Northern Ireland Assembly, 14 February 2012

394 contributions from 72 members. The official report.

William Hay (Speaker, Foyle)

Order. The Minister of Finance and Personnel wishes to make a statement to the House.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to update the Assembly on the outcome of the Executive’s deliberations on how to address the financial consequences of the Irish Government’s decision to materially revise their funding commitment to the A5 and A8 road schemes.

As Members will be aware, the Irish Government had committed to providing a total of £400 million towards the completion of the A5 and A8 road schemes. Nearly all that funding — £378 million — was to be provided in the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years. The difficult economic circumstances facing our Southern neighbours are well known, and, in that light, the Irish Government have now revised their contribution to £50 million, which will be spread evenly over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years.

The Irish Government’s decision to materially reduce their original contribution clearly left us with no choice but to reconsider how to take forward the capital investment in the affected years. In considering how best to respond, the Executive were particularly mindful of the need both to balance the allocations against the regional impact and to consider how best to maximise the economic and social impact of the revised allocations.

Against that background, I am pleased to announce that the Executive have now agreed to commit funding for the following projects within the next four years. There will be an investment of £330 million to upgrade two sections of the A5: that from Londonderry to north of Strabane, and that from south of Omagh to Ballygally. Secondly, there will be £57 million — [Laughter.]

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Ballygawley.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

Arlene Foster has tried unsuccessfully to correct my pronunciation of that area. I thought that I had it right, but anyhow. Linking east and west is an idea. There will be £57 million for the A2 Greenisland road scheme; £105 million to take forward the A8 Belfast to Larne dual carriageway; £28·5 million towards the next phase of the Altnagelvin Hospital refurbishment; and £63·2 million to allow acceleration of the new Omagh Hospital and phase B of the Ulster Hospital.

The Executive recognised the need to reduce journey times between our two largest cities and the west of the Province. The planned upgrade of the A5 road will do just that and will have significant economic benefits for Northern Ireland. That represents a key step towards improving our strategic roads infrastructure. It has also become increasingly clear that a considerable bottleneck exists along the A2 between Belfast and Carrickfergus. I witness that bottleneck daily, although that did not influence this decision, Mr Speaker; let me emphasise that. The A2 road scheme will address that issue and will ensure faster journey times on that key commuter route.

The new commitments to investment in our roads network will significantly improve key sections of our strategic roads infrastructure and demonstrate the Executive’s commitment to promoting our long-term economic growth prospects. It will also provide a significant boost to our construction industry at a time when the wider economy is still recovering from the economic downturn.

The delivery of quality healthcare services remains a key priority for the Executive. The hospital allocations announced today inject an additional £91·7 million into our health infrastructure over the next three years. The decision to invest in the three key hospital projects will enhance our health sector’s capacity to deliver quality healthcare services in Londonderry, Omagh and Belfast. That will have significant benefits for patients in those areas. Like the roads investment, it will also provide much needed employment opportunities for our construction sector.

In total, the projects announced this morning will generate in excess of 2,500 construction sector jobs. Proceeding with those funding commitments will have implications for the funding available in each of the next four financial years. Although the impact for next year — at less than £1million — is negligible, the position for the following three years is that we range from having some resources unallocated — just under £80 million in 2013-14 — to an over-allocation of some £185 million in 2014-15.

The issue is material but manageable. It would be easy for me simply to sit back and say that we must only ever allocate exactly what we have available in any one year and that we must similarly plan to spend up to that limit, regardless of any mature consideration of the economic or social value of such spend.

Although we must deliver spend to those constraints, it is important to take a much more pragmatic and flexible approach to planning, particularly when responding to issues such as the Irish Government’s late reduction of their funding promise to us.

We have a number of safety valves open to us, not least the general variation in departmental spending against plan, demonstrated again in this financial year, and the fact that, since Budgets were set, I have secured some measure of automatic end-year flexibility (EYF) from the Treasury for Northern Ireland. That has not yet been factored into spending plans. We also have capacity to accelerate spend from years when overcommitted into years where resources are available. For example, our commitments to the three sporting bodies as regards stadia developments extend into the next Budget period, and there is scope to bring that forward.

I will be returning to the Executive with further specific proposals on that issue in the near future, but the key point at this stage is to provide certainty for the public and the construction sector about our commitment to proceed with high levels of investment. Such investment brings major economic social benefits for the whole of Northern Ireland and will help to provide a boost to our construction industry in these difficult times. I, therefore, commend these additional allocations to the House.

Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas. I thank the Minister for his statement, and I welcome it. I see that he continues to struggle with Ballygawley. Given that his colleagues appear to be warming to our national game, perhaps he could use the term “Errigal Ciarán country” from here on in.

Nonetheless, I very much welcome the statement that the Minister has made this morning. It is significant good news, particularly at this time, when, even in my constituency, we have had announcements of job losses. Today’s announcement will help to lift the mood again in relation to that.

Will the Minister outline for us how these funding announcements align with and support commitments in the draft Programme for Government and the economic strategy? The Minister said that there would be a significant boost to the economy with in excess of 2,500 construction jobs. He will obviously be aware that that will provide significant opportunities, through the use of social clauses, to ensure that there is a significant social output and an output in respect of the Executive’s priorities for the recruitment of apprentices from our long-term unemployed. Can he give assurances that Central Procurement Directorate in his Department will be ensuring that the multiplier benefits of those construction jobs reach areas in which the Executive have an interest, through social clauses and in ensuring that there is equality and fairness in how the benefits of today’s announcement are distributed across society?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I assure the Member that I will not attempt the Irish pronunciation. As the First Minister has pointed out; if I cannot get the English right, I will hardly get the Irish right. I will leave it at that.

This announcement fits in with the first priority in the Programme for Government, which is to help the growth of our economy. It helps in a number of ways. First, as the Chairman has pointed out, in dealing with long-term unemployment and youth unemployment, there will be social clauses in the contracts, which will, of course, help the Minister for Employment and Learning with some of the targets that he has set regarding youth unemployment and bringing people back into work.

Secondly, it will create 2,500 jobs in the construction industry, but that is not the end of the matter. There is a multiplier effect for this. It is reckoned that the £500 million that we will be spending will, in turn, generate additional spending, which, because of the multiplier effect of about 2·8:1, will be nearly £1·6 billion over the period. The people who get the jobs will spend money in local shops and buy goods and services, etc. That is good news for the wider economy.

Thirdly, it will help infrastructure. I am going to mention one section of road, particularly because I want to get the word right. The section from Omagh to Ballygawley is particularly important from the trade Minister’s point of view. She wants to see better links for the west of the Province with the port in Belfast, for example, so that engineering firms that manufacture goods in the west of the Province will have easier access. Such links will make her task of promoting jobs in manufacturing in the west of the Province much easier.

This morning’s proposals will have an immediate impact on each of these areas, but they will also have a long-term strategic impact in ensuring that we have an infrastructure that will enable us to attract industry across Northern Ireland.

Tom Buchanan (DUP, West Tyrone)

I welcome the Minister’s statement to the House. I suppose I was straying into this area yesterday, when the Speaker pulled me into line. This is one of the largest investments into roads infrastructure and health that we have seen in the west for quite a long time, and that is to be welcomed. Does the Minister agree that it will have a huge impact on manufacturing, trade, business and commuting to and from Belfast and that it will open up the entire west of the Province for future development and job creation?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I knew that the Member would get a second bite at the cherry today, Mr Speaker. Even though he was ruled out of order yesterday, I knew that he would get good news when he raised the issue today. Therefore, it was worth waiting for.

Of course, he is exactly right. It is an important infrastructure development for the west of the Province. I emphasise again that the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment was keen to have that kind of linkage, because it is important to have contacts between those areas. I have visited many of the manufacturing firms in the west of the Province. There, strong manufacturing firms are doing business right across the world, and an infrastructure that enables them to transport their goods that much more easily to the port in Belfast will be of immense benefit. I know that there was a strong lobby for it. However, there are those who will say that the decisions on the two sections of the A5 were simply political. They were not political decisions; they were made on the basis of good economic judgement and arguments. The infrastructure will benefit the west of the Province and help to sustain some of the firms that are already there doing international business.

Leslie Cree (UUP, North Down)

I also welcome my good friend the Finance Minister’s statement. The Minister, in his statement, used the term “generate” when referring to the 2,500 jobs. Will he clarify whether that is generating new jobs or supporting existing jobs?

I was pleased that he referred to the Ulster Hospital project. Will he confirm that it is ready to go, and has he any indication of its likely phasing?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

The jobs that will be created may well sustain jobs in existing firms for which work is running out. In some instances, new jobs will be created in firms that did not have a work stream here in Northern Ireland. It will be a combination of the two. Nevertheless, it ensures that people who are out of work or would, potentially, be out of work because work is drying up for some firms, are guaranteed an income into the future, and that income will generate additional spin-offs in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has said that it is ready to go ahead with the project at the Ulster Hospital, a section of which needs refurbishment. As a representative for the area, the Member will know the problems that have been caused. The hospital has a brand new wing, beside which is a wing that is probably 30 or 40 years old. It is in a considerable state of disrepair and requires maintenance. He will need to take up the exact phasing of the project with the Health Minister, who can give him more detail on the profile of the spend. However, the anticipated spend on the Ulster Hospital is £22·5 million in 2012-13, £7·5 million in 2013-14 and a further £7·5 million in 2014-15. Most of the work will start and be carried on in the next financial year.

Joe Byrne (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I welcome the Minister’s statement. It is a positive and welcome story. The upgrade of the A5 ends the uncertainty, and that is very welcome. I also agree with the Minister that it is an important economic kick-start for the local economy, particularly the construction industry in the west. Are the Minister and the Executive still committed to completing the remaining sections in the long term, given the uncertainty created because of Irish Government funding? It is important for us to reaffirm our position on the overall scheme.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

As I said in answer to an earlier question, as far as I, as Finance Minister, am concerned, the decision on any roads scheme must be based first, on the priorities in the Programme for Government and, secondly, on how the scheme fits into the priorities that Departments have set for themselves. There must be objective criteria on which such investment decisions are made. There are schemes for parts of the A5, two of which have been mentioned, that, under any Department for Regional Development (DRD) measure, would have gone ahead anyway because they met the criteria. There are other parts, and the Member will know them, that have had a far, far lower priority.

The second thing, of course, as the Member will know, is that I cannot possibly make any commitment for the next Budget period, because I do not know what the Budget is likely to be or what other schemes this would be competing with. At the same time, I do not want to give any commitment today that would take the pressure off the Irish Government to make a contribution. I think that the Member will recognise that it would be very foolish to do that. We have a £50 million commitment from the Irish Government. If I were to signify that we were quite happy to continue with the rest of the road, no further money would be forthcoming. It is my job to maximise the amount of money that comes into the purse in Northern Ireland so that we can maximise our spend.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Thank you, Minister, for your statement. In the round, it is a very welcome and very sensible way forward. I particularly welcome the schemes for the A2 Shore Road and the A8 in the East Antrim constituency and the amount of work that will be done on those. Some of us have been waiting for over 30 years for work on the A2 to be done. The Minister is to be congratulated on making his decision on that.

Minister, is there really a role for the Regional Development Minister now that you have made that decision? Or is his job just to get on and do it?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

Let me make something very clear: this was an Executive decision. There were discussions with Executive colleagues. I discussed it with the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the Minister with responsibility for roads, the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, and the Health Minister. All these things were discussed with Ministers, and the Executive made and endorsed a collective decision this morning. Of course, the priorities and the information that the Minister with responsibility for roads provided was an important input in deciding where the money should go. Primarily, most of the money was roads money. Therefore, you would have expected that the Department for Regional Development would make a claim on that money. Although I would love to take all the credit for the way in which the money was spent and allocated this was a collective decision that was made on the basis of the kind of arguments that I mentioned. What is the economic potential of this allocation? What is its social potential? How does it fit in with the priorities in the Programme for Government? How does it measure up against other demands for money in the system?

