business Plan from the Group has been submitted and the Department is considering the next steps.

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland visited Edward Street Hostel, Portadown on10 April 2014 and on 22 October 2015.

As the Minister with responsibility for employment tribunals, your question has been passed to me for a response.

While legal aid funding for representation is not available for industrial tribunal proceedings, the Department of Justice does fund the ‘Green Form Scheme’ which, subject to a simple financial eligibility test carried out by a solicitor, entitles an individual to legal advice and assistance, short of representation, from a solicitor on any point of Northern Ireland law, including the law regarding unfair dismissal. The solicitor can provide the qualifying person with preliminary advice and assistance, write letters, conduct negotiations and help prepare a case for a tribunal. Subject to prescribed tests, extensions to the grant of Green Form funding may be approved by the Director of Legal Aid Casework in the Legal Services Agency, for example if a medical report or further correspondence is required.

The extension of legal aid to support representation at tribunal is a matter my Department considered in its 2008 to 2010 review of systems for resolving workplace disputes. The review concluded, and I am satisfied, that a case has not been made for extension.

Tribunals remain free at the point of entry and legal representation is not a requirement. The introduction of legal aid would have potential to drive up litigation and dilute efforts to encourage the resolution of disputes without the need for a legal determination. Positive work is already done by the Labour Relations Agency in this regard and I hope to introduce, by way of the proposed Employment Bill, a new process of early conciliation to enhance this service. I am also considering new tribunal rules of procedure to support work already set in motion by the tribunal judiciary to improve case management and provide an early neutral assessment service designed to ensure that parties better appreciate what they can expect from the tribunal and what they need to do in order to progress their case.

Having recently concluded public consultation on developing more modern, efficient and effective tribunals, my officials are also looking at enhancing support and guidance materials for tribunal users, and developing rules and procedures that are simpler to understand.

It should be added that the financing of a costly extension of legal aid is an unrealistic expectation at a time when my Department has to make difficult choices in order to achieve substantial savings across a range of its responsibilities.

Through the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Framework my department has provided £16 million over the past 4 years to implement a package of measures to help address a range of poverty and social isolation issues for the most vulnerable rural dwellers across the north of Ireland including the elderly. I have made £4m available for investment this year which will allow successful initiatives to continue including the Connecting Elderly Rural Isolated (CERI) Programme which supports independent living and the Assisted Rural Travel Scheme (ARTS) which mainly benefits the elderly and disabled. The Maximising Access Rural Areas (MARA) programme also benefits a high number of the elderly (56% of clients over 65). Funding will also continue for the Farm Families Health Checks Programme (25% of clients over 65), the Rural Support charity, the Rural Micro Capital Grants Programme and Community Development, all of which in different ways benefit the elderly in addressing poverty and social isolation.

The Micro Capital Grants Programme is currently open for applications. Funding is targeted at making life better for those in isolated and deprived rural areas and many organisations, including those that provide support for the elderly, will benefit from the Programme.

As I explained in my response to AQW 49275/11-16, progression is a key component of the 2014-2020 European Social Fund (ESF) Programme, meaning that individuals are enabled and encouraged to progress to Level 2 qualifications and above, through other Departmental provision such as Further Education; Apprenticeships NI; or Steps to Success. This forms part of a Departmental-wide strategy to increase the skills base of those currently in work and future potential participants in the workforce.

Under the ESF 2014-2020 Programme, key outcomes and targets relate specifically to the progression of participants, whether that is into employment or into further training. Whilst the Programme has overall targets in this respect, each individual project funded under the Programme also has specific targets relating to the progression of participants. As such, the active encouragement of participants’ progression forms a cornerstone of all ESF funding.

Given the overall Programme targets in respect of progression, I assure you that it will remain a key component of the Programme.

