This week at the Assembly - 03 December

By Sean Kelly from NICVA

Published on 30 Nov 2007

An overview of upcoming business at the Assembly from 03 December 2007 to 07 December 2007.

Monday 3 December 2007

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

Basil McCrea (UUP) will ask the Minister to make a statement on the need for increased healthcare spending in Northern Ireland; and to outline the comparison between healthcare spending in Northern Ireland and England, on key areas, including children's issues and mental health.

Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister to provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Bamford Review. A similar question on the Bamford Review will follow later from party colleague Trevor Lunn.

The SDLP’s Declan O'Loan will ask the Minister to detail (i) the amount of funding that has been allocated to treat long-term drug addiction; (ii) the breakdown by Health and Social Care Trust, in number and percentage terms; (iii) the residential in-patient facilities for treating patients with severe drug addiction and dependency problems that are available, and their capacity; and (iv) the Trust areas that have no such facilities.

John McCallister (UUP) will ask the Minister to detail the funding that will be devoted to mental health issues over the next three years, based upon the draft Budget proposals for his department.

Questions to the Minister for Regional Development

The UUP’s Fred Cobain will ask the Minister to outline the actions his department is undertaking, or considering, to ensure that the highest proportion possible of those eligible, possess Translink Smart Cards. A similar question on Translink Smart Cards will follow later from Sinn Féin’s Fra McCann.

Questions to the Minister for Social Development

Alliance leader David Ford will ask the Minister to report on the implications for the provision of affordable housing arising out of the draft Budget 2008-2011.

Foyle MLA Mary Bradley will ask the Minister for an assessment of how the Executive's draft budget will provide the resources to combat fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. A similar question on fuel poverty will follow later from the UUP’s Fred Cobain.

Tommy Gallagher (SDLP) will ask the Minister to give her assessment of the functions of her department which will be transferred to local government under current proposals on the Review of Public Administration.

Kieran McCarthy (Alliance) will ask the Minister to provide an update on the introduction of ‘A Shared Future’ housing schemes.

Jim Shannon (DUP) will ask the Minister to detail the system used for the registration of potential social housing opportunities on behalf of housing associations, including the criteria which are applied; and to confirm whether or not land can be registered for social housing without the agreement of developers or owners of the site.

South Down MLA John McCallister will ask the Minister to give her assessment of the provisions of the draft Budget in relation to addressing homelessness.

Thomas Burns (SDLP) will ask the Minister for an assessment of how the Executive's draft Budget will provide the resources to meet the demand for co-ownership housing.

Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea will ask the Minister to outline her plans to make available land owned by her department for the purpose of social housing, or affordable housing, developments.

Motions for Debate

Ad Hoc Committee: draft Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

David McNarry (UUP) and Thomas Burns (SDLP) have proposed: “That, as provided for in Standing Order 48(7), this Assembly appoints an Ad Hoc Committee to consider the proposal for a draft Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2007, referred by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and to submit a report to the Assembly by 4 February 2008.”

Health Service Reform

DUP MLAs, Iris Robinson, Alex Easton and Thomas Buchanan, have proposed a joint motion: “That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to bring forward a Health and Social Services Reform Bill, as a matter of urgency, for consideration by the Assembly.”

Tuesday 4 December 2007

Motions for Debate

Drink Spiking

Sinn Féin MLAs Sue Ramsey and Jennifer McCann have proposed a joint motion: “That this Assembly, in view of the increase in ‘spiking’ of drinks, calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide for date rape prevention kits to be made available free of charge.”