This week in the Assembly - 5 May

Monday 5 May

Questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

The SDLP’s Carmel Hanna will ask the Minister what commitment he will give to recognising an acute stroke as a medical emergency as part of the stroke strategy.

Roy Beggs (UUP) will ask the Minister what measures his Department is taking to reduce the rise in binge drinking. Later party colleague David McClarty will ask the Minister what plans he has to meet the drinks industry and supermarkets to discuss price controls on the sale of alcohol to address the health implications of alcohol abuse.

Mid Ulster MLA Michelle O'Neill will ask the Minister what plans he has to take forward the recommendations to introduce middlestep services, as outlined in the policy paper 'Independence and well-being in sight' produced by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Willie Clarke (South Down) will ask the Minister to confirm when the age limit will be raised to 18 years in respect to purchasing tobacco products.

The DUP’s Allan Bresland will ask the Minister to detail his policy on providing hip replacements for patients under 60 years of age.

Lagan Valley MLA Jonathan Craig will ask the Minister to provide an update on the action plan implemented by his Department in relation to suicide prevention and awareness.

The Alliance Party’s Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister to provide an update on the timescale for the introduction of free personal care for the elderly. Later the SDLP’s Mary Bradley will ask the Minister what action he is taking to address the issue of older people having to sell their homes to cover the cost of residential care.

Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly will ask the Minister to detail the funds that have been made available for smoking cessation programmes; and to confirm how these allocations are determined.

Questions to the Minister for Regional Development

Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister to give his reasons for delaying the introduction of free travel for people over the age of 60 until the end of the year.

Alan McFarland (UUP) will ask the Minister to detail (i) the actions his Department has taken to increase the number of children who walk to school; and (ii) the increase in the number of children who walk to school since he took up office.

The SDLP’s Dominic Bradley will ask the Minister to detail the length of time required to process an application for a disabled parking bay.

Roy Beggs (East Antrim) will ask the Minister to detail the consultation that has taken place between him and the Minister for the Environment in relation to developing an integrated strategy to upgrade sewerage works in line with increasing development in specific areas in Northern Ireland.

Alliance MLA Sean Neeson will ask the Minister when he last used the Executive Office in Brussels.

The UUP’s David Burnside will ask the Minister to give his assessment of the operational success of the Rural Transport Fund.

Tommy Gallagher (SDLP) will ask the Minister to detail his plans for extending street lighting in rural areas.

David McNarry (Strangford) will ask the Minister if he will consider widening the application of the fuel duty rebate scheme, in light of the recent rise in the cost of fuel.

Questions to the Minister for Social Development

Foyle MLA Mary Bradley will ask the Minister to outline the steps she is taking to improve the sustainability of public housing stock.

Alasdair McDonnell (SDLP) will ask the Minister to outline the approach she is taking to the Review of Public Administration in terms of (i) supporting a new vision for local government; and (ii) transferring functions to local government.

The UUP’s David Burnside will ask the Minister to outline her strategies for reducing the number of families with children claiming at least one key benefit.

The SDLP’s Dolores Kelly will ask the Minister if she will consider interventions to assist ethnic minority groupings in community development.

Alex Attwood (West Belfast) will ask the Minister to outline her plans for 'A Shared Future' housing for both new and existing housing developments.

Fred Cobain (UUP) will ask the Minister if she has taken any steps to assess the impact of water charges on those over the state pension age and receiving at least one key benefit.

Sinn Féin’s Mitchel McLaughlin will ask the Minister if the housing authority will be able to operate effectively following the loss of 350 jobs at the Housing Executive.

Michelle McIlveen (DUP) will ask the Minister to detail the progress in addressing the delay in the provision of home surveys under the Warm Homes scheme to ensure that those in greatest need get help first.

Willie Clarke (South Down) will ask the Minister to confirm when the review of the housing selection scheme will be completed; and what is her assessment of the effectiveness of this scheme in areas of high demand.

The UUP’s Billy Armstrong will ask the Minister to detail the financial provision she makes for charities involved in supporting homeless people.

East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs will ask the Minister what strategies are in place to improve benefit take-up.

John Dallat (SDLP) will ask the Minister to outline her housing priorities for the next three years.

North Down MLA Alan McFarland will ask the Minister if the number of vulnerable households suffering from fuel poverty will be reduced to 20,000 by 2008 as outlined in the strategy document 'Ending Fuel Poverty'.

Claire McGill (Sinn Féin) will ask the Minister to detail the reasons why the co-ownership housing association is not receiving new applications to buy in light of recent statements she has made to provide financial aid to this sector.

Executive Committee Business

Consideration Stage- Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA 12/07)
[First Minister and deputy First Minister]

Consideration Stage- Libraries Bill (NIA 5/07)
[Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure]

Further Consideration Stage- Local Government (Boundaries) Bill (NIA 14/07)
[Minister of the Environment]

Committee Meetings

Click here to see in full the Assembly Committee Business Diary including times and venues.

Tuesday 6 May 2008

1.30pm - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

Wednesday 7 May 2008

10.00am - Finance and Personnel Committee
10.30am - Regional Development Committee
10.30am - Employment and Learning Committee
2.00pm - Committee for the OFMDFM

Thursday 8 May 2008

9.30am - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
10.30am - Environment Committee
10.30am - Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
10.30am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee

Friday 9 May 2008

10.30am - Education Committee