Alastair Ross (DUP, East Antrim)

I warmly welcome the statement this morning, and I particularly welcome the two projects in the East Antrim constituency. I am sure that the Finance Minister agrees that, although the A5 project is important to the west, the A8 project is strategically very important for businesses across Northern Ireland, given the volume of freight traffic going through the Port of Larne.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

One reason why the A8 is a high-priority road scheme is because it is one of the Trans-European Network road schemes, and, for that reason, it is an important strategic link for businesses in Northern Ireland in getting to the Port of Larne. Equally, it is an important strategic link for goods coming from Stranraer and Cairnryan into Northern Ireland for distribution. Again, it was chosen on the basis that it is a strategic scheme. The Minister still has to see the commissioner’s report. I do not know what variations there may be to the scheme as a result of that, but, ultimately, the Minister will be able to decide how to proceed once he has received the commissioner’s report.

Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the Minister’s statement and thank him for it. However, I have one slight reservation. I hope that the consultant engineers, particularly the contractors, understand that the project is for the Omagh to Ballygawley section rather than Omagh to Bally-whatever-Sammy-called-it.

Will the Minister confirm that the work that he announced on the upgrade of two sections of the A5 will start this autumn? Will he confirm a date for the start of the work on the new hospital in Omagh?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

First, the spend on those two sections will start this year. In fact, the projected spend for the next financial year, 2012-13, is £40 million on the section of the A5 from Omagh to Ballygally — or Ballygawley; I will get it right — and £35 million on the section from Londonderry to Strabane. So, there is a substantial spend. The heavier amounts will fall in years 2 and 3, but the spend will start this year.

The proposal on the new Omagh hospital will mean that there will be less time between the enabling works being carried out, which I understand are being done, and the hospital’s being built. There was going to be a bit of a gap there. There will be substantial spend of nearly £10 million on the Omagh hospital this year.

David Hilditch (DUP, East Antrim)

I thank the Minister for his statement, and I give it a very warm welcome, particularly the announcements on the A2 and A8 schemes. If there is one going to Ballygally, we will take it too, Sammy. Will the Minister indicate the benefits of his announcements to wider job creation and economic development in east Antrim?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

The immediate impact will be on the construction jobs that result from the A2 and A8 contracts. Those schemes will generate a substantial number of construction jobs in the area.

As the Member will know from travelling on the road between Carrickfergus and Belfast every day, the improvement of that road will open up huge possibilities. For example, I suspect that many firms are put off locating at the Courtaulds site outside Carrickfergus because the difficulties in travelling from the site in the evening or to the site in the morning are such that people can spend an hour sitting in traffic jams. Such delays add to the costs that a business would face if it were to locate in the Carrickfergus area.

Hopefully, once work on the road is completed, those costs will be substantially reduced, which will mean long-term possibilities of and potential for job creation. Again, that is the kind of argument that the Enterprise Minister would have been making to us when we looked at the scheme.

Roy Beggs (UUP, East Antrim)

As an East Antrim MLA, I welcome the new funding that has been allocated to easing congestion at Greenisland and the ongoing funding that has been allocated to the A8 scheme. However, all the necessary permissions have to be in place before public money can be spent. Will the Minister acknowledge and confirm that the A2 scheme has its permissions, meaning that vesting can take place and a contractor can be appointed but that the public inquiries still have to be completed on the A8 and A5 schemes?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

As far as the A2 is concerned, the Member is quite right: the public inquiry has been completed. Much of the land has been bought. I think about £16 million has already been spent — I could be wrong, but it is somewhere around that — on purchasing properties along the route. All that has to be done now is to put the scheme out to tender. The procurement will start and should be completed sometime in the middle of the financial year so that money can be spent in 2012.

Due to the lead-in time with the tender and whatnot, it is estimated that a very small amount will be spent this year on the A2 scheme. That is because by the time a contractor is put in place and whatnot we will be getting towards the end of the financial year.

As far as the A8 is concerned, the Member is quite right. Again, all the permissions are in place. A contractor has been appointed, but the Minister still has to receive the report from the public inquiry.

I do not know what changes the report may recommend, because I am not privy to it, or indeed whether the Minister will accept any of the recommendations from the public inquiry. However, I understand that he is to receive that fairly soon.

Raymond McCartney (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas ar maidin. I thank the Minister and welcome his decision and statement.

The Minister will be well aware from the One Plan of the strategic importance of the A5. His announcement is an obvious commitment to the One Plan and will be very welcome in Derry. I am sure the Minister is aware of an important event in Derry tonight in relation to the regeneration of Ebrington Barracks and four or five Executive Ministers are coming down. So, I would say you would be a very welcome visitor tonight, and we would even allow you a mispronunciation of “Derry”.

(Mr Principal Deputy Speaker [Mr Molloy] in the Chair)

Altnagelvin Area Hospital is listed in the statement as a refurbishment. Will the Minister confirm that there will be a newbuild on the site as part of that process?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I had hoped to attend the event in Londonderry this evening, but I suspect, given how long-winded Members will be in the Budget debate, and if some contributions I heard yesterday are anything to go by, I and others may well be here long after the opening of the square. I have met representatives from Londonderry chamber of trade, Ilex, the council and a wide range of representatives on a number of occasions. In fact, I think I have visited that city more often than anywhere else.

There is a very positive attitude in the city. I hesitate to say it, but sometimes there was a reputation of maybe a wee bit too much whinging. However, I have detected a very positive attitude. The One Plan, of course, was important. The whole idea was how to maximise whatever spend was undertaken by public bodies to ensure that it had the greatest economic impact. Altnagelvin hospital will get new wards to replace those in the tower block that have become not really fit for purpose. I trust that the spend on the road to Strabane and at Altnagelvin hospital will not only create jobs but improve the infrastructure, which will enable the other spend that will be going into the city to be maximised.

Margaret Ritchie (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I thank the Minister for his statement, and I pay tribute to my colleague Joe Byrne, who has been assiduous in his pursuit of the A5 project. Will the Minister, in anticipation of the UK Budget on 21 March, suggest whether he can see or project any possible readjustments to that as a result of the out-turn of the UK Budget? Will he also have discussions directly with the Minister for Regional Development about the Ballynahinch bypass, since the line has been prescribed for it but no funding identified?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I know that the Member thinks that her party can magic money out of thin air, although it never materialises. We have used and maximised the money we have available. Of course, Ministers will have other capital schemes. In due time, if money becomes available, I am sure she will make representations very strongly on that issue, as she has done to me on other projects.

As far as what will happen in the UK Budget, I do not have a crystal ball. I do not know what the proposals or implications are likely to be. Listening to the Chancellor this morning on the radio talking about the threat of the United Kingdom’s credit rating maybe being reduced in a year-and-a-half’s time, I suspect that he is not going to loosen the purse strings a great deal. Of course, if that is the case, there will be implications for Northern Ireland.

Gordon Dunne (DUP, North Down)

I thank the Minister for his statement and welcome the planned investment announced. What is the timetable for new works at the Ulster Hospital? What significance will those works have for areas such as north Down, which lost its local hospitals many years ago?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

The exact timetable is something that the Member needs to raise with the Health Minister. As far as the Ulster Hospital is concerned, we will spend £37·5 million on two main blocks. Those are the ward block and the acute block, which will then be completed. The ward block work is already going ahead. That new money will make possible the second part of the acute development at the Ulster Hospital; namely, the accident and emergency department, theatres, and so forth. The Member needs to take up the issues of exact timing and completion dates with the Health Minister.

Jennifer McCann (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Like other Members, I thank the Minister for his statement. It is a welcome announcement, given the jobs that will be created. However, I cannot help but notice that the Belfast rapid transit system is not mentioned in the statement. Given that it would connect two of the most deprived areas — north and west Belfast — to jobs, which are extremely important for people who live there, can the Minister please update the House on the project?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

Again, that is a matter for the Minister for Regional Development. All that I am doing is announcing where the £583 million that is available to us as a result of the decision to withdraw funding from the A5 project will be spent. I am not sure where exactly the rapid transit system sits in the regional development strategy. From my days on Belfast City Council, it has always been my understanding that a substantial amount of private money has to go into that project. Of course, that is the responsibility of developers at the Titanic Quarter.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

I certainly welcome the statement. In the light of the Irish Government’s decision to withdraw funding, this has been a sensible allocation of money. I welcome the answers that the Minister has given on future strategic decisions, because the A26 project and improvements that are needed on that stretch of road will come into play for the entire Province.

I ask the Minister to highlight again the importance of the decision to the construction industry. It will benefit not only one section of the industry but a wide spectrum: building contractors; electrical contractors and engineers; mechanical contractors and engineers; and all specialised subcontractors.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

It will indeed. Of course, it will also benefit support industries, such as architects, quantity surveyors, surveyors, and so on. The entire construction industry will benefit. As I pointed out in earlier answers, the total impact should be 2,500 jobs, which will be in existing small and large firms throughout the industry. A wide range of skills will also be involved, from roads construction — civil engineering — to the construction of hospitals, which will require all the skills that the Member mentioned. The construction industry has told us that it wants certainty. We have now told it how we plan to spend money over the next three years. That will enable the industry to plan its investment and training. The important point to make is that we want to see continuity of work for the construction industry so that it can, in turn and with certainty, take on people, train them and retain a skill base for the industry in Northern Ireland.

Judith Cochrane (Alliance, Belfast East)

I, too, welcome the funding commitment to various projects, particularly for phase B of the Ulster Hospital in my constituency. However, I am concerned about the implications for future years, given the other pressures that we will face with continued UK budgetary cuts. Given the already apparent over-allocation, can the Minister give any indication of ideas that he might have to deal with those other pressures and proper long-term budgetary planning?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I have been upfront with the Assembly this morning. I did not have to go into the figures in as much detail as I did, but I was upfront in indicating that there is an over-commitment in the final year of the Budget. That can be dealt with in a number of ways. First, we could re-profile some of our capital spend. We should not forget that, in the second year of the spending plan or the third year of the Budget, we will have a surplus of £78 million. We could bring some of the spending from year 4 of the Budget or year 3 of the spending plan into that year to reduce that over-commitment.

We could also use end-year flexibility or carry money forward. Frankly, rather than working to a timetable of spending only the money that we have and then finding in the final year — we found that this year — that we are carrying over more money than the Treasury allows and having to give that money back, I would prefer to have three years to plan for how we deal with that over-commitment. In that way, we will be able to keep the money in Northern Ireland. There are other means of dealing with that over-commitment that I will bring to the Executive. In fact, I made it clear to my Executive colleagues this morning that, to deal with that over-commitment, we will have to look at making other decisions. However, I do not think that those decisions will be particularly painful.

Representatives of the construction industry have said that the industry is reliant on government spending. Hopefully, that situation will change during the next three years and more private spend will come through. However, given the plight of the construction industry and the need to create jobs, I think that it is a risk worth taking. It is not a massive risk; it is calculated, and I believe that it can be dealt with. It is worth re-profiling some spend that will leave us with an over-commitment in the final year, but with three years to deal with it.

Sandra Overend (UUP, Mid Ulster)

I look forward to the time when Mid Ulster becomes a priority for the Finance Minister, but I hope that the construction jobs that will be created will help the constituency. Will the Finance Minister detail what proportion of the jobs created will be Northern Ireland jobs? Have contracts been awarded? Where will those contracts go?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

Some of the contracts have been awarded, and contracts for two parts of the A5 and for the A8 were awarded to Northern Ireland firms. The contracts for the hospitals and the A2 have not yet been awarded.

The Member will know that, under procurement rules, we cannot show favour to Northern Ireland firms. However, I hope that the success that Northern Ireland firms have had in tendering for the some of the major schemes will continue and that the contracts for the other schemes will go to firms based in Northern Ireland.

At the end of the day, we have to get the best value for money through procurement; you would not expect anything else. There are strict rules for procurement, so I cannot predict the outcome of the procurement exercises on the outstanding schemes.

Jimmy Spratt (DUP, Belfast South)

I thank the Minister for his statement. It is evidence of a considered and pragmatic approach, and it is welcomed by the Committee for Regional Development. Will the Minister confirm whether the criteria that were used for the two sections of the A5 that he identified will go ahead under normal DRD construction criteria?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

First, discussions were held with the roads Minister on those schemes. Secondly, all the facts and figures about traffic movements, accident statistics and the kind of traffic that travels on those roads are available to DRD. The two parts that have been chosen would, by any objective roads criteria, have been high up the priority list anyway. The traffic volumes on the A2 and the A8 and the strategic nature of those routes were more than sufficient to justify the expenditure on them.

I want to emphasise that, as I said in the statement and as an examination of the detail of the particular schemes will show, strict economic, social and strategic significance was considered when the decisions were made as to which schemes should go ahead.