Schools that have opened

Out of 16 schools that have opened or amalgamated since 2010, seven have enrolments of fewer than 105 pupils or 140 if they are in Belfast or Derry. Full breakdown is as follows:

	(a) Schools not in Belfast/Derry LGD		(b) Schools in Belfast/Derry LGD
	Total no of schools opened	No of schools opened with fewer than 105 pupils	Total no of schools opened	No of schools opened with fewer than 140 pupils
2010/11	1	1	1	0
2011/12	4	2	0	0
2012/13	6	4	0	0
2013/14	0	0	2	0
2014/15	2	0	0	0

Schools that remain opened

The analysis for each year of schools that have neither opened nor closed is as follows:

	(a) Schools not in Belfast/Derry LGD		(b) Schools in Belfast/Derry LGD
	Total no of schools remained opened	No of schools remained opened with fewer than 105 pupils	Total no of schools remained opened	No of schools remained opened with fewer than 140 pupils
2010/11	718	294	131	31
2011/12	705	277	132	33
2012/13	704	272	127	29
2013/14	705	271	127	29
2014/15	699	264	125	28

Schools that have closed

Out of 53 schools that have closed since 2010, 36 have enrolments of fewer than 105 pupils or 140 if they are in Belfast or Londonderry the year prior to closing. Full breakdown is as follows:

	(a) Schools not in Belfast/Derry LGD		(b) Schools in Belfast/Derry LGD
	Total no of schools closed	No of schools closed with fewer than 105 pupils	Total no of schools closed	No of schools closed with fewer than 140 pupils
2010/11	8	6	6	4
2011/12	14	10	0	0
2012/13	5	5	5	3
2013/14	5	1	0	0
2014/15	8	6	2	1

Source: NI school census

Notes:

Most recent figures relate to the 2014/15 academic year. While the 2015/16 school census took place on the 9th October this year, provisional figures will not be available until December 2015 and will not be finalised figures until February 2016.

Figures include year 1 - 7 classes only.

‘Schools in Belfast and Derry’ refers to schools in the former Belfast and Derry LGDs.

The figures below reflect reports received by my Department concerning cattle herds in Fermanagh and Tyrone.

During the 2013 calendar year a total of 666 reports were received amounting to 1431 missing/stolen cattle. 29 cattle were subsequently reported as recovered.

During 2014 a total of 657 reports were received amounting to 1209 missing/stolen cattle. 24 cattle were subsequently reported as recovered.

So far in 2015 a total of 303 reports have been received by DARD amounting to 611 missing/stolen cattle by 22nd October 2015. 4 cattle have been reported as recovered.

DARD’s Veterinary Service Central Enforcement Team assist the PSNI in the investigation of such cases and share intelligence with them but we do not have access to any police records concerning their investigations nor the outcome of these.

Sport NI’s Sports Facilities Fund will invest £17.5 million Lottery Funding under 3 distinct strands two of which will be open to District Councils to apply to. These are:-

the Multi-Facility Fund which will be launched at the beginning of next year. This strand aims to open up access to a multi-sport environment for four or more different sports facilities on one site; and

the Performance Strand which Sport NI is currently working with District Councils, Sports Governing Bodies and other key partners to identify how the allocated funding can be best used to integrate facility needs of communities and high performance athletes within the same multi-sport environment. This work is ongoing and a date for release has yet to be agreed.

The Multi-Facility strand and the Performance Facility strand will seek to develop sports facilities within larger (existing or new) multi-sport environments that can be complemented by a long-term and sustainable sports development plan. A significant aspect of these investments will be the contribution to excellence and increased participation in sport.

In addition, I can advise that Sport NI, in partnership with District Councils is developing a Sports Facilities Strategy for the north of Ireland and 11 associated District Council Area Reports. The aim of this project is to provide a strategic framework for the future development of sports facilities throughout the north of Ireland.

You will be aware that in the debate on an interactive database of Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) provision, I indicated my willingness to play a part in extending access to AED provision across the north of Ireland with particular regard to sport but also across the whole of my Department’s remit.

In a previous reply to you I have outlined that Sport NI is specifically tasked with assessing the level of provision across the sports sector. Officials have met with Belfast City Council in terms of encouraging involvement in AED provision and any response from the Council will be directly to the NI Ambulance Service. The Sport NI assessment will not include provisions at local Council level including sports and leisure centres in particular due to the potential for duplication of data.

The provision of AEDs and associated training in local Councils and to sports and leisure centres specifically is primarily the remit of the Minister for the Environment.

I would again encourage all Departments including the Department for the Environment and all the local Councils to engage positively on their respective roles in extending the availability of, and access to, AEDs and to provide the details of such provision directly to the Ambulance Service in the required format.

The information requested is as follows:-

The average time taken by my Department to respond to Freedom of Information requests since 2012 is 65 days.

