This week in the Assembly 8-12 June 2009

Monday 8 June 2009

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

East Antrim MLA Sean Neeson will ask the Minister what action his Department is taking to make it easier for parents to foster.

Mid-Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong will ask the Minister for an update on the Comprehensive Spending Review efficiency savings process for his Department.

Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly will ask the Minister if any progress has been made in highlighting the risks of sunbed usage since the Cancer Research UK SunSmart Campaign was launched.

South Belfast MLA Anna Lo will ask the Minister to outline the health care provision to be made in light of the proposed cuts in mental health and elderly care in the Belfast Trust area.

North Belfast MLA Fred Cobain will ask the Minister for an update on the Public Health Agency.

Questions to the Minister for Regional Development

South Down MLA John McCallister will ask the Minister what communications he has had with the Utility Regulator in relation to domestic water charging.

Mid-Ulster MLA Fred Cobain will ask the Minister for an update on the review of the Regional Development Strategy.

Executive Committee Business

Social Security Benefits Up-rating
The Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie has proposed a motion that "the Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 be approved."

Private Members' Business

Diabetes Service Framework
Jim Shannon (DUP), Carmel Hanna (SDLP), Sean Neeson (Alliance) and Ken Robinson (UUP) have proposed a joint motion that "this Assembly expresses its concern at the threat posed by the ever increasing rates of diabetes; notes that Northern Ireland has the highest prevalence of the disease in the UK (5.4%) and remains the only area not to have a dedicated regional strategy to address the issue; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to introduce a standalone Diabetes Service Framework."

Tuesday 9 June 2009

Questions to the Minister for Social Development

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tommy Gallagher will ask the Minister what opportunities exist to build a greater proportion of social housing in land already in public ownership.

Tom Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) will ask the Minister to provide an overview of her Department's current budgetary position.

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey will ask the Minister what steps she is taking to ensure that the resources available for new build social housing deliver as many houses as possible.

Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn will ask the Minister for an update on the development of a legislative framework, in relation to housing, governing the relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector.

Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly will ask the Minister how she proposes to take forward her Shared Future agenda in housing.

South Belfast MLA Carmel Hanna will ask the Minister what proposals she has brought forward to her Executive colleagues in relation to social housing to help counter the effects of the economic downturn.

Executive Committee Business

Housing (Amendment) Bill
The Minister for Social Development will bring forward the first stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA 7/08).

Committee Business

Availability of Discounted College Courses for Older People
The Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning Sue Ramsey has proposed a motion that "this Assembly calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to enter into discussions with the Regional Colleges about the options for, and legalities surrounding, the reinstatement of concessionary course fees for older people; and seeks the Minister's acknowledgement that the availability of these discounted courses provides considerable social, as well as educational, benefits to older people."

Private Members' Business

Housing budget
SDLP MLAs Declan O'Loan, Thomas Burns and Dolores Kelly have proposed a motion that "this Assembly recognises the £100 million shortfall in the housing budget; notes in particular the lack of finance available for planned maintenance and improvement works, including private sector grants; calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to give top priority to housing in the forthcoming June monitoring round; calls on the Executive to recognise that investment in social housing can boost the construction sector and the wider economy at this time; and further calls on the Minister for Social Development, the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the Executive to put long term measures in place to secure the financial future for housing."

Adjournment Debate
Foyle MLA Mark Durkan has proposed an adjournment debate on social housing in Foyle.

Committee meetings

Tuesday 9 June
11.00am Assembly and Executive Review Committee Room 21
12.30pm Committee for Employment and Learning Room 135
12.30pm Business Committee Room 106
1.30pm Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development Room 52

Wednesday 10 June
10.00am Committee for Finance and Personnel Room 152
10.00am Committee for the Environment Senate Chamber
10.00am Committee for Education Room 144
2.00pm Committee on Standards and Privileges Room 135
2.00pm Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Room 144

Thursday 11 June
10.00am Committee for the Environment Senate Chamber
10.30am Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Room 21
11.00am Committee for Social Development Room 135
2.00pm Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Senate Chamber