Phil Flanagan (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Cuirim fearadh na fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire inniu. The Minister and his Executive colleagues will be all too well aware of the ongoing problem of rising emigration that we face, particularly in rural communities such as Fermanagh and Tyrone. He will also be aware of the impact that this positive announcement about immediate capital projects will have in giving some sort of hope to young people who are choosing to emigrate, particularly to those who have qualified in the fields of construction and engineering.

What is the Minister’s assessment of the impact that those project announcements will have, not only on short-term job creation but in the long term in society as a whole, as we seek to move from decades and, in fact, centuries of historical underinvestment in infrastructural projects west of the Bann?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I do not agree that there have been decades of underinvestment. The Executive have spread investment across the whole of Northern Ireland. Everywhere I go, no matter whether it is east, west, north or south, to speak at chamber of trade dinners — the most recent one was in Newry — it never fails to amuse me when I hear the same story about historical underinvestment. People in my constituency of East Antrim tell me that no government jobs are located there, and they talk about historical underinvestment. Everybody will tell the same story, although the reality is something different.

The Member has made an important point, however. I have said this before, but it bears repetition: when we invest in strategic roads, it opens up economic possibilities. Invest NI has already bought sites along the road from Dungannon to Ballygawley — I got it right this time — that will enable economic development there. I have no doubt that the road from Ballygawley to Omagh will do exactly the same. Of course, it is important that the firms that are already established there have an infrastructure that enables them to be sustained and to open up further possibilities.

Yes, there is a short-term benefit, but, if there was only a short-term benefit, this announcement would not represent all that significant an investment, because once the short-term jobs are gone, they are gone. If these are the right investment decisions, and I believe that they are, the benefits will be felt by communities that are impacted by those roads in the much longer term. Hopefully, that will address at least some of the problems. As far as the Executive can do, when we are facing global pressures, it will help to address some of the issues that the Member has raised.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I also welcome the Minister’s statement and the green light for two sections of the A5. I am also very pleased to hear about the investment in our healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the Western Trust area.

As the Minister outlined earlier to Mr McCartney, the Altnagelvin hospital investment will facilitate the construction of a new north wing, which will comprise six wards and should greatly enhance the experiences of patients and staff at the hospital. The Omagh investment will bring that project forward by a year. I very much welcome the capital commitment and the jobs that it will create. However, will the Minister tell us whether the Executive will display the same commitment to the retention of health service jobs in the Western Trust area, which is an area of very high unemployment?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

It is nice to hear the Member welcome something. He usually picks holes in everything that I bring to the Assembly. He has four pieces of news to welcome: that must be a record. I hope that it will keep him happy and off my back for a wee while at least. Once there is investment in the hospitals infrastructure, there will be employment consequences. As for the detail of what is happening with the health spend in the Western Trust, it is more appropriate that that is drawn from the Health Minister than from me.

George Robinson (DUP, East Londonderry)

I thank the Minister for his statement and welcome the money for new projects. May I request that any future moneys — any loose change — are directed to the Regional Development Minister for the upgrade of the A26, where so many fatalities have occurred, and the Dungiven bypass project to alleviate the health risks to residents and commuters alike in Dungiven?

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

As I mentioned, as a result of the statement, there is already an overcommitment in the final year of the Budget that has to be addressed. We have to look at whether the Budget review that we will undertake will release some capital from other Departments for roads, whether additional money will come from other sources, or whether, as a result of Executive discussions, we find that we can draw in private finance for schemes. I have to say that the Executive understand the importance of spending on our infrastructure, not only because of the short-term jobs that that creates but because of the long-term possibilities. Through the Budget review group, we will continue to explore other ways in which we can bring forward more capital projects in the future, if possible.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford)

This is a good news story, and everyone in the Chamber welcomes it. There are some disappointments. Ballynahinch is not mentioned anywhere, even though it has been waiting 30 or 40 years for a bypass. It was interesting that, I think, every Minister, including the First Minister and the deputy First Minister, were in the Chamber this morning to listen to the statement, but the roads Minister — the Minister for Regional Development — was not about.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford)

Was he? [Interruption.]

Francie Molloy (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Order.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford)

I apologise, but he did not hang around very long to hear the rest of the discussion. [Interruption.]

Francie Molloy (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Order. We are discussing the Minister’s statement and not who is here and who is not here.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford)

It is a good news story that comes after a bad news story yesterday, with the loss of 300-odd jobs in Armagh. It is a good news story, which, along with everyone else, I very much welcome. In particular, I welcome the investment in all the hospital sites. As the Alliance Party health spokesperson, I am delighted that that investment is being made. My main concern is the 2,500 jobs that the Minister said that he will try to create. That will not be his job. It will be Minister for Regional Development’s job —

Francie Molloy (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Question.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford)

— to ensure that the work will be given out locally, and there will be no hanging around. Get on with the job, get it done, and create all those jobs.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I am not sure what the Member wants. One minute he condemns the Minister for Regional Development for not hanging around and then he says he does not want him to hang around. I wish that he would make up his mind. In defence of the Minister for Regional Development, and in the pursuit of co-operation between the two unionist parties, I will explain that he, along with the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and the Health Minister, is doing a press conference. They left to do the press conference during questions on the statement. So he did not walk out because he was in bad form or anything like that; he had a commitment to talk about the schemes in his Department’s remit.

Mr McCarthy and, I think, a couple of other Members mentioned the Ballynahinch scheme. One of our criteria for spending the money was whether it could be spent in the time available. As far as the Ballynahinch road scheme is concerned, I understand, from speaking to Mr Hamilton, that, even though there is a proposal for a bypass, the land has not yet been bought. The Member may shake his head, but he will know that there is a required process. Given that the scheme has not advanced even to that stage, it is unlikely that we could have spent the money in the time available.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

This morning’s announcement about the A5 demonstrates that, in the Executive, what Sinn Féin wants, Sinn Féin gets. Three months ago, after the Republic backed out, the Minister, through the BBC, told us:

“the road cannot be financed and cannot be built … We’re looking at how we re-profile that and what we spend it on.”

He went on to say that spending the money on hospitals, schools and houses would be a better spend in any event. Today, he tells us that, though the Republic’s Government have backed out, he will build big chunks of the A5 for them anyway. Where is the business case for the A5 project that he has approved? When did he approve that, or has due process simply been trumped by political horse-trading? If due process were in vogue, he would be announcing the advancement of the A26 project this morning, because it meets the traffic volume criteria, which the A5 comes nowhere close to meeting.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

I know that the Member acts as a kind of lone opposition in this place. However, I would have thought that, on a morning when we have what is generally accepted as good news across the House and will, undoubtedly, be accepted as good news right across the construction industry and the wider economic society in Northern Ireland, he could at least have avoided being churlish. Of course, as the old saying goes, every silver lining has its cloud. I suppose that that has been justified here this morning.

I know that the Member thinks that Sinn Féin wags the dog in this place, but I have been at pains to explain that that is not the case. Sinn Féin made it clear that it wanted the whole A5 done. It wanted all available money from our Budget and that of the Republic to be spent on doing as much work on the A5 as could be done with the £450 million available. That did not happen. We chose particular parts of the road on the basis of traffic volume and economic benefit.

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has already made it clear that, as far as she is concerned, the work will help to sustain and generate jobs in the west of the Province. I think that it is important that the economic benefits that stem from whatever actions the Executive take are felt right across Northern Ireland. That is always an important consideration, but not to the extent to which we would go ahead with unjustifiable projects.

The reason why the rest of the A5 is not being done is that it did not stack up. We could have put more money into that, because we did not spend all the money from the A5 reallocation. The reason why we did not do so was that other projects stacked up and were considered to be of higher priority. I know that the Member will not accept that. However, all I can say to him is that that is the way in which the decision was made.

Maurice (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

One thing that disappointed me about the Minister’s statement was that he was unable to pronounce “Ballygawley”. That disappoints me, as it is the town of my birth, so I will have to talk to him to find out what is going on.

In relation to the A5, a sensible decision has been taken to drop the section from Aughnacloy to Ballygawley. From day one, some of us said that it could never be justified, and I am pleased that that has happened. However, as a result of today’s statement, something needs to happen, and it is this: we need to get a hold of the public inquiry into the A5. Only the Regional Development Minister knows why he will not release that. Furthermore, we need to remove the blight from the section between Ballygawley and Aughnacloy. There is a lot of farmers’ land there, and that land could continue to be blighted if a clear statement of intent is not made soon. I welcome the Minister’s statement.

Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Antrim)

Most of what the Member has raised is a matter for DRD. However, I have made it clear that as far as I am concerned, any further work along any section of the A5 will depend on money from the Irish Republic. We want to maximise that. If there are parts of that road that the Irish Republic believes to be of strategic importance to it, that will be the case. The Member is quite right: the stretch from Ballygawley to Aughnacloy was one of those that, on objective criteria, would not have been justified.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the NI Act 1998, regarding a meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NMSC) in education sectoral format. The meeting was held in the joint secretariat offices in Armagh on 1 February 2012. I represented the Executive, as Minister of Education, along with the Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland MLA. The Irish Government were represented by Ruairi Quinn TD, Minister for Education and Skills. The statement has been agreed with Minister McCausland and is made on behalf of us both.

I will summarise the main points from the meeting, ranging across all the agreed areas of education co-operation. With respect to the education survey in the border regions, we recognised the importance of facilitating parental preference in participation in schools. We noted the changing population in border areas and the impact that that might have on schools. Taking into account those issues, we discussed how those parents who so wished might be able to send their children to schools on either side of the border.

With respect to taking forward greater parental preference in schools in the border regions, we discussed the developing plans and agreed the next steps for the conduct of a joint survey to inform cross-border pupil movement and school planning. An interim report on the preparation for the survey will be presented to the next NSMC education meeting. The survey is due to be conducted later this year, and its results and proposals on the way forward will be considered by the Ministers no later than the first NSMC education meeting of 2013.

With regard to special educational needs, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to the future development of the Middletown Centre for Autism. We welcomed the progress made by the two Departments in conjunction with the centre on the development of a multi-annual plan for Middletown. The plan will take full account of developments in recent years. It will also reflect international best practice. It will, of course, be deliverable within the financial constraints faced by both Administrations. Taking account of those factors, we noted that a paper containing proposals on the way forward for the Middletown centre will be brought forward for decision at our next meeting in May. We welcomed the continuing progress made by the Middletown centre in delivering training to professionals and parents, in outreach support for children and in the continuing programme of research.

The Council noted that future meetings of the educational underachievement working group will include an important focus on sharing best practice in raising literacy and numeracy standards. We welcomed the publication of a joint report by the two inspectorates on promoting and improving literacy and numeracy in schools and a commitment by both inspectorates to continuing collaboration.

We noted that Marino Institute of Education in Dublin is considering a proposal from the University of Ulster to deliver a preparatory course to enable students to undertake assessments leading to the Scrúdu Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge, an Irish-language teaching requirement in the South. We also noted that St Mary’s University College, Belfast has expressed an interest in delivering the course.

We noted that an Irish-medium collaborative programme for the 2011-12 academic year to support Gaeltacht schools and Irish-medium schools has been approved and is being implemented.

The Council welcomed the publication of the ‘School Leadership Matters’ report, which is available on the Regional Training Unit and Professional Development Service for Teachers websites. We welcomed ongoing exchanges and sharing of good practice in school evaluation by the two inspectorates.

As regards school, youth and teacher exchanges, the Council welcomed North/South student exchanges, which are due to take place in March, and we noted that the evaluation of the dissolving boundaries programme has been completed.

In closing, Ministers agreed that the North/South Ministerial Council in education sectoral format should meet again on 30 May in Armagh.

Mervyn Storey (DUP, North Antrim)

There is little to welcome in this statement to the House. It seems as though the type on the statement gets bigger but the content gets less. It raises a number of serious issues.

First, I want to raise concern about the comments made in the paper about parental preference for parents from the Irish Republic. When will the Minister ensure that that is extended to parents in Northern Ireland, given the position that he and his party hold regarding certain sectors of education?

A very serious issue is what the paper describes as the “continuing progress” of Middletown. Minister, Middletown has now become an albatross for your Department. It is delivering nothing for the children in Northern Ireland who have serious problems and challenges. Let me conclude by quoting a parent. Middletown is not supported by autism organisations and the Northern Ireland Audit Office. The parent said:

“Why has there not been a comprehensive review of the value of Middletown? It appears to me as if it muddles on in its development stage. No one is taking any notice of the fact that schools cannot manage children and young people with ASD.”

