Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) any action she is taking to ensure greater urgency, in relation to grid connection timelines for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects in the north; and (ii) any consideration she has made of the benefits of introducing target timelines for … Continue reading AQW 54241/22-27 – Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing opportunities for pupils to learn Sign Language as part of the school curriculum. Minister of Education: My department recognises the benefits of learning Sign Language, including enhancing communication and literacy … Continue reading AQW 54767/22-27 – Learning sign language in schools
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any advice his Department sought from the Chief Medical Officer on the use of screen-based devices by children in schools. Minister of Education: Screen-based devices include desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, interactive whiteboards and other digital technologies that use a visual display … Continue reading AQW 53982/22-27 – Use of screen-based devices by children in schools
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any steps she is taking to support small businesses in rural areas in offering apprenticeships to young people. Minister for the Economy: My Department’s ApprenticeshipsNI and Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLA) programmes support employers across the north, including small businesses in rural … Continue reading AQW 54627/22-27 – Apprenticeships in small businesses in rural areas
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any assessment his Department has made of whether current school funding arrangements adequately recognise the strategic importance of small rural schools where pupil numbers are low. Minister of Education: I refer the Member to my response to AQW 52394/22-27. All grant aided … Continue reading AQW 54896/22-27 – Funding arrangements for small rural schools
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any assessment that has been made of the impact contingency spending arrangements, in the absence of an agreed Executive Budget, will have on (i) staffing levels; (ii) recruitment, and (iii) the filling of vacancies, within (a) her Department; and (b) its arm’s-length … Continue reading AQW 54630 22-27 – Department of Justice contingency spending arrangements
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): The Minister for Communities to detail the minimum energy performance certificate rating in the latest design standards for new-build social housing. Minister for Communities: The Department for Communities’ Housing Association Guide does not specify a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating for new-build social housing, the energy performance of new social … Continue reading AQW 53985 /22-27 – Minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating for new-build social housing
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any assessment her Department has made of the risks to public safety, arising from the early release of prisoners, in response to acute capacity pressures in the prison estate. Minister of Justice: I have no plans to introduce the early release of … Continue reading AQW 53984 22-27 – Early release of prisoners
