Phil Flanagan
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his answer. There is an old guise that you should never ask a question that you do not know the answer to. The question that I submitted asked the Minister how many social houses had been started in the 2015-16 financial year, but somehow it was changed.”
“I thank the Minister for his attempt to answer the question. I put him on notice that it was not he who initiated the process, but I am looking for him to intervene and stop it as a locally elected representative. <BR /> <BR />There are roughly 1,000 people on the housing waiting list in Fermanagh, and nearly 300 of those are in stress.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra. I thank the Minister for his answer. The licence has not been extended, but does the Minister accept that the decision to extend InfraStrata's time frame for a work programme sets a dangerous precedent on fracking, particularly given that InfraStrat…”
“How does the Minister square that with the ministerial involvement of his predecessor, Nelson McCausland, interfering in where social houses are built for political, parading or electoral reasons.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way, and I have no difficulty in supporting this request for information sharing, but I have two short questions. First, he said that this is a tax on employment. Does he have any sort of a headline figure as to what the scale of the financial implications of this will be for local employers?”
“<BR /> <BR />Requirements are now being placed on the Department with regard to careers. That is a very positive development that the Minister brought forward after the Committee initiated a review of careers advice, which was then followed up by a piece of work that the Minister commissioned from an expert group on careers.”
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“There is a complete over-reliance on the private sector — or, the independent sector, as they call it — to deliver services. That over-reliance has proved ineffective and costly, and it is certainly not in the best interests of the people we all represent. <BR /> <BR />We are all aware of the financial pressures facing each of the trusts, and the Western Trust has outlined to us the impact that those pressures will have on its delivery of front-line services. However, the manner in which the Western Trust has dealt with the financial challenge has been disappointing. The number of people from across the border who are being treated by the Western Trust in the new hospital is nowhere near good enough, and fewer people are coming to the new hospital in Enniskillen for services than went to the old Erne Hospital.”
“The privatisation agenda driving things in England has had a knock-on impact on the funding given to the Executive. In addition, the changing needs of our citizens due to our ageing population and changes in demographics have had an impact on the range and the cost of service provision across the North, but particularly in rural communities like the Western Trust area. <BR /> <BR />There is also financial mismanagement going on within the trusts, which has caused serious problems. On every occasion that I engage with Western Trust management, they constantly tell me that it is one of the better performing trusts, and that this is the first time that it has been in deficit. It is happening across the board, but there needs to be serious action to address mismanagement in the trust.”
“The cuts to the block grant have caused a serious problem. They have reduced the amount that the Executive have to distribute around their Departments. However, considerable efforts have been made to protect the health service, which has to be welcomed.”
“We will put the blame between the trusts and how they manage their budgets, and the British Government, who have repeatedly cut the allocation to the block grant over successive years. We will leave Mr Wells out of it for the day and hope for a positive response from him. It is very easy to blame him, but that is not going to wash with anybody, so we will not waste our time. <BR /> <BR />We all know that the health service is under serious pressure due to several reasons.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chomhalta. I speak in support and defence of the health service across the Western Trust area. I speak on behalf of the many patients who are reliant on the health and social care services and on behalf of the staff who provide those vital services. That is the reason why we are all here. <BR /> <BR />Michaela made a good point that we are not here engaging in a party political way. I do not think that the Minister got too much of a hard touch here this evening yet, and I certainly do not intend to start. The responsibility for the majority of these problems certainly does not lie with the Minister.”
“I thank you for your guidance. <BR /> <BR />This scheme applies to the public sector, and public-sector organisations can avail themselves of it. We need to see more work being done to encourage public-sector organisations, local authorities and others to make the change and invest in renewable heat generation. If we expect businesses and domestic households to make the change, the public sector needs to take the lead and show that this makes sense.”
“<BR /> <BR />As regards how we reach the challenging 10% target, which is the driver for the renewable heat incentive scheme, the public sector needs to take the lead on this. We need to see public-sector buildings and organisations making the change to renewable forms of energy, particularly heat. The fact that this Building is still heated with gas baffles me; I do not understand why we have not moved to a renewable form of heating for this Building. One of the reasons that I was given in the past was from the former Minister of Finance and Personnel, who told me that there was no room on the Stormont estate for a shed to store biomass to feed a boiler. Such attitudes need to be addressed. There is plenty of room here if somebody wanted to put up a shed and put a bit of timber in it to keep a boiler going.”
“I am tempted to talk about the impact of fracking on current prices, but I am sure that you would not let me, Mr Deputy Speaker. We need to look at where long-term future prices are going. Despite the present short-term reduction in crude oil and wholesale gas prices, the trend is very much upwards. The price of fossil fuels will continue to rise once fracking companies realise that it is not making them money, as the price of oil and gas has fallen because OPEC countries and companies know that it is in their interests not to increase supply at the minute. The long-term price is going up; that is why a scheme like this makes sense. I encourage people to look at the long-term projection for the cost of oil and gas as opposed to taking a short-term view.”