Minister, when will you stop the charade and put the money to better use to serve the children of Northern Ireland who are crying out for your help? Unfortunately, it seems as though your ears are closed.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

I thank the Member for the series of points that he raised. First, I welcome his comment on the slowness of some of the programmes of work. The wheels of bureaucracy grind quite slowly on both sides of the border. I assure you that there is great cross-border co-operation on that matter. I am of the view, and I think that I fairly reflect Minister Quinn’s point of view, that the programme of work regarding the delivery of services on a cross-border nature in education needs to be expedited. The survey that we are conducting will assist both Departments in bringing forward a planned approach to the delivery of education in a cross-border region, to the benefit of the young people involved.

You raised some more specific issues. I assume that when you talk about parental preference, you refer to academic selection. I wonder how much preference parents had last Saturday morning when they were opening letters to be told that their 11-year-old child was rejected from a school. Where is the parental preference in that? I assume that that was what the Member was referring to.

I can assure you that my ears and eyes are not closed to the issue of Middletown. Minister Quinn and I have had several discussions about that matter. We expect a report from our Departments towards the end of February, and that will involve a number of options on what the future holds for Middletown. I will study that closely, and at the North/South Ministerial Council meeting in May, we will announce the way forward for Middletown. As I said in my statement, it will be based on current positions in both jurisdictions, international best practice and the best way forward for young people with autism. That is what the decision will be based on, and I assure the Member that all the views that have been expressed by parents and autism groups will be taken on board. At this stage, my political views and those of other Members should not be taken into account. The decision will be based on service delivery for autism.

Daithí McKay (Sinn Féin, North Antrim)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his statement. Some of the schools involved in the joint cross-border survey will be affected by the Commission for Catholic Education’s report that was launched yesterday. How will the proposals in that report affect the cross-border flow of pupils? Perhaps he could give his overall view on the report.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

I thank the Member for the question. The Commission for Catholic Education’s report is a comprehensive piece of work that was conducted over a number of years and sets out the future of Catholic education for, perhaps, a generation to come. It deserves close scrutiny. I will await the publication of development proposals, if we reach that stage, for the five proposed closures, and I will make due judgement on those proposals following the consultation process. There are several other recommendations on amalgamations, and so on, that will also require development proposals.

The Member asked about cross-border travel for pupils. Proposals that will come in the later stages of the process, perhaps a year or two from now, may be affected by the cross-border survey and student and parent demand for schools on either side of the border. It is only right and proper that any proposals for the future of a school in that corridor are taken into account and looked at in conjunction with any parental demand for cross-border travel.

Mike Nesbitt (UUP, Strangford)

As roads are the flavour of the day, I will couch my question in that context if I may. In the context of parents who wish to send their children to schools on either side of the border, does the Minister see that as a one-way or two-way street, with two lanes heading South to avoid what he sees as the evil of selection, and a hard shoulder coming in the other direction? How would he characterise the potential outcome?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

We are conducting the survey to establish exactly how many lanes we need on the highway. I want it to be two-way traffic, and there is already two-way traffic of cross-border pupil movement. If pupils head from the North to the South, my Department picks up the tab; if pupils go in the opposite direction, the Dublin Department picks up the tab. At this stage, we are not looking to establish any policy until we have the information at hand. The cross-border survey will allow us to see the parental demand for such a network of provision, and we will also see the obstacles for parents being allowed to send their children in either direction. I will wait to see how many lanes we need on the highway, to use your analogy, and then build it accordingly.

Conall McDevitt (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

In light of yesterday’s report, what message can the Minister send to young people in Garrison or west Fermanagh? Will their future be a 30-mile commute to Enniskillen, or will the report allow them, potentially, to access a school in Bundoran in the foreseeable future? How far away is that foreseeable future?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

It would be inappropriate for me to discuss individual proposals in the commission’s report that may lead to development proposals because I am the person who will have to make the final decision on those matters. That decision can be made only after the consultation process, which has yet to start. So I will not pre-empt any proposal or recommendation in the commission’s report. The cross-border survey will report back to the first North/South Ministerial Council meeting in education format in 2013, along with proposals on the way forward. If there is a demand for firm proposals, they will come to fruition within that timescale.

Francie Molloy (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I remind Members that questions are to this morning’s statement.

Trevor Lunn (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

I want to ask the Minister about the section of his statement dealing with teacher qualifications, particularly the work being done to allow all potential teachers to obtain the scrúdú cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance, Strangford)

Well done. You are learning.

Trevor Lunn (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

The trouble is that, when you say that, you lose your thread.

I ask the Minister whether both jurisdictions are really serious about that. It would be a big step forward if that could be progressed to the point at which there was a level playing field for all potential teachers, North, South and, perhaps, from the European Union.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Yes, both jurisdictions are serious about it because teacher mobility is to the benefit of both. The ongoing work by St Mary’s in Belfast, other institutions in the North and, indeed, institutions in Dublin to co-operate and collaborate on recognisable qualifications, in the medium of Irish and across education, can only benefit education as a whole. I am confident that Minister Quinn wants his Department to work in that direction, and my Department, along with the enabling bodies, including the qualification bodies, etc, is working towards that goal as well.

Jonathan Craig (DUP, Lagan Valley)

Minister, I note that you await proposals in May on moving forward the Middletown Centre for Autism. Will you assure the House that that will be done in conjunction with existing charities? Our experience of Middletown in its previous incarnation was that it just copied and then usurped and undermined charities by carrying out work that they were already involved in. The only difference was that its work cost the taxpayer a fortune compared with what had been delivered.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

There are several different charities involved in autism and several different opinions on how you deliver autism services to young people. I cannot reconcile all those different opinions with the way forward. That would be impossible. I am not saying that there is disagreement, but we certainly cannot get agreement within the autism sector on the best way forward for educational services.

I am of the view that given the 10 years that have elapsed since the original proposal for the Middletown centre, which was based on best practice at the time, the way forward will have to be based on the evidence of the current provision of autism services on either side of the border. We will reflect and learn from best international practice. However, it must be said that the Middletown centre has provided training to thousands of parents and professionals and played its own role in improving autism services on this island. It has not lain dormant, and the building has not been idle. A service has been running.

We have not yet built the accommodation for a residential training model. We will wait for the report’s recommendations on the way forward. The Dublin Government and I want to reflect on the best way forward for that residential model and on the training currently provided.

The autism lobby has, quite rightly, made its voice heard on the matter on both sides of the border. We will listen to the views of the autism charities, but no Government should be run on the basis of trying to accommodate every demand. You have to reach a decision and make the best possible proposal on the way forward on the basis of the evidence in front of you.

Phil Flanagan (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Cuirim fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire. The Minister referred to the changing population in border areas and right along the border corridor. We have seen, in the proposals from the Catholic sector, how that has impacted on the future of some schools. Will the Minister elaborate on the outworkings of the survey that the NSMC proposed and outline what we can expect to happen next?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

At the next meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council on education, there will be a report on how the survey will be conducted. Following that, the survey will be distributed to schools on either side of the border and relevant community agencies, and it will be publicised so that we get as good an uptake as possible. We want people to be able to give feedback because we want a sound information base to ensure that the results from the survey are as broadly based as possible. Then, at the North/South Ministerial Council meeting in education sectoral format in 2013, both Departments will bring proposals on the way forward based on the evidence of demand from the survey.

So, we are working to a number of time frames. The next meeting this year in education sectoral format will look at the survey and how it has been conducted. Then, in 2013, we will see the results of that survey and will decide how it will be moved forward.

Brenda Hale (DUP, Lagan Valley)

Could teacher qualifications in Irish-medium assessment courses be used as a shortlisting criterion? If so, that could further disadvantage students who choose not to take that course.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

The objective is certainly not to disadvantage anyone. I want to ensure that the courses are available to as broad a range of people who wish to take them. At this stage, the Irish-language qualification will really be for teachers who are teaching in the Irish-medium sector and those who wish to go down that career pathway. I want to see qualifications recognised on either side of the border not to disadvantage anyone but to promote the employment of as many teachers as possible.

Jo-Anne Dobson (UUP, Upper Bann)

Minister, you said in your statement:

“The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the future development of the Middletown Centre for Autism.”

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s 2009 report concluded that, at the Middletown Centre for Autism:

“Key services…are not being achieved”.

How can those statements be squared?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

The Audit Office report was factual. The Middletown centre was not developed during the period that the institutions were down. That is a reality. All-Ireland cross-border co-operation stalled, or was certainly on hold, when the institutions went down. So, through no fault of its own, the Middletown centre was not allowed to progress. The Audit Office report was factual. We are saying that, as a result of our recent deliberations, we want to assess the services that are provided. Excellent training services have been provided for professionals and parents. We want to see what the next steps will be. Will it be the consolidation of that service? Do we need to move to a residential option? What is international best practice telling us? What are the services that are available on the island of Ireland telling us about what the next option should be? So, my statement and the Audit Office report are not contradictory in any way. The next steps will be evidence based. There will then be a full report to the meeting in education sectoral format, and I will report to the Assembly on the way forward for the Middletown centre.

Maurice (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Maybe the Minister will make a brave decision on the Middletown development by drawing a line under it, moving on and acknowledging the disaster that it has been.

I am not sure whether the following part of the statement is about the Department for Employment and Learning or the Department of Education. The Minister talked about the University of Ulster delivering on Irish language, and he said that St Mary’s intimated that it also wants to do it. The Minister made a significant statement on that that I want to ask him about directly. He said:

“This is an Irish language teaching requirement in the south.”

Is the Minister now proposing to also make it compulsory for all students in Northern Ireland?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

No, I am not proposing to make it compulsory for all students. It is a voluntary process in the North, and I see no reason to change that. It is about improving the delivery of Irish-language education in the Irish-medium sector and, indeed, through other sectors, if they so wish. So, I am not choosing to make anything compulsory for anyone.

As regards making a brave decision about the Middletown centre, a decision that is made in the absence of all the information would not be a brave decision but simply the wrong decision. So, let us have all the evidence before us so that we can make the right decision in May, and we will move forward from there.

Cathal Boylan (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome the Minister’s statement. I feel that I have to stand up for the Middletown centre, given all the negative comments. Given the latest announcement about possible job losses in Armagh city and district, of which there have been 340 over the past couple of weeks, I think that the announcement on the Middletown centre is positive and welcome. Could the Minister give us an update on the discussions that he has had with his counterpart, Ruairi Quinn, in relation to the Middletown centre?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Yes, we have to remember that when we are talking about any institution, there are employees and staff behind that, with genuine concerns about their future and the way forward. However, as with any decision, we have to focus on the needs of the client base, which, in this case, is the young people with autism, and we want to ensure that we are delivering the most up-to-date and proper service for them.

Minister Quinn and I have liaised as regards Middletown. Minister Quinn is keen to ensure that he has a modern delivery service for autism in his jurisdiction, and I am keen that we have a modern delivery service for autism in my jurisdiction. We want to ensure that whatever decision we come to around Middletown is based on best practice. We await the report of our Departments, and our officials are working closely together on that. When that report is available, Minister Quinn and I will resume our discussions around the matter and reach a decision by the May deadline, when the North/South Ministerial Council will next meet in education sectoral format.

We have to come to a final decision on this because, as the Member said, there are staff behind this decision as well, and they want to know what the future holds for them. There are families with young people with autism who want to know the way forward. As has been mentioned by another Member, there are also charities doing very good work as regards autism that want to know what their role will be. All those individuals and bodies deserve certainty on the way forward for Middletown.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I want to ask the Minister about his enthusiasm for cross-border schooling, which I assume was shared by his unionist minder Nelson McCausland when they committed to the further survey. Does the Minister anticipate that, in due course, from the Northern Ireland Budget we will be providing places and siting schools in order, in part, to facilitate pupils and parents from the Irish Republic? On the question of teacher mobility, did they take time to consider the closed shop arrangement, the Catholic certificate in education, that is a barrier to that?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

The Member will, I am sure, be delighted to know that I do not need any minders no matter where I go. I am more than capable of looking after myself, and I have not met any elected representative yet, including your good self, who is capable of giving me enough problems to make me require a minder.