The longest time taken by my Department to respond to a Freedom of Information requests since 2012 is 552 days

The above figures include both historical requests and non historical requests. It should be noted that the average time taken to respond to FOI requests is not routinely recorded. Instead the Department monitors its performance in relation to statutory time limits. Further information on departmental performance is

published annually and can be accessed from the OFMDFM website at: http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/index/improving-public-services/information_management_and_central_advisory_branch/annual-reports-and-statistics.htm

The average time taken by my Department to respond to a Freedom of Information request is 17 days.

The longest time taken by my Department to respond to a Freedom of Information request was 92 days.

Applications are called in on a case by case basis based on the particular circumstances of the case. My reasons for calling in this planning application (C/2011/0459/F) were due to the planning history of this application and the particular difficulties arising from the current DETI proposals concerning the qualifying date for the NI Renewables Obligation Scheme. I also noted the potential economic and environmental contribution from this project.

The majority of wind energy applications are now being dealt with by local councils following the transfer of planning functions earlier this year. I am therefore not aware of all the extant planning applications potentially affected by this scheme.

I have previously provided clarification on this issue in AQW 46021/11-15 and again in AQW 48954/11-16.

The information on the planning drawings is provided by the applicant. The Environmental Setting drawing is not the only drawing submitted for this planning application and the application should be considered in its entirety. I understand that a further drawing submitted with the planning application entitled HSENI Land Use Planning Zones (Combined) Belfast Harbour – December 2011 identifies the adjacent site as being a Top Tier Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) site.

I am therefore satisfied that there is sufficient information contained within this application.

The Member will be aware that I recently published the Strategic Planning Policy Statement on 28 September.

The SPPS consolidates, updates and improves the policy context of the suite of Planning Policy Statements, including PPS 18 ‘Renewable Energy.’ The aim of the SPPS in relation to renewable energy is, “to facilitate the siting of renewable energy generating facilities in appropriate locations within the built and natural environment in order to achieve Northern Ireland’s renewable energy targets and to realise the benefits of renewable energy without compromising other environmental assets of acknowledged importance.” The SPPS will, therefore, continue to support and contribute to the Executive’s target of 40% renewable energy deployment by 2020.

Furthermore, my officials are now commencing the preparatory work for the review of strategic planning policy for renewable energy which I have committed to undertake. This review will take into consideration the recommendations of the Environment Committee’s wind energy inquiry report, and will offer stakeholders and interested parties an opportunity to influence the future direction of strategic planning policy for renewable energy in Northern Ireland.

I am dealing with a very difficult budget, resulting directly from British Tory cuts, that I am not at all comfortable with. The budget has impacted on all service areas across DCAL and its arm’s-length bodies. Although I was originally able to reduce the extent of the cuts to my Department’s budget, a number of inescapable pressures on the budget have since emerged and the unavailability of additional in-year resources has meant that I have been faced with very difficult choices in redeploying budgets internally. Given that we are halfway through the year and that many of our arm’s-length bodies’ costs, such as salaries and buildings costs, are committed in the medium term, I had no alternative but to look to grant programmes for a significant part of the savings required. Therefore programmes by the Arts Council, Sport NI and the Department have inevitably been affected. In absolute terms, the cut against the Art Council’s grant programme is the largest, but this reflects the fact that its programme is the largest across the DCAL family.

The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (SEA Regulations) do not stipulate any role for the Department in screening processes to determine if an environmental assessment is required unless a SEA Regulation 9 Determination is required to decide whether a particular plan, programme or modification is likely to have significant environmental effects.

This would apply to plans or programmes which do not automatically require SEA assessment under SEA Regulation 5 (1), those which determine the use of a small area at a local level and for minor modifications to a plan or programme.

In 2014/15, my Department provided funding of £900k to the Primary Modern Languages Programme (PMLP).

The total cost of the redundancies, following my decision to cease funding for the PMLP, was approximately £340k.

In 2014/15, my Department provided funding of £900k to the Primary Modern Languages Programme (PMLP).

The total cost of the redundancies, following my decision to cease funding for the PMLP, was approximately £340k.

Recruitment advertising costs for the two Líofa posts were £8,284.70.

The salary for the Líofa Development Officer post is in the Staff Officer salary range currently £28,500 - £31,135. The Líofa Support Officer post is in the Executive Officer 1 salary range, currently £25,871 – £27,271.

