All of Mr Colin McGrath’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether any (i) health and safety inspections; and (ii) structural assessments, have been carried out on fishing stands at the Quoile Pondage, in the last three years, including (a) the dates of inspections; (b) the stands inspected; and (c) the…
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any (i) maintenance; (ii) inspection; and (iii) repair works, that have been carried out on fishing stands at the Quoile Pondage, in each of the last five years, including (a) the location of each stand (b) the nature of the works undertaken;…
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they will bring a draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland to the Executive for approval.
To ask the Minister of Health whether any consideration is being given to adapting the Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme to cover procedures carried out in Northern Ireland.
To ask the Minister of Finance to detail any engagement he has had with Executive colleagues regarding a review of paternity leave entitlement across the public sector, including consideration of greater flexibility and enhanced provision comparable to reforms introduced elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail how paternity leave entitlements for teachers in Northern Ireland compare with those available to teachers in (i) England; (ii) Scotland; and (iii) Wales; including any differences in (a) pay; (b) flexibility; and (c) eligibility from day one of employment.
To ask the Minister of Education whether he will review the requirement that statutory paternity leave for teachers must be taken in consecutive weeks, and consider allowing leave to be taken in separate one-week blocks within a defined period following the birth of a child.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the current paternity leave entitlements available to teachers employed by the Education Authority, including (i) the duration of leave; (ii) the rate of pay; and (iii) whether leave must be taken in consecutive blocks.
To ask the Minister of Education whether the proposed new curriculum framework will retain the current emphasis on play-based learning within Foundation Stage in primary schools.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of practising primary school teachers involved in the working groups currently drafting the new curriculum framework.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any international education systems considered when developing proposals for the new primary school curriculum.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any evidence his Department has relied upon to support the introduction of a knowledge-rich curriculum in primary education.
It is interesting that the drivers earn less. An imaginative approach would be to recognise that the drivers also take on caring responsibilities. They are the familiar face; they have interactions; and they keep people calm while they are being transported. Maybe recognising that element of the role, which respects…
It goes to the power of these sorts of awareness weeks that we are able to have debates that allow us the opportunity to raise the profile of important issues. Often, they are on issues that are not spoken about in our community, so it gives us the chance to amplify awareness of the various conditions and provide a…
There is so much sea swimming in my constituency. In what way might these updates help in the year ahead? There are still concerns that some of the water quality is not great. Given that Carlingford lough has a North/South element, do any of the Minister's suggestions require interactions with Dublin?
To ask the Minister of Health to detail why £80 million was set aside for Programme for Government targets last year when only £6.5 million was required.
To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the amount that has been set aside for Programme for Government targets for the upcoming financial year; and (ii) how this figure has been determined.
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the decision-making process that led to £73.5 million of the £80 million for Programme for Government targets being diverted to reducing wider budget pressures.
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 38049/22-27, to detail the total net financial position, including (i) underspend; and (ii) overspend, in each of the last five financial years, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust,
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 38049/22-27, to detail the main reasons for the Western Health and Social Care Trust deficits, between 2019 and 2022.
Thousands of people in our communities are unable to access a diagnosis; they are unable to access treatment for ADHD; their education journey is being impacted on by the cuts that are being delivered; and we do not have a single penny ring-fenced to try to help them. What is your message to those families?
Minister, given that that means that £80 million worth of high-risk work still has to be done, including electrical work such as fire alarm wiring, is it not the case that the Executive are neglecting our health estate and that is putting the lives of patients and staff in danger?
Mr McGrath asked the Minister of Health how much of the £12·8 million that the commissioning of ADHD services is likely to cost he has set aside for implementation in the year ahead.