I do not believe that cross-border mobility will be a cost to the Budget here because, as I have said, we already have pupils travelling back and forth across the border. When students leave this jurisdiction to go to the South, we pick up the bill. When students from the South come to this jurisdiction, the Dublin Government pick up the bill.

There is already a review taking place into the Catholic certificate, and that review will report in due course. As with any review, we will decide the way forward based on the evidence and information gathered by the review, rather than some people’s perceptions of what that may be.

Francie Molloy (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

That concludes questions to the Minister of Education on his statement.

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

With your permission, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, regarding a meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in tourism sectoral format.

The meeting was held in Armagh on 25 January 2012. Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA and I represented the Northern Ireland Executive. The Irish Government were represented by Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, who chaired the meeting. This statement has been agreed with Minister Ní Chuilín, and I am making the statement on behalf of us both.

Ministers welcomed the recently appointed chairperson, Mr Brian Ambrose, to his first NSMC meeting. The chairperson and the chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Niall Gibbons, updated Ministers on the work of the Tourism Ireland board, including implementation of the 2011 business plan and the development of the 2012 business plan.

The CEO made a presentation to Ministers on market performance in 2011. The Council noted the success of the 2011 marketing campaign.

That included the historic state visits, which provided a major tourism boost and £250 million of positive publicity; the greening of a number of iconic landmarks worldwide on St Patrick’s Day, which reached 250 million potential visitors; and Belfast’s being centre stage for the MTV Europe music awards. The performance overview for 2011 showed a growth in overseas visitors for the first time since 2007.

The Council discussed Tourism Ireland’s key marketing campaigns planned for 2012, including the roll-out of a new global destination advertising campaign. Ministers received an update on the planned events and targets for the ni2012 Your Time, Our Place tourism initiative, including the Titanic Belfast Festival 2012; the opening of the new visitor centre at the Giant’s Causeway; the Irish Open golf championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club; and the 50th Belfast Festival at Queen’s University, as well as the events organised in Northern Ireland in 2013 including the Derry/Londonderry UK City of Culture and the World Police and Fire Games.

The role of Tourism Ireland in overseas marketing was outlined to the Council. The Council discussed the main priorities for Tourism Ireland in 2012 and reviewed progress on finalising the business plan and budget for 2012. The Council agreed to meet again in tourism format in autumn 2012.

Alban Maginness (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast North)

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive report. Tourism Ireland is doing a good job for all parts of Ireland, and it is very important that that job be continued. However, what strikes me in particular is the new global destination advertising campaign, which is particularly significant. Will the Minister comment on that? What potential does she see in that for tourism in Northern Ireland?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the Chair for his question. Having received briefings from Tourism Ireland, he knows that it is looking at four main markets, particularly for Northern Ireland, the biggest of which is visitors from Great Britain. Our target over ni2012 — our huge year of opportunity — is to grow the number of GB visitors by 10%, which would hopefully mean an additional 100,000 visitors with a total impact of £66 million over the next four years. Part of working towards that is, undoubtedly, the marketing campaign, as the Member mentioned. I am happy that he is happy. I think that the global destination advertising campaign, in conjunction with the very successful Northern Ireland Tourist Board advertising campaign being shown across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, will impact on the number of tourists deciding to come to Northern Ireland this year. However, it is not just about this year; it is about next year and the years rolling on from there. It is about making a huge impact in 2012 and then reaping the benefits in future years. Although 2012 is huge for Northern Ireland, we are also looking to the sustainability of tourism in the following years. That is an important point.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

I thank the Minister for her statement. Will she detail the discussions on the logistics, promotion and advertisement of the Irish Open golf tournament that are necessary to make it a very successful event?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

It will not surprise the Member that it is a huge event for the Royal Portrush Golf Club and the whole of Northern Ireland. We have been very impressed with the number of enquiries made on the back of the announcement that the Irish Open was coming to Northern Ireland for the first time in 60 years. I commend the partnership that is developing between the Royal Portrush Golf Club, the local council at Coleraine, DETI, the Tourist Board, Tourism Ireland, the Department for Regional Development and Translink. All those elements need to come together to make sure that the Irish Open is a huge success. Last year, around 84,000 people visited Killarney for the Irish Open over a period of four or five days. We are hopeful that we will have 100,000 visitors to the north coast. Of course, it will not just be to the benefit of Portrush; it will be right along the north coast and, I would say, across Northern Ireland. Visitors will come for the period of the Irish Open, but they will want to spend longer in Northern Ireland and, therefore, visit all the other sites that are available to them. Plans are going well in relation to the Irish Open, and we look forward to a very exciting time and to an opportunity to place ourselves in front of the world again at the end of June.

Daithí McKay (Sinn Féin, North Antrim)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Is the Minister aware of some of the barriers to tourists entering from parts of Asia? I am aware that the Irish Government have introduced a visa waiver scheme, which allows visitors from 16 countries to enter Ireland with no extra visa cost, but it is not the same vice versa. Will the Minister liaise with Minister Varadkar and, if necessary, the Secretary of State to ensure that tourists who come from a third of the global tourism market — Asia — can access the North?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

That is an issue that we have discussed in some detail, not just with our counterparts in the Republic of Ireland’s Government but with the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Hugo Swire. In the past couple of weeks, I have discussed with him the fact that there is a visa waiver scheme for people who come from the Far East and Middle East into the Republic of Ireland. If they have a UK visa, they do not need an Irish waiver. However, if they have an Irish visa, they still need to have a UK visa, and that is where the difficulty lies.

I raised the issue with Hugo Swire, and I understand that it is about safety and security and about mechanisms between the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It is something that we are actively looking at to see if we can address that issue. I am sure that the Member will agree that it is particularly pertinent now that we have flights coming in from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We would like to attract some of those visitors up to Northern Ireland. Therefore, it is on the schedule to see if we can deal with the issue. However, it is a difficult issue that we will continue to work on with the Minister of State.

Sandra Overend (UUP, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Minister for her work in helping with the Irish Open and increasing tourism in the different areas. However, I found it somewhat surprising to read in the statement that the Minister is championing the greening of a number of iconic landmarks worldwide on St Patrick’s Day. Can the Minister detail the actions that she might take to ensure that St Patrick’s Day celebrations here in Northern Ireland are, in fact, less green and more inclusive for all the people of Northern Ireland?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

The Member will know that I would welcome a more inclusive St Patrick’s Day that we can identify with here as a unionist community in Northern Ireland, but she must also recognise that 70 million people across the world celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Therefore, we must try to get the benefit of that by attracting them not only into the Republic of Ireland but into Northern Ireland. That is the reference to the greening of those landmarks. The wheel in London was greened last year to try to attract people into Northern Ireland.

One of the campaigns for Tourism Ireland in the GB market is to have that differentiation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is hugely important that our nearest neighbours recognise that this is our big year of opportunity. They should come along and enjoy all the cultures that we have in Northern Ireland, and we look forward to welcoming them when they come.

Trevor Lunn (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

I also welcome the Minister’s statement. It is very positive, and the prospects for the next couple of years look extremely good. In her answer to Mr Maginness, the Minister mentioned future years. That brings in the question of anniversaries and centenaries, which also have tourist potential. Can we take it that there will be the same level of co-operation between Tourism Ireland and the Tourist Board in the various jurisdictions to maximise the potential of the various centenaries?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Absolutely. I know that the Alliance Party has a motion down on the centenaries that we are looking forward to over the next 10 years. I hope to be able to respond to that motion in the Chamber and to detail all the actions that we are taking in relation to all those centenaries. Some of the centenaries are, of course, coming up very quickly. Therefore, I will welcome the opportunity to come to the House to speak about them in the very near future.

Gordon Dunne (DUP, North Down)

I thank the Minister for her statement. What impact will the opening of the Titanic signature buildings and the Giant’s Causeway visitors’ centre have on attracting visitors to Northern Ireland? I welcome the support of Tourism Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for the Circuit of Ireland rally, which this year becomes part of the IRC championship, the first stage of which is based at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I wondered how the Member was going to get the Circuit of Ireland rally in, but I am pleased that he was able to do so. We welcome the fact that the rally is taking in the Titanic Quarter as part of its circuit this year and that, yet again, we will be able to shine a light on what is happening in that area. It also helps us to link the Titanic with another big sporting event. That is what this year is all about. It is about linking all the different events together so that when people come to Northern Ireland they have not just one thing to see, do and visit but a range of events.

We have eight tier 1 events in place, but a raft of other events — some new, some existing — will take place across Northern Ireland for the whole of the year. We very much look forward to the increase in visitors who will come and to the increase in visitor spend that will, undoubtedly, accompany that. More importantly, it gives us a chance to change global perceptions about Northern Ireland, to deal with those issues and with perceptions of safety and security and to say that Northern Ireland is confidently moving on.

Phil Flanagan (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome the indication in the Minister’s statement that, for the first time since 2007, we have returned to a growth in visitor numbers. Hopefully, we are starting to turn the corner with that.

I want to return to the visa waiver scheme, which my colleague raised. When was the Minister first made aware of that issue? Does she have any indication of a figure for the potential economic impact that the lack of co-operation on a visa waiver scheme is having on the economy in the North?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I have been aware of the issue for some time. It has become more of an issue now that the Etihad flight is coming into Dublin, and there has been a renewed sense of needing to deal with it. I am not underestimating the difficulties with the issue. However, it is incumbent on me, as tourism Minister, to draw as many tourists to Northern Ireland as we can. That is why I am having discussions with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the Republic of Ireland and the Minister of State here in Northern Ireland. It is an issue, and I would like to see it sorted out, but it is a difficult one.

Mike Nesbitt (UUP, Strangford)

I thank the Minister and the Department for all that they do for tourism. However, she will be aware that when Mr Gibbons briefed the ETI Committee on 12 January this year he was unaware of the significance of 14 June and the Olympic Club in San Francisco. What does Tourism Ireland specifically plan to do to maximise the unprecedented focus that there will be on Northern Ireland and its golfers as they try to win the US Open for the third year running? Has she rejected the proposal that I put via the First Minister last June?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the Member for his continuing interest in golf tourism, and I look forward to the day that he spreads out into other tourism initiatives. However, I continue to see his comments as helpful. After his recent intervention, I wrote to the chief executives of Invest Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and asked each of them to make sure they knew exactly what they were doing in each of the markets. That will mean that his comments about Tourism Ireland not doing something at Pebble Beach or, in any event, the US Open — I do not think it is in Pebble Beach this year — are addressed. The slack can be taken up by Invest Northern Ireland, which has a presence there and will be promoting Northern Ireland as the home of champions. There is an imperative on us to grasp the opportunity that has been presented to us by our three champions, and I have made Tourism Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Invest Northern Ireland very much aware of the fact that we need to grasp it with both hands.

Margaret Ritchie (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I thank the Minister for her statement. Realising that St Patrick represents the epitome of the unity and diversity concept, does she agree that, although much has been done on the St Patrick signature project, more investment is required to develop the assets and realise their full tourism potential in the North and that there is an all-island dimension to that form of tourism heritage, as some of the key sites are located in the South of Ireland? Will she ask Tourism Ireland to give greater priority to marketing our Patrician heritage?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I am somewhat surprised that the Member is giving up a bit of Patrick and allowing him to be claimed by another part. I thought that south Down had the only claim on St Patrick. However, she will know that we looked at all those issues during the very good Adjournment debate that she brought on the tourism potential of south Down. I said to her then and say to her again that the key to developing St Patrick and, indeed, all the signature projects and the nine destination areas is partnership and working with the local councils. Under RPA, new powers on tourism development will go to local councils. It is about working with the tourism destination areas and the signature project areas. She will also know that NITB and Tourism Ireland will continue to market St Patrick in a meaningful way. It is one of our special stories, and we will continue to use it in our global marketing campaigns.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

In noting the headline events that were commented on at the Council meeting in respect of this year and next, I observe no mention of the two largest cultural gatherings that there will be in both years: those on the twelfth and thirteenth of July. In that context, one also notes the total absence of celebration of the covenant day in the showcase production of ‘Your Time, Our Place’. What steps has the Minister taken to rectify that omission, if omission it was?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Of course, I expected that question. Given that it is a matter for the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and not Tourism Ireland, the Member is straying into new ground. Perhaps he wishes me to take matters that are the subject of NITB into a North/South Ministerial Council. Frankly, I will not do that. However, I will continue to work with the Orange Order, the Royal Black Institution and the Apprentice Boys. Some Members may be embarrassed that they will not be at all those events during their summer holidays. However, I have no such embarrassment, and I will be at every one of them, as I am always, including the County Donegal demonstration in Rossnowlagh. Two years ago, I had the pleasure of hosting a reception that Tourism Ireland held at Rossnowlagh.