There is no obligation for claimants to Employment and Support Allowance to submit any GP or medical letters for which they are charged a fee.

It is a condition of entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance for claimants to submit medical certificates from their GP throughout the initial stages of their claim to Employment and Support Allowance and during periods while appealing a decision. GPs do not charge for supplying these medical certificates while they are treating the patient under the NHS.

The Work Capability Assessment is used to determine the claimant’s on-going entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance and it is completed by Atos

Healthcare, on behalf of the Social Security Agency. The approved Healthcare Professional carrying out the assessment may send a written request or make a telephone call to the claimant’s GP for further information but again GPs do not charge the claimant for this service. Employment and Support Allowance decision makers do not have the authority to contact GPs or other Healthcare Professionals directly.

Claimants who are terminally ill, and not expected to live more than 6 months, who wish to claim under Special Rules, are required to submit a form DS1500, completed by their GP or approved Healthcare Professional. Payment for completion of this form is paid by the Agency directly to the GP or Healthcare Professional.

When the Employment and Support Allowance decision maker is considering disallowing entitlement to benefit following a Work Capability Assessment or is considering an appeal against the disallowance they may contact the claimant to discuss the outcome of their Work Capability Assessment and to give them the opportunity to provide any additional evidence in support of their claim or appeal. Claimants are not obliged to provide any additional medical evidence but some wish to do so.

When further medical evidence is submitted the decision maker will discuss it with the Atos Healthcare Professional before determining whether it is sufficient to change the decision or not.

The provision of letters of evidence is regarded as a private service and it is a matter for the GP or Health Care Professional to decide what fee they wish to charge for providing a letter of evidence to their patients. My Department has no authority to change this.

I can advise that in the last three financial years up to March 2015, Sport NI, an arms length body of my Department, has invested a total of £1,604,214 through its Active Awards for Sport Programme. It is not possible to exactly quantify the breakdown of the elements of this funding that went to volunteer support and other sports development opportunities. However, this investment will have contributed to local clubs who wish to provide volunteers with qualifications, training and skills development opportunities.

I can advise that Sport NI has developed an Action Plan to take forward the recommendations emerging from the mid-term review of Sport Matters. The draft Action Plan is due to be submitted in December to the Sports Matters Monitoring Group, which I lead, following consultation with stakeholders within the Sports Matters Implementation Groups.

It is anticipated that the Action Plan will be agreed and published by the end of this year.

My Department has no plans at present to develop a similar campaign to Sport England’s ‘This Girl Can’.

However, I can advise that Sport NI is currently developing a new participation programme named ‘Every Body Active 2020’. The programme, which has been through a consultation process, will replace the current Active Communities programme which will cease on 31 March 2016. The new programme aims to increase and sustain participation in sport, especially among a number of under-represented groups, including females.

I can advise that over the last five years, Sport NI’s ‘Active Communities’ programme has successfully engaged over 286,000 participants, 57% of those taking part in sport and leisure related activities were female. The ‘Every Body Active 2020’ policy has been developed to ensure that these levels of female participation continue to be built upon and sustained through to April 2020.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural development has spent a total of £95,763,441 in the East Antrim Constituency from the 2009/10 to 2014/15. This is broken down in the table below.

Programme	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15	Total
	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000	£’000
Single Farm Payment	10,930	9,618	9,664	9,605	10,229	9,474	59,520
Rural Development Programme Axis I – this includes programmes which improve the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry industries	119	308	94	156	165	971	1,813
Rural Development Programme Axis II – this includes programmes which provide support to farmers who manage their land for positive environmental benefit	2,917	3,283	3,142	3,014	2,951	3,097	18,404
Rural Development Programme Axis III – this includes programmes which improve the rural economy and the quality of life in rural areas	104	429	642	1,159	736	1,689	4,759
Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation	348	197	364	1,173	1,255	1,738	5,075
Drainage Infrastructure and Flood Alleviation	1,060	378	1,582	55	166	237	3,478
Fisheries Grant Funding	-	-	105	56	3	-	164
Forestry Services	167	390	400	333	526	651	2,467
Other programme spend	11	6	13	16	15	21	82
Total	15,656	14,609	16,006	15,568	16,046	17,878	95,763

Due to the Department’s document retention policy of 7 years, financial information for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 year is limited and has therefore has been excluded.