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13 Sep 2006 : Column 2406W—continued
The information for voluntary grammar and grant maintained integrated schools is not readily available and is currently being collected. I will write to the hon. Member with the information as soon as possible.
Incidents of vandalism are not recorded as sectarian by the Education and Library Boards.
Security Passes
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department by year since February 2004. [88560]
Mr. Hain: The number of passes reported by staff in the Northern Ireland Office to have been lost or stolen each year since February 2004 is as follows:
| Lost | Stolen | |
This reply relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not cover the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland administration.
Sight-impaired Students
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to facilitate the inclusion of pupils who are blind, partially sighted and sight-impaired in mainstream education. [90807]
Maria Eagle: The introduction of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (SENDO) has increased the rights of children with special educational needs (SEN) to a mainstream education. Education and Library Boards (ELBs) assess and make provision for pupils on an individual basis, in line with the Code of Practice on the Assessment of Special Educational Needs and the Supplement to it, issued as a result of SENDO.
All of the ELBs have staff qualified to teach pupils who are blind, partially sighted and visually impaired, including those staff attached to the peripatetic support services. In addition support is available from Jordanstown Special Schools’ outreach service.
Depending on the needs of the individual pupil, ELBs make available a range of aids to support learning, including large print literature, Braillers and appropriate ICT equipment and software. Schools themselves may also purchase specialist items through their dedicated SEN budgets.
Single Farm Payments
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the less favoured area (LFA)
element of the Single Farm Payment will be paid in full in 2006-07; and when he expects the announcement relating to the LFA to be made. [90575]
Maria Eagle: The 2006-07 less favoured areas scheme will be an integral part of the 2007-13 Rural Development programme. This programme is currently under development and will be submitted to the EU Commission for its consideration and approval as soon as possible. Approval of that programme will enable DARD to accept claims and make payments under the 2006-07 LFA scheme.
DARD will continue to keep the farming sector informed of developments and an announcement will be made before the end of 2006.
Speed Detection Unit
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the proposed new speed detection project will be rolled out in Northern Ireland; in which areas it will be tested; what budget has been allocated to the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [87985]
Paul Goggins: The new speed detection project, known as SPECS III, is still at an early stage. Before the system can be deployed operationally, it must obtain Home Office Type Approval. This process is managed through the Home Office Scientific Development Board, with the assistance of police forces that are willing to practically test the equipment. SPECS III is at the beginning of this process and along with the Metropolitan Police Service, the PSNI is providing the testing capability for the system. In Northern Ireland it is to be installed and tested on the A20 dual carriageway between Newtownards and Dundonald. If successful, it is anticipated that SPECS III will be rolled out across the province. Initial costs for the pilot scheme are to be met by the equipment supplier with no budget implications for the PSNI at this stage.
Sports Facilities
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Government funding has been provided to local authorities for the improvement of sports facilities in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [85439]
Maria Eagle: Under the Recreation and Youth Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is responsible for the development of sport including the distribution of funding to sport.
The SCNI has invested £897,210 in the last five years to local authorities for the improvement of sports facilities in Northern Ireland. This sum can be broken down by local authority as follows:
| Council | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total |
Local Authorities have also been provided with funding from government departments as follows:
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
DARD provided £28,821.67 of funding to Fermanagh district council in 2004-05.
Department of Social Development
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