As I understand it, Mr Hume at the Orange Order has indicated to my officials that information on the 2012 tourism flagships will be with my officials next Monday. We look forward to profiling all that the Orange Order has to offer. We will continue to work with Orangefest, the Royal Black Institution and Scarva. I was invited to Scarva last year as a special guest, along with the chief executive of Tourism Ireland and the chairman of the Tourist Board. I am sure that the Member has his Royal Black Institution calendar for this year. In it, he will see that I am pictured at the Scarva demonstration. Perhaps he will let us know whether he was at Scarva last year, as I was and will continue to be on every occasion that I can.

Patsy McGlone (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Mid Ulster)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as sin.

I thank the Minister for her extensive report. Mr Dunne referred to the Titanic project earlier, which is there to attract visitors from overseas to learn about that ill-fated ship. Given the relevance to these matters of Cobh, which was part of its journey as well, can the Minister advise us whether there has been any collaborative effort with the rest of the island and with the Government in the rest of the island to promote this joint project in a more collaborative way?

Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the Member for his question. Indeed, there are many places, as the Member will know, that will claim ownership of the Titanic story. I have to say that the Titanic story belongs in Belfast. I went around the signature building two weeks ago. It is at a very advanced stage now, and the Member will be pleased to know that some of the photographic imagery there was taken from Queenstown, as it then was, showing the ship leaving for the very last time. In fact, that is the last photograph of the Titanic, leaving Queenstown and going off into the Atlantic. There has been some collaboration, of course, in relation to the other areas that the Titanic went to before it sank. However, Belfast is the key area for the Titanic. That is a message that we need to get out globally. It is amazing how many people do not actually realise that the Titanic was built in Belfast. It is our job and it is incumbent on every Member to make sure that everybody knows that the Titanic was all right when it left Belfast.

Chris Lyttle (Alliance, Belfast East)

On a point of order, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I want to raise a concern with the House. Members have been furnished today with a written statement from the First and deputy First Ministers to announce the publication of the Programme for Government end-of-year delivery report. Will the Principal Deputy Speaker raise my concern with the First and deputy First Ministers as to why an issue of such importance was not met with an oral statement to the House?

Francie Molloy (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

That is not a matter for the Speaker. Under Standing Order 18A(2), it is up to the Minister to decide whether a statement should be oral or written.

The Business Committee has arranged to meet immediately upon the lunchtime suspension. I therefore, propose, by leave of the Assembly, to suspend the sitting until 2.00 pm, when the first item of business will be Question Time.

The sitting was suspended at 12.22 pm.

On resuming (Mr Deputy Speaker [Mr Dallat] in the Chair) —

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Question 8 has been withdrawn and requires a written answer.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

1. asked the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the development of the strategic road improvement M1/A1 Sprucefield bypass. (AQO 1299/11-15)

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

Roads Service advises that the M1/A1 Sprucefield bypass scheme is in the Roads Service forward planning schedule, which contains projects in the early stages of development. Roads Service officials further advise that the first stage of the development process was completed in March 2011, when the corridor assessment report was finalised. That indicates two potential corridors that should be taken through more detailed assessment to ascertain the preferred route for the scheme. The pace of further progression of the Sprucefield bypass proposal will depend on funding made available to my Department in the current Budget period and through the investment strategy for Northern Ireland 2011-2021, which is published in draft form for consultation.

The Member may be interested to know that an initial study is nearing completion to examine managed motorway solutions to the current motorway network. Such solutions would include further traffic management controls, possible ramp metering and, more importantly, the implementation of hard-shoulder running during periods of peak traffic to increase capacity. Such measures would provide further benefits for motorists using the M1 between Sprucefield and Blacks Road.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Minister for that response. I am sure that he is all too familiar with the congestion around the Hillsborough roundabout/Sprucefield roundabout area. A bypass would benefit not just Lisburn but all of Northern Ireland, given the regional significance of the Sprucefield area. The Minister will be aware that road users divert off the dual carriageway, go through Hillsborough village, and back onto the dual carriageway to speed up the process. Is there any development to try to manage that problem faced by locals?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I am grateful to the Member for his supplementary question. As an almost daily user of the A1 and the intersection interchange at Hillsborough/Sprucefield, I appreciate the frustrations of road travellers. The Member asked about the problems in and around the A1 at Hillsborough and the Hillsborough roundabout and the attempt by some to short-circuit their journeys. I have had representations from his colleague, the honourable lady, and she raised those issues with me among others.

Officials have plans to partially signalise that roundabout, and I recently met elected representatives as the first step of a consultation exercise. The proposal is for signals that will operate during the morning peak traffic period on some of the approach roads to the roundabout. Their effect will be to give greater priority to A1 northbound traffic, thereby reducing tailbacks on the approach to the roundabout and making the alternative route through the village less attractive. To be effective, however, they must necessarily introduce a delay to traffic exiting the village onto the roundabout. The present consultation exercise is designed to determine the level of public support for the scheme, which will, undoubtedly, influence how we proceed.

Jennifer McCann (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Given the sense of it being important to link the cities of Lisburn and Belfast, will the Minister give an update on the rapid transit system, please?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I was not quite expecting that to be linked to the A1 Hillsborough road, but as the Member will know, I am a strong advocate of a rapid transit system for Belfast. I have been encouraged by the responses from Lisburn and Castlereagh councils as well as Belfast City Council. I very much hope that we can continue to make progress on introducing a rapid transit scheme that will extend fully and include all areas of Belfast. I know that there would be general support for that. Much, of course, depends on whether there is finance for such a system.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Ceist uimhir a dó.

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

What does that mean?

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

2. asked the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the upgrading of the railway line to the north-west. (AQO 1300/11-15)

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for his helpful interpretation skills.

As a result of my statement to the Assembly on 10 October 2011, Translink has moved quickly to take forward phase 1 of the project to improve the railway track and associated infrastructure between Coleraine and Londonderry. That phase enables retention of the line and will eventually remove the temporary speed restrictions that exist currently.

The project board, which includes representation from my Department, meets monthly. The tendering process, which started with publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, is almost complete. Translink hopes to appoint a contractor in March, which should enable work on site to start as planned at the end of July 2012. The line will be closed from then until the completion of phase 1, which is planned for April 2013. As I outlined in my statement to the Assembly in October 2011, the second phase of the project will be completed in 2015, with phase 3 planned to finish by 2021.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

I call Mr David McClarty. I am sorry; Mr Durkan, you are entitled to your supplementary question.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. As the north-west is central to tourism, given the upcoming events during the next couple of years, does the Minister anticipate an increase in passenger numbers and, perhaps, additions or amendments to the existing timetable?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I always find that colleagues are the most difficult to persuade when you want to speak.

Translink is planning a new timetable, which will be implemented when all the new trains are in service. Obviously, that timetable has to be agreed with the Department in advance. Therefore, there will be a consultation period. Obviously, as part of that new timetable, Translink, taking account of the increased numbers anticipated because of those various events, will endeavour to deploy the new trains. Certainly, we hope to carry that forward.

David McClarty (Independent, East Londonderry)

The Minister will be aware that because the upgrading of the track will not be completed until 2013, there will be a lot more pressure on public transport in the area. As Mr Durkan rightly said, the area has a number of huge events coming up, none more so than the Irish Open. Is the Minister in contact with Translink about providing alternative means of public transport, bearing in mind the greater numbers who will use it?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for his question. I confirm that Translink is, obviously, aware of the situation, as, indeed, are my departmental officials. Every effort will be made to accommodate the travelling public as they seek to visit Londonderry or the north-west and general area for various events, such as the Irish Open, the UK City of Culture and, of course, the Fleadh Ceoil.

Cathal Ó hOisín (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Is it proposed that passing loops or sidings be included in the upgrade? At one time, it was rumoured that they would be installed at Ballykelly. Will they be installed there or anywhere else along the route?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

The essential maintenance work is to ensure that the line is ready for the UK City of Culture events in 2013. There are three different phases of that work. The second phase will deal more substantially with passing loops. The priority is to re-establish an effective service between Coleraine and Londonderry as quickly as possible, and we are on track to do that.

Gregory Campbell (DUP, East Londonderry)

The Minister will be aware of the view among some in the north-west that the railway line is up for closure rather than expansion. Indeed, I have raised that with him before. In order to nail that campaign and the paranoia that sometimes exists, will the Minister commit to the long-term development and expansion of the line to include hourly services and, hopefully, a passing loop in the longer term?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I am grateful to the Member, who is a former Minister for Regional Development, for his supplementary question. I am strongly committed to the railway system and believe that rail provides an opportunity for moving the travelling public. As Minister, I have been very supportive of that line, and that is indicated in the decisions that I have taken and the efforts that I have made to ensure that it is not closed and that it continues to improve. With those improvements will come the expectation of greater use, which will further consolidate the position of rail in the north-west and in other places in Northern Ireland.

Ross Hussey (UUP, West Tyrone)

3. asked the Minister for Regional Development when the findings of the public inquiry on proposals for the A5 will be published. (AQO 1301/11-15)

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

The Department expects to receive the independent inspector’s report in the next few weeks, after which full consideration will be given to its comments and recommendations. I anticipate that the independent inspector’s report and the departmental statement will be published in spring 2012. I remind the Member that the public inquiry and the resulting independent inspector’s report are independent processes. As such, neither my Department nor I, as Minister, have any control over the timing of the inspector’s report.

I welcome today’s announcement, which will enable me to spend half a billion pounds on roads infrastructure all over Northern Ireland. I know that it will be widely welcomed, not least by the construction industry, which has encountered significant problems.

The revised Budget that has been agreed will enable me to bring forward two significant elements of the A5 dual carriageway project, between Londonderry and Strabane and between Omagh and Ballygawley, together with the A8 Belfast to Larne project and the long-awaited scheme to dual the A2 Shore Road at Greenisland. Subject to the outcome of the public inquiries that were held last summer, I anticipate construction work commencing on the A8 this spring, with the A5 works starting in early autumn. I will initiate a procurement competition for the A2 Shore Road project, which could see work commencing in early 2013. This is a balanced programme of investment that will provide a significant boost to the local economy.

Ross Hussey (UUP, West Tyrone)

I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he acknowledge that the Omagh to Ballygawley road project will significantly link the west, and particularly Omagh, to the centres of business in the east of the Province and the main ports and airports? Does he also acknowledge that it will improve road safety on that carriageway?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I am grateful to the Member for his supplementary question. I entirely endorse his assessment and analysis of that section of the A5 project between Omagh and Ballygawley. It will significantly open up business, travel and tourism opportunities to the west and the north-west and, importantly, between Omagh and Belfast and the east of the Province. It is a significant announcement that will give a measure of hope and support to those who work in construction in particular and to those who live in the area.

Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his strong commitment to the A5. In some ways the Minister has answered my question. However, provided that no major issues arise from the public inquiry report, will the Minister confirm that work on the A5 will start in September of this year?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I need to be suitably cautious — sometimes it is my middle name — and say that the inspector’s report is important. Therefore, I will not pre-empt or predict it in any way. Once received, it will be carefully assessed, and then we will carry the work forward. However, there is the very hopeful expectation that, because the schemes are shovel-ready, work will start later this year.

Joe Byrne (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I also welcome the Minister’s announcement and, like the MP for the area, welcome his support for the project. Does he agree that the dedicated roads project team has done excellent work and that everything is in place to move ahead?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I also want to pay a warm tribute to my departmental officials, who have lived with road project schemes all over Northern Ireland. It is their job to do so, but they have carried out that work in a very professional way. They have given me sound advice in identifying the appropriate priorities, and I very much hope that the entire announcement of £500 million for road infrastructure projects all over Northern Ireland will not only link east to west but upgrade busy road networks such as the A2 and A8, and, equally, important road networks on stretches of the A5.

Maurice (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Earlier, the Minister intimated that we would have the report of the public inquiry before Christmas. It is disappointing to discover that there is no definitive date.

