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Schools: Classroom Assistants
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether education and library boards in Northern Ireland have arrangements in place to provide Roman Catholic maintained schools with Roman Catholic classroom assistants, and controlled schools with Protestant classroom assistants; and whether there is equality of opportunity on religious grounds for classroom assistants employed by the boards.[HL6552]
Lord Rooker: No such arrangements are in place. Classroom assistants, in common with other non-teaching staff, are employed by the education and library boards in accordance with the ELB code of procedure and the principles of appointment on merit. Permanent substantive posts are publicly advertised and it is made clear that such posts are open to all sections of the community.
Schools: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much the Northern Ireland Department of Education has spent on (a) Irish language and culture teaching in schools; and (b) Ulster-Scots language and culture teaching in schools in each of the past five years.[HL6466]
Lord Rooker: The Department of Education allocates funds to schools on the basis of the common funding formula and it is a matter for schools to determine their spending. The department has supported Irish and Ulster-Scots curriculum materials as follows.
| Year | Resources | Activity |
Sexual Offences: Mental Health Accommodation
Baroness Murphy asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they plan to publish the data they hold on rapes and sexual assaults, both staff on patient and patient on patient, in mental health accommodation.[HL6495]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The requested data are not collected centrally. The National Patient Safety Agency collects reports of patient safety incidents. The second report from the agency on its national reporting and learning system and patient safety observatory is currently being developed and will be published later this year. It will include a detailed themed analysis of patient safety incidents reported in mental health settings.
Smoking: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements are being put in place to assist with the restrictions on smoking in public places in Northern Ireland.[HL6539]
Lord Rooker: Preliminary discussions with a range of agencies have taken place to assess the implications of smoke-free legislation, which is scheduled to be introduced in April 2007. Once the draft Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 has completed its legislative process, further discussions will take place and guidance will be issued to employers, enforcement officers and the general public.
Sport: Rally Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How the value of Rally Ireland to Northern Ireland was assessed; by whom it was assessed and when; and whether they will place a copy of the assessment in the Library of the House.[HL6279]
Lord Rooker: A feasibility study was carried out by TCC International on behalf of the Northern Ireland Events Company and Failte Ireland in May 2005, followed by an economic appraisal in August 2005. An anticipated value to Northern Ireland was included in the report.
4 July 2006 : Column WA41
An independent evaluation of the event is being carried out on behalf of NIEC. It is expected that a final evaluation report will be completed by the end of July 2006.
A similar evaluation is being completed for the March 2006 event. It is expected to be completed by September 2006.
A decision on the release of these reports will be made when they have been completed. Rally Ireland has also completed its own evaluations of both events.
Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent Waterways Ireland is publicly accountable; and who is responsible for ensuring its public accountability.[HL6088]
4 July 2006 : Column WA42
Lord Rooker: The accountability arrangements for all six implementation bodies, including Waterways Ireland, are set out in points 1.1 to 1.5 of part 7 to annexe 2 of the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.
The chief executive of Waterways Ireland is the accountable person for the body. In Northern Ireland he is designated by the accounting officer of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and shall report to him/her. If the chief executive of Waterways Ireland was invited to appear before the Public Accounts Committee in Northern Ireland or at Westminster, the Permanent Secretary of DCAL would also normally be expected to attend and could be questioned on issues directly affecting his/her department on the body.
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