This week in the Assembly - 2 June

Monday 2 June 2008

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

South Antrim MLA David Ford will ask the Minister for an update on the inter-departmental working group on mental health and learning disability.

Questions to the Minister for Regional Development

MLA Kieran McCarthy (Strangford) will ask the Minister what plans he has to re-allocate funds in the roads budget towards the maintenance of rural roads.

South Belfast MLA Alex Maskey will ask the Minister what plans his department has to alleviate parking problems, in the event of communities rejecting the residents-only parking pilot proposals.

MLA Daithí McKay (North Antrim) will ask what correspondence the Minister has had with the Minister of the Environment in relation to the Climate Change Bill targets and how his department can contribute to these.

South Belfast MLA Anna Lo will ask what consideration he has given to providing free public transport for special needs children.

Questions to the Minister for Social Development

North Antrim MLA Daithí McKay will ask the Minister what action she is taking to introduce renewable energy into social housing.

MLA David Ford (South Antrim) will ask for the Minister’s assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of using objective need to allocate funds, as opposed to targeting funds at certain predetermined social or cultural groups.

West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff will ask the Minister if her department will provide vouchers to low income families who cannot afford heating oil.

MLA Pat Ramsey (Foyle) will ask the Minister if she is prepared to transfer some responsibility for the Neighbourhood Renewal scheme to local councils.

Upper Bann MLA John O’Dowd will ask the Minister to outline her plans to regulate private landlords in the social housing sector.

MLA Sam Gardiner (Upper Bann) will ask what implications the ageing population has for her long-term strategy of dealing with fuel poverty.

West Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann will ask what consideration has been given to the possibility of introducing a rent cap to assist those on housing benefit who are unable to meet the rent set by private landlords.

MLA Dolores Kelly (Upper Bann) will ask what steps the Minister is taking to provide more social and affordable housing in rural areas.

West Tyrone MLA Pat Doherty will ask the Minister if she has any plans to fast track the warm homes scheme.

MLA Sean Neeson (East Antrim) will ask how many social housing units are planned to be built during the 2008 calendar year.

Committee Business

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Local Postal Services

Robin Newton, Chairperson of the Committee, stated: “That this Assembly expresses its concern and deep disappointment at the planned closure of, and service changes to, certain local Post Offices; approves the report of the Ad Hoc Committee set up to consider, and make proposals for, partnerships that could enhance the economic case for viable local postal services; and agrees that it should be submitted to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform as a report of the Northern Ireland Assembly.”

Tuesday 3 June 2008

Executive Committee Business

Consideration Stage– Mesothelioma, etc, Bill (NIA 16/07)
(Minister for Social Development)

Consideration Stage – Charities Bill (NIA 9/07)
(Minister for Social Development)

Committee Meetings

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

Wednesday 4 June 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 5 June 2008

10.30am - Environment Committee
10.30am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
10.30am - Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
2.00pm - Public Accounts Committee
2.30pm - Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee

Friday 6 June 2008

10.00am - Education Committee