Is the Minister prepared to issue a swift statement to clarify the position on the particular section of the A5 from Ballygawley to Aughnacloy, now that it has been decided that it will not go ahead? Landowners who feel that their land might be blighted will not be reassured until there is a clear and definitive statement from the Minister.

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I am grateful to the Member for his supplementary question. I stress that the inspector’s report is entirely independent of me and my Department. That is why I am not able to provide an answer in the level of detail wished for by Lord Morrow. On the understanding that the report is truly independent, that is the position. I will not be drawn on other commitments today. I am concentrating on the very positive announcement that I will spend £500 million on road infrastructure projects all over Northern Ireland. I am particularly pleased that the Omagh section of the A5 will, effectively, link Omagh to Belfast and the east.

Sue Ramsey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

4. asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline the difference in the agreements between Roads Service and some councils on the gritting of footpaths, and the indemnity aspect of these agreements. (AQO 1302/11-15)

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

The agreements between Roads Service and local councils on the removal of ice and snow from town centre footways during severe winter weather were progressed as a result of talks initiated by me, my officials and representatives of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) and carried forward by council officials and local Roads Service officials.

Those agreements have been specifically tailored to suit local circumstances, and they range from formal agreements, which set out in detail how the new arrangements are to be implemented, to more flexible arrangements set out in an exchange of letters between Roads Service and individual councils. I hope that those agreements will encourage all local councils to consider how best to address the removal of ice and snow from town centre footways and to engage with Roads Service. However, all the agreements in place are based on the same fundamental principles, each containing the basic requirement of an agreed schedule of footways to be treated by the council, the amount of salt to be provided by Roads Service and salt delivery arrangements. Although the more formal agreements explain the issue of indemnity in more detail, it is likely that the same indemnity benefits will apply to those based on an exchange of letters. The Member will recall the advice from the Attorney General for Northern Ireland contained in the winter service information leaflet distributed to households.

Sue Ramsey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his answer. The Minister is well aware that RPA was supposed to deal with a lot of these issues. The people out there do not get caught up in who, what or when — they just want to see it done. Will the Minister, maybe at a later date, provide more detail on the agreements that councils have made, whether those are formal agreements or a nod and a wink? Will he outline today the reason for the non-agreement of some councils? We, as elected representatives, have a duty to question local councils if they are not getting involved in ensuring that our constituents get the best service when, and if, they need it.

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I am grateful to the Member for her supplementary, although I am bound to say that my Department does not operate on the basis of a nod or a wink. The Member will accept that we need to have some structure in place. I am loath to name and shame, if that is what the Member is inviting me to do. I do not see it on that basis. I see welcome co-operation between local councils and local government and my Department and the other agencies. That is the basis on which I entered into discussions with NILGA and the representatives from local government; I think that that is most helpful and beneficial.

Michael Copeland (UUP, Belfast East)

Does the Minister recognise the thinking of councils that have not yet become involved in this process? What steps is he taking, or planning to take, through his Department to ensure that those councils become as convinced as others?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I am happy to continue to spread the gospel of good news to councils and other agencies as we seek to provide adequate winter services. As has been stated, it is important from the point of view of the public, not only ratepayers but taxpayers, that this work is in place and can happen. People are not so interested in what or who makes it happen, but they need to know that it will happen and that the service will be available. I will continue to engage positively with everyone in local government.

Margaret Ritchie (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I recognise the Minister’s willingness to enforce the principle of co-operation. Will he elaborate on his assessment of how well the scheme worked over the winter for councils that have signed the formal agreements? Will he tell us what other arrangements he has in place to work with councils that have not yet signed formal agreements? It is in the best interests of the wider public that we have clear footpaths during icy conditions.

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for her supplementary question. This winter was perhaps not the best to test the agreement. Nevertheless, I am very satisfied that arrangements were in place based on the same fundamental principles, namely an agreed schedule of the footways to be treated by the council, the amount of salt that Roads Service will supply and the salt delivery arrangements.

The Member will be aware that significant salt supplies were brought in. I am happy to say that we can preserve those and that they will not be wasted. The Member will also know that there were considerable numbers of grit piles placed and salt bins provided. Every effort was made to give confidence to people all over Northern Ireland, both urban and rural dwellers, that they had an opportunity to avail themselves of salt. We had, and still have, those agreements in place with local councils. I am not being overconfident in any way. I am still prepared, as you sometimes get icy blasts into early March. I am very keen that we have full control to respond to emergency conditions.

Anna Lo (Alliance, Belfast South)

I am very pleased about the progress that has been made so far on these agreements. However, as the Minister pointed out, they are specifically for town centres. Can the Minister tell us whether, when gritting, Roads Service would consider targeting certain areas where a lot of vulnerable people could fall and badly hurt themselves? Those include places near schools, sheltered housing and GPs’ surgeries.

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Member for her supplementary question. There are well-established criteria for the gritting schedule for roads that are fairly and evenly applied, and I am not, therefore, minded to alter or change that. We will obviously keep this under review, but I am satisfied that adequate service is provided, given the resources that we have. We have to remember that this is a resource issue as well. However, I am confident that, at the moment, Roads Service is able to cope with the demand placed on it.

Paul Girvan (DUP, South Antrim)

5. asked the Minister for Regional Development, in light of the announcement on the A5 scheme, to outline the position on the A8 and A6 schemes. (AQO 1303/11-15)

Paul Girvan (DUP, South Antrim)

Minister, you might have already answered this question, but go ahead.

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

I am grateful to the Member. He appears to have displayed certain prophetic qualities — I am glad that I did not say “pathetic”. [Laughter.]

Again, I am happy to welcome the earlier announcement about the finance that has been made available by the Finance Minister and agreed by the Executive, as it will allow me to bring forward a range of measures that will greatly benefit the construction industry and the wider economy in Northern Ireland.

Following a series of meetings with Executive colleagues and work by departmental officials, I have reviewed spending priorities across my Department, and I am pleased to say that we have brought forward a balanced programme of improvements to the strategic road network. I think that that will make a significant difference and will throw a lifeline to the construction industry in particular. It has the potential to create at least 2,500 new jobs. It will improve opportunities, particularly for young people and the unemployed. It will also provide job security for many and create opportunities for consultants, suppliers, contractors, infrastructure specialists and many others. I very much welcome it, and I know that the whole House will want to join me in saying that this is, indeed, a red-letter day for regional development and for roads in Northern Ireland.

Paul Girvan (DUP, South Antrim)

I thank the Minister for his answer. I appreciate that this morning’s announcement might have taken the steam out of this somewhat. However, I just want to expand on my question about the A8 and what has been proposed. Is the whole A8 scheme, as presented, included in this morning’s announcement about the moneys? Will the A2 scheme be the complete scheme from Carrickfergus to the M5?

Danny Kennedy (UUP, Newry and Armagh)

For the benefit of brevity, I think that the answer to both questions is yes. However, I will not sit down at this stage. I will simply say that consideration is, of course, still being given to the public inquiry on the A8 and that that work will continue. I think that the A2 and A8 schemes, as well as the Port of Larne scheme and all that, will give a significant boost to road users.

These are long-awaited and long-campaigned-for schemes. I pay tribute to members of my party, and in particular to the Member for East Antrim, Roy Beggs, for his ongoing and never-ceasing representations on both the A2 and A8. That view is shared by political colleagues from all sides of the House. It is good news, and I think that it will be seen and welcomed as good news.

Paul Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

1. asked the Minister for Social Development if he will require houses in the private rented sector to meet the decent homes standards before they can be used in the social sector. (AQO 1314/11-15)

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

The application of the decent homes standard is not a requirement for the private rented sector. The decent homes standard is not a statutory standard. The statutory fitness standard, which applies across all tenures, is set out in the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, as amended by the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1992. The fitness standard is being reviewed, and I intend to use the forthcoming housing strategy, which I hope to launch in the spring, to discuss that issue and develop it more fully.

Paul Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle agus a Aire. Thank you, Deputy Speaker and Minister. I hear what the Minister says. Accountability mechanisms must be put in place for private landlords. I am sure that every Member’s constituency office is, from time to time, inundated with correspondence on those issues, as people try to get work carried out and make sure that the standard of work is up to that of the Housing Executive and housing associations. The Minister and the Department should take forward any initiative they can —

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Question, please?

Paul Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

— to give a bit of ease to those people who are lobbying Members to get work done.

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

In the housing strategy, we intend to look at the whole remit of housing issues. One of those issues will be the private rented sector. It is important that that sector is seen by people as a good option, as good as any other, and not in some way as second rate. Therefore, it is important that we have recognition of the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants. That is very much our thinking, and it is already part of our thinking in preparing the strategy.

Sammy Douglas (DUP, Belfast East)

Has the Minister any plans to use vacant privately owned homes to ease the social housing waiting list?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

The Housing Executive is acting in a number of ways to recover vacant properties and bring them back into use. In order to drive the empty homes strategy, I agreed to the establishment of a working group, which was established in November 2011. Two pilot areas were selected: Fortwilliam Parade in north Belfast and the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. The aim of the pilot is to support homeowners in bringing properties back into use and to evaluate the use of existing legislation and powers such as vesting, loans and grants to assist the process. That work is ongoing and the Housing Executive is due to report on the effectiveness of its interventions early in April.

Leslie Cree (UUP, North Down)

Will the Minister undertake to ensure that houses in the social sector meet the decent homes standard before they are used for accommodation?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

Housing Executive social housing is already of a very high standard. We seek to improve the standard as much as possible. Over the years, there has not been the investment in the sector that there should have been. Therefore, one of our priorities was to address the issue of double glazing and another was to look at increasing and improving the insulation of properties. In our work, we are putting an increased focus on improving the standard of houses in the Housing Executive stock, which is, obviously, a very large element of the housing stock in Northern Ireland.

Steven Agnew (Green, North Down)

Given that, in the winter of 2011, there were more winter deaths per capita than there were in Finland and that the energy efficiency of our homes is seen as an important factor in that, will the Minister work with the Finance Minister to ensure a high-level energy-efficiency requirement for all newbuilds across the social and private sectors?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

There is a balance to be struck. Obviously, there is an increased initial cost in having much higher standards of insulation and energy efficiency. I have visited a number of new housing developments where there are very high levels of energy efficiency, and people there are able to point to reductions of up to 40% in heating costs associated with a property. That needs to be set against available budgets, because the more costly a property is per unit, the fewer you can either purchase or build. All those different factors need to be taken into account. Houses may be available to be brought into social use in a particular place where the level of energy efficiency is not as high, and you have to consider whether you will miss the opportunity. Therefore, there is not a single answer to this; it depends on the circumstances. However, the principle regarding the importance of energy efficiency, which the Member referred to, is very much in our minds. It is a more complex issue than one that you can give a single, simple answer to.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Questions 3 and 8 have been withdrawn and require written answers.

Alasdair McDonnell (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

2. asked the Minister for Social Development for his assessment of the impact of the welfare reform proposals on people with disabilities. (AQO 1315/11-15)

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

The Welfare Reform Bill is progressing through Westminster, and, at this stage, it is not possible to accurately assess the impact of the wide range of proposals on people with disabilities. My priority is to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable people in society are protected and that the reform proposals take into account the specific circumstances of Northern Ireland. An Executive subcommittee has been set up to consider all the proposals and to help develop an Executive response that will mitigate any negative aspects and achieve long-term benefits for the people of Northern Ireland.

I remain conscious that a higher proportion of our population is in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) and that we have a different profile, particularly in relation to mental health. The assessment criteria already reflect the views of people with disabilities and the groups that represent them, and we are consulting on the descriptors and entitlement thresholds and will carefully consider all responses received. There is a need for others to be careful that figures that they are quoting on the number of people who may face a reduction in their benefits are informed and do not cause undue stress to vulnerable people. There is a danger of being alarmist.

My officials and I are in regular and ongoing communication with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), particularly on the capacity for flexibilities in the proposals to reflect the particular needs and circumstances of the people of Northern Ireland. Furthermore, to assess the impacts across the section 75 groupings, my Department issued an equality impact assessment for consultation, and we are considering the responses received. I intend to publish a response to that consultation, together with a revised and updated equality impact assessment, soon.

Finally, the introduction of universal credit will increase benefit expenditure in Northern Ireland as a result of entitlement changes and increased benefit take-up. My officials are carrying out a detailed —

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Your two minutes are up.