“I am coming back to it. We have seen those Ministers applying pressure to fuel companies and the knock-on impact on the price of petrol and diesel, but we have not seen any reduction in the price that customers here pay for gas and electricity, despite falling prices. We have to ask why that significant fall in prices has not been passed on to hard-pressed consumers. The Utility Regulator has not done enough to pass those savings on, so that, despite the fall in global and wholesale prices, the price reduction has not been passed on to consumers. It certainly should have been at this stage. <BR /> <BR />There is a knock-on impact on non-regulated supply companies that take their prices from regulated firms, which are the prices that customers pay.”
“There are huge issues with how the electricity industry here is regulated. I do not think that it is delivering for customers at the minute. Unfortunately, generators are running rings round the regulators North and South, and much more needs to be done to sort that out. <BR /> <BR />I move on to global matters. The reduction in crude oil prices has been heavily raised, although prices have gone down. With regard to petrol and diesel, the British Prime Minister, the British Chancellor and Danny Alexander have all raised the issue of how the global price of crude oil has dropped, but we have not seen a knock-on impact on —”
“I was not advocating that we do that; I was advocating that the Department and the regulator bring forward a paper on what such a scheme would look like, whereby the Executive actually put some money in themselves instead of funding for a NISEP scheme or the energy savings opportunity scheme (ESOS) that the Energy Bill proposed and that they fund that instead of it being added on to every unit of electricity. We do not have enough detail on it yet, but there is work that could be done to tease out what it would look like. <BR /> <BR />Mr Frew has a solution for constraint charges: the erection of an overground North/South interconnector. I think that the erection of an underground North/South interconnector along the route of the A5/N2 would solve many of those problems.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. The Committee covered this in detail through phases 1 and 2 of our recent inquiry, which was debated last week with phase 3. One of the things that the Committee asked to be done was for the Department and the regulator to explore a possible scheme that would take the NISEP scheme and retail charges out of every customer's bill. We cannot simply hand money to large energy users because it would have state aid implications. I do not think that it is fair that we take money off them and hand it on to domestic customers, as there would be a knock-on impact, particularly in fuel-poor households. There are opportunities.”
“If something is not done to tackle the high cost of electricity, which the Committee has raised on a number of occasions, there will be serious job losses across the sector. It is discouraging potential manufacturing companies from basing themselves here.”
“However, at some stage in the near future, the Minister needs to provide clarity on what legislation she intends to take forward to deal with energy-related issues between now and the end of the mandate. <BR /> <BR />In terms of support for large energy users through the scheme, it is concerning that reports came out the week before last from the regulator that some of our large energy users pay the highest electricity costs in Europe. They are now paying more than any other region in Europe. We want to see sustainable energy for all our customers, whether that is a domestic household or a large energy user.”
“This is a small step in the right direction, but the fact that people who want a boiler replacement have to put either £1,000 or £1,500 of their own money up front is a huge disincentive for some, particularly when you look at the payback time of moving from oil to gas or renewables. The fact that there is not a loan of £1,000 to support people in poor households to move across to benefit from such a good scheme is a bit of an anomaly. <BR /> <BR />The Minister proposed to bring forward an energy Bill, which would have been significant legislation for her Department. For one reason or another, including some of the implications of what happened at Westminster with energy policy and other matters, that is not going to happen.”
“I take the opportunity to appeal to the Minister to raise the matter with the Social Development Minister and the Environment Minister to see whether that very valuable service can be retained. <BR /> <BR />The boiler replacement scheme has been fairly unsuccessful. It is hard for people who are fuel-poor or live in a poor household to avail themselves of that scheme. The numbers who have signed up for it are fairly low, and, although there is considerable demand for it, only around 5% of those who make an enquiry can or do get it. The terms of the boiler replacement scheme need to be reviewed, and it needs to be part of a much broader package, such as that proposed through the green new deal scheme, that would encourage people to invest in energy efficiency and energy conservation measures or to move across to renewable energy.”
“We have a complete over-reliance on fossil fuels for the creation of heat and electricity for our homes. The third aspect of that is transport, and that is where we need to see government support. We have seen some support across all of those areas, and that needs to be maintained. <BR /> <BR />The warm homes scheme helped people to reduce their bills through greater energy efficiency measures, and it is proposed to end that scheme in March. We need to explore whether that could be extended beyond March, because it is questionable that councils will be ready to go with affordable warmth from 1 April. Bryson has told me that it is about to put its staff in Fermanagh on protective notice, and that means that there may be a gap in provision between the ending of the warm homes scheme and the full roll-out of affordable warmth.”
