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23 Nov 2005 : Column 2017W—continued

South Down (Secondary Roads)

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to improve secondary roads in South Down to improve access to the Belfast to Dublin corridor; and if he will make a statement. [29499]

Mr. Woodward: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 21 November 2005:


 
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Speed Detection Devices

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the (a) Operational Command Unit and (b) District Command Unit have used (i) speed detection devices and (ii) tax detection devices on the Comber road. [28877]

Mr. Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland do not record the information requested in relation to speed detection devices.

Driver Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland carries out tax detection by Automatic Number Plate Reader. I am advised that they do not use any sites on the Comber road for detection purposes.

Student Finance

Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to require adults to pay higher tuition fees for college courses in Northern Ireland. [30214]

Angela E. Smith: From the 2006–07 academic year, Northern Ireland institutions providing designated courses of full-time higher education will be able to charge annual tuition fees of up to £3,000 to students entering higher education from that year. From 2006–07 all Northern Ireland domiciled students studying at institutions in the UK, will be able to defer payment by taking out a non-means tested loan which will not have to be paid until after the student leaves higher education and is earning more than £15,000 per year.
 
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Sports Funding

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding his Department has provided for (a) hockey, (b) cricket and (c) rugby in each of the last three years in Northern Ireland. [22760]

Mr. Hanson: The following exchequer funding has been given to hockey, cricket and rugby in each of the last three years provided by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI).
SCNI Exchequer funding

£
2002–032003–042004–05
Hockey51,150112,393120,605
Cricket26,33061,81465,246
Rugby(24)122,035101,82596,728


(24) Includes funding via the Safe Sports Ground Programme.


In addition, the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), Department of Education (DE), Department of Social Development (DSD) and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), have provided the following:
DFP funding

£
2002–032003–042004–05
Hockey7,245
Cricket
Rugby88,4787,200
Numerous sports(25)48,434


(25) Includes Peace II funding to projects involving more than one of the listed sports.



 
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DE funding

£
2002–032003–042004–05
Hockey1,441
Cricket1,132
Rugby

DSD funding

£
2002–032003–042004–05
Hockey211
Cricket
Rugby9,000

DARD funding

£
2002–032003/042004/05
Hockey
Cricket
Rugby58

Statementing

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children in each Education and Library Board area are awaiting assessment for a statement; and if he will make a statement. [25016]

Angela E. Smith: The following table shows by, Education and Library Board, the total number of children for whom a statutory assessment has currently been requested (column a), out of that total, the number of cases where the assessment process has not yet started (column b) and the number of statutory assessments currently underway by boards (column c).
Education and Library Board(a) Number of children requiring a statutory assessment(b) Of (a) the number of cases, where the assessment process has not yet started(c ) Number of statutory assessments currently under way (a)-(b)
Belfast Education and Library Board2200220
North Eastern Education and Library Board1646158
South Eastern Education and Library Board57060510
Southern Education and Library Board28125256
Western Education and Library Board24714233

The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs sets out a five-stage approach to the process. At Stage 4 the Education and Library Board considers the need for a statutory assessment, following a request from parents of the child, the school or other agencies. If the board considers that such an assessment is necessary, the parents will be notified and a multi-disciplinary assessment will be made. The board may then make a statement of special educational needs at Stage 5. From the date of the initial request for statutory assessment, the board has 18 weeks, subject to certain exceptions, to issue a proposed statement, where this has been found to be necessary.


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