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

— analysis to confirm the financial impacts for customers, and robust information will be available in the late spring or early summer.

Alasdair McDonnell (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

I thank the Minister for his very extensive and informative answer. In light of the research that he is doing and the information, such as it is, that is to hand, is it possible to set up some sort of contingency plan so that any negative impact of welfare reform on people with distinct needs, particularly learning disabilities, could be limited?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

If you are going to have a plan to deal with various contingencies, you need to know what those contingencies are. Therefore, we are undertaking work on what the impact will be. Up to now, the focus has been on engage­ment with Westminster, including directly with the Ministers in DWP; we have talked to David Freud and Maria Miller on a number of occasions.

We have also engaged with the Secretary of State to use his influence in a number of areas, and our officials are in contact with officials at Westminster almost daily. Now that the legislation is almost through Westminster, and we know the product from GB, we will be able to assess the impact better. Once we know that, we can start the work that is suggested there. However, parity issues must always be kept in mind, and financial parity places limitations on what can be done. However, it is open to us operationally to make it a bit different, and we will do everything that we can in that regard.

Gregory Campbell (DUP, East Londonderry)

Will the Minister confirm that the statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions appear to indicate that up to about 20% of claimants could be adversely impacted by the new personal independence payment? Will he join with me in hoping that everyone who can bring any influence to bear at Westminster, particularly if they are elected to Westminster, goes there and tries to assist those who are hard-pressed and require assistance from those of us who are elected to act on their behalf rather than complaining about it and staying away?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

I endorse what the Member says. We are a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so it is important that Northern Ireland is fully represented at Westminster and that people are there to state and to argue the case. The Member is absolutely right in that regard.

The figures published by DWP are an estimate of the projected personal independence payment caseload in 2015-16. That does not necessarily mean that there will be a corresponding reduction in Northern Ireland. The profile of DLA customers in Northern Ireland is different from that in Great Britain. Customers tend to be younger here, and a higher proportion has mental health conditions. The new assessment criteria will look at mental, intellectual and cognitive functions as well as physical functions, and further work is being undertaken to see if a similar analysis can provide reliable and robust figures on the impact in Northern Ireland. If so, those will be made available at the earliest opportunity.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

I encourage Members to focus on the questions and discourage them from shouting across the Floor.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast South)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. The Minister acknowledged the outworkings of the Bill when it comes here and has given the matter some consideration. Given the Committee for Social Development’s discussions with his Department over the past months, we already more or less know what the legislation will be when it arrives here shortly. Given the consensus across all the parties that there will be a considerable negative impact on people, particularly those with physical and mental disabilities, will the Minister outline any mitigating aspects that may come from the Department and the Executive subcommittee?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

The Executive subcommittee has so far met on two occasions, and two further meetings are planned for the near future. That is an important part of the process of overseeing and addressing the implementation of welfare reform in Northern Ireland. As the Chair of the Committee will know, we have also engaged with stakeholders at events, and we received representations from a wide range of people. It is no good for people to come to us and say that there are problems; we want to hear answers. We want to hear ideas on what can be done because those people know the circumstances of the sector that they represent or work in. If there are issues, please bring them to our attention and suggest what could be done. We are solution-focused. It is too early to bring forward a list of possible mitigating measures, but as the Member will know, there is an ongoing conversation with Westminster, and over the next number of weeks, we will identify, through the subcommittee, what can be done. That is on the agenda for the subcommittee’s next two meetings.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

4. asked the Minister for Social Development for an update on the delivery of town centre regeneration projects. (AQO 1317/11-15)

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

My Department continues to pursue a very active programme of town centre regeneration across Northern Ireland. The programme of producing town centre master plans is well advanced, with 18 completed to date and another five due to complete during this year. In each town for which a master plan has been completed, an implementation group is established to ensure that the priority projects are pushed forward.

A substantial programme of public realm improve­ment schemes and revitalisation projects is planned for the period of the comprehensive spending review. My Department is working on 50 schemes in towns across Northern Ireland that we hope to implement between now and March 2015, subject to funding availability and all the necessary approvals. My Department is working to promote regeneration schemes on 12 derelict or underused sites in towns across Northern Ireland. Although the work is not helped by the current condition of the property market, we are looking at what might be done to accelerate the schemes.

In April 2011 the urban development grant scheme became fully available to towns outside Belfast and Londonderry. There has been a high level of interest in the scheme and, to date, over 90 applications or expressions of interest have been received. I anticipate a supplementary question that has some connection with either Lagan Valley or Lisburn.

John Dallat (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Leave that to Mr Givan.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Minister for his response and commend him and his Department for the work that they are doing to take forward town centre regeneration, which is critical if we are to get our economy moving again. As regards my constituency, the Minister will be aware that Lisburn is taking forward a master plan. Can he provide us with an update on that and tell us whether there are any other plans for Lagan Valley over the next three years?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

My faith was rewarded.

I have approved funding in the region of £3 million for a major public realm scheme in Market Square and Bow Street in Lisburn, and public consultation on its design will start in March; that is, next month. I expect work to begin on the ground in early November and be substantially completed by Easter next year. In addition to the work that is being done in Lisburn, elsewhere in the constituency my Department plans to implement a revitalisation project in Dromore, County Down.

We intend to issue a development brief for a site at Smithfield Square in Lisburn in March this year. The brief will seek proposals for a retail-led, mixed-use development with associated parking. Over the next three years, our plan is to work in partnership with Lisburn City Council to progress a major development scheme covering an area referred to as the Laganbank Quarter. It is a long-term project that could result in a major new office and residential development on the banks of the Lagan.

Joe Byrne (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I welcome what the Minister has said about trying to regenerate many of our provincial towns. In particular, does he hope to visit Strabane soon, where he might help to send out a positive signal on the redevelopment of the town? Will he update us on the current status of the footbridge that we are still awaiting being built in Strabane?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

On the first question on Strabane, I am happy to visit any part of Northern Ireland that I am invited to, so I await an invitation to meet the Member, other Members and other representatives in Strabane.

On the specific issue of the bridge to which he refers, I have not seen anything about that for some time. I understand that there were some difficulties with taking that project forward. They were not departmental difficulties but difficulties for other project stakeholders. If the Member wishes to have more detailed information, I am happy to supply it. I think that the council has an important role to play, and there may be some issues there.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Minister, the work in Carrickfergus has just commenced, but what is your Department doing to support retail trade consequent on the development work that you are doing on pavements and the public realm? It is vital for all our communities that, following on from the public realm work, we create a revitalised town centre.

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

The whole purpose of the public realm work is to do that very thing. We have clear evidence from schemes that have already been completed that, when you complete the public realm work, you first encourage local traders to invest in their premises, so it becomes more of a collaborative approach among the public sector, the local authority and the traders.

When you get that revitalised and improved town centre with the new public realm work and the design work completed, the general result is an increase in footfall. As I said, the evidence is there. The example is often quoted of the very substantial increase in footfall in Newcastle. The message that it works is coming across from schemes elsewhere in the Province, and we are investing so heavily in it to support our centres.

Peter Weir (DUP, North Down)

5. asked the Minister for Social Development how the issue of single occupant applications for housing is being addressed, particularly in light of the upcoming housing benefit changes. (AQO 1318/11-15)

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

I believe that the Housing Executive and, to a lesser degree perhaps, my Department have overlooked the single occupant group for a number of years. I expect single accommodation dwellings to be provided for in next year’s social housing development programme. I will not consider the draft programme until it addresses that issue in a significant and appropriate way that deals with the needs of single and older people.

The size and style of our newbuild programme needs to change to ensure that smaller, more suitable accommodation is available, particularly for single applicants, such as older people, who may be looking to downsize and who, in doing so, could free up larger homes for families.

Plans are being drawn up to bring forward a comprehensive housing strategy that will help me to ensure that the available money targets those most in need. That includes the provision of social and affordable homes to meet the needs of the differing categories. However, although building more new social homes is important, it is not the only answer. We must look for alternatives to suit the wide range of housing needs that people have.

Peter Weir (DUP, North Down)

I thank the Minister for his answer. Is he content that his plans will meet the housing needs for that sector?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

The wide range of housing need in Northern Ireland can never be met by building more new social homes alone. We need a range of solutions that includes more new homes but that will also seek to do more with the homes that we already have. We need, therefore, a much wider and more holistic approach to tackling this issue. Therefore, the forthcoming housing strategy, which I mentioned, is particularly important. That is why I am preparing it and why I will seek, through that strategy, to do the very thing that we are talking about.

However, it is often overlooked that the biggest role that the social housing sector plays in meeting housing need is not as much through newbuild allocation as through the reallocation of existing units. There is a very high level of underoccupancy in Northern Ireland. For example, this year, we expect to reallocate approximately 8,000 social homes to people who are in housing need. When that is combined with our newbuild, it will go a long way to providing low-cost, quality housing to those who need it most.

Fra McCann (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his answers up to now. Recently, I spoke to a number of housing associations, and they told me that, to date, they have not been advised about the direction they should be going to fill the gap in lets for single occupants. Will the Minister tell us whether the introduction of the single-room allowance has the potential to leave 25,000 people homeless over this mandate?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

The first issue that the Member raised is a reflection of the fact that, during the previous mandate, there was no focus on accommodation for singles. It is important, therefore, that we recognise that, in the matter of months that I have been in the Department, we have started to address the issue, which has been around for a very long time but was simply ignored. For example, we have looked at good practice, not only in Northern Ireland but elsewhere, as to how it might be done in different areas. Therefore, we are keen to look at best practice elsewhere, including within the United Kingdom, to see what can be done to address the needs of singles, who, as I said, make up over half our waiting list.

The housing strategy is coming forward in the spring. Actually, it is the first time that we have had such a strategy in a very long time. In fact, I am not aware of a previous strategy. That is a disappointment, because, no matter what area of work you want to do in government, if you do not have a strategy, you are never going to get anywhere. You need to have a strategic view. That is why this comprehensive and holistic piece of work is so important. How will the proposed changes to housing benefit impact on single householders who are renting privately?

How will it impact on people in the social sector? We are still working through the figures to find out the precise impact. For all these things, there are various figures being quoted. We are still trying to get to the bottom of them to find out the exact situation. It will impact on a substantial number of people, but it is premature to put exact figures on these things.

Michael Copeland (UUP, Belfast East)

I too thank the Minister for his answers thus far. He may recall that when the matter was brought to this House as a prayer of annulment, he confirmed that not approving the statutory rule would breach parity. He further confirmed that he would examine whatever steps he could take to mitigate the effects of the changes to housing benefit for single people, such as the age of qualification for the single-room rate being extended from 25 years to 35 years. Will the Minister give some indication as to how far along the path of investigation of the steps he could take to mitigate the effects of the changes he has got?

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

I am sure the Member is aware that it is only a matter of weeks since that discussion took place. The issue is extremely complex, as the Member will be aware. All I can say at this stage is that it is still a work in progress. We do not have a resolution to it yet.

These are things that effectively are being directed towards us from Westminster. We are doing our best to mitigate the circumstances, but we are still working on the exact measures. That work is being taken forward with the involvement of the Department and the Housing Executive.

David McIlveen (DUP, North Antrim)

6. asked the Minister for Social Development what support his Department provides to people representing claimants at benefit tribunals, given that the number of appellants has significantly increased and a more detailed preparation of each case is required. (AQO 1319/11-15)

Nelson McCausland (DUP, Belfast North)

My Department does not directly provide support to people representing benefit customers at benefit tribunals. Benefit customers may be accompanied by anyone, including family or friends, to a tribunal, but many choose to be supported by a representative from the voluntary advice sector.

My Department supports the voluntary advice sector by providing funding of approximately £1·9 million a year to front line voluntary advice services through the community support programme, some of which supports people at benefit tribunals. The programme is delivered through our 26 local councils, which contribute additional resources for front line advice services.

The people who work in front line voluntary advice services are trained, supported and provided with up-to-date information to assist in providing a high standard of advice services to all their customers. In the 2011, Advice NI and Citizens Advice staff provided representation at over 3,500 benefit tribunals. Law Centre NI provides a legal consultancy support role in relation to tribunal representation.

David McIlveen (DUP, North Antrim)

I thank the Minister for his answer. Given the inevitability of the changes that are coming in welfare reform, it is inevitable that there will be an increase in appeals. Will the Minister highlight what provision is being made to prepare the way for that?