“From a consumer point of view, the big focus that individuals and consumer advocates had was on the ability of householders to pay heating costs, which is a serious problem, particularly at this time of year. One of the biggest problems that householders face is growing heating costs, so I welcome the support that is being provided for domestic households to embrace renewable forms of heat generation. It is certainly more sustainable and more affordable. It is a small start, but I hope that it can be a catalyst for greater growth in the sector in the future. <BR /> <BR />The soaring cost of energy along with the continuing pressure on falling and stagnant household incomes presents great difficulties for many of our citizens, households and businesses.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an méid a dúirt sí inniu. I thank the Minister for what she said today, and I support the rule that she is bringing forward. <BR /> <BR />Phase 2 includes new technologies in the non-domestic sector and the introduction of an RHI scheme for domestic customers to replace the temporary scheme that was in place and was attractive for domestic householders. I suppose that this puts it on a more permanent footing and gives greater clarity to customers and those in the sector on what will exist in the future. The public consultation took place on phase 2 between July and October 2013, and much of the focus in the consultation responses was on the domestic sector and the opportunities that lay there.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra. I thank the Minister for his answer. All the talk and speculation on the statement here is about the transfer of powers and corporation tax. The 'Financial Times' says yes; 'The Irish Times' says no. In wider terms, have you or your officials had any meaningful discussions about the real-term cuts to the block grant that you have alluded to in previous answers and how they have impacted and will impact on the Executive's ability to deliver core front-line services in the next year?”
“Some provisions in the LCM, as the Minister said, are within the remit of the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Committee therefore wrote to the respective Committees and neither had any points of concern regarding the provisions in the legislation relating to their respective Departments. So, having carefully considered the proposals, the Committee is of the view that the LCM is the most appropriate means of removing this unnecessary and redundant legislation. We therefore support the Department in seeking the Assembly's endorsement of the LCM.”
“Clause 7 of the Deregulation Bill will extend the limited liability provisions associated with the current exemption to other workplaces.”
“Officials confirmed that the Deregulation Bill will repeal the Act, which relates to powers that are held by a board of trade that have either been transferred elsewhere or have become obsolete. Officials assured the Committee that there would be no impact on the current licensing regime in the North and that the Health and Safety Executive has no objections to the repeal of the Act. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, members questioned officials on the impact on a company's insurance liabilities of the proposed extension to the exemption for turban-wearing Sikhs from wearing safety helmets in hazardous workplaces. The Department provided written assurances to the Committee that the current exemption protects employers from liability should someone suffer injuries as a consequence of choosing not to wear a helmet on a construction site.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Níl ach cúpla focal le rá agam mar LeasChathaoirleach an Choiste Fiontair, Trádála agus Infheistíochta. <BR /> <BR />I have only a few short remarks to make. The overall purpose of the Bill, as the Minister said, is to assist in reducing the burden of regulation in the areas that are within its scope. Any steps taken to remove or reduce unnecessary or redundant red tape are to be welcomed. The Committee welcomes the legislative consent motion (LCM) on that basis. <BR /> <BR />The Committee sought and received clarification from the Department on two matters pertaining to the Bill. The first was about a query regarding the Mining Industry Act 1920.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I thought that the Minister had to keep an eye on what was in front of her, but now she has to keep an eye on what is behind her too. Does the Minister accept that there is considerable merit in island-wide promotion here, particularly in areas such as Fermanagh, which could greatly benefit from some of the 750,000 people who fly into Knock airport annually coming further up the North towards Fermanagh, Donegal and Leitrim through increased cross-border promotion?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagraí. I thank the Minister for his answer. He will be aware that a rally organised by FE and HE students against the cuts to colleges and universities is due to take place tomorrow. Does the Minister accept that we all need to work together to present a united approach to the British Government and send them a clear message that the cuts that they are trying to impose on the block grant are seriously damaging the Executive's ability to deliver core, front-line services?”
“This can only be a first step along the road to increased transparency in NIE. From all our evidence, there is deep frustration with NIE, and hopefully it will take that on and try to sort out the deep problems it has.”
“If we have an agreed vision for clean, green affordable electricity, micro grids can be part of a strategy to achieve that vision and can help put us in the forefront of new technology with the economic benefits that that can bring, as my colleague Máirtín alluded to. <BR /> <BR />However, in the absence of a vision, smart technologies are merely one more issue to be considered in the plethora of issues that compete for the limited attention and resources in the Department and other agencies that are trying to implement the Department's policies. <BR /> <BR />In terms of transparency, it is good to see that NIE has revised and developed its heat map. That is to be welcomed. It is good to see that there has been an initial positive response from the industry —”
“There is no transparency with it, and they cannot go somewhere else to get a competing price. We think that NIE should just implement this straight away. I do not think that there is any need for three years' delay, because it is causing serious frustration for people. It can bring benefits, and, as Trevor Lunn said, there is no reason for long delays. Sydney Anderson even said that the Minister supports contestability. So, there is no logic for it not happening. I think we need to see progress on this a lot sooner. <BR /> <BR />In terms of smart grids and micro grids, it seems that micro grids, if properly developed, can bring real benefits to communities, developers and renewable electricity generators.”
“So, the Committee would be keen to follow that up with the Department to see what is happening with that vision document that was launched last year. <BR /> <BR />Contestability was an issue that caused us an awful lot of bewilderment. As there is no contestability — because NIE has to do the work — we presumed that there would be objection somewhere. But, week after week, people came in and said, "We have no issue with contestability". Then NIE came in and said, "We have no issue with contestability", and we really could not understand why it has not happened yet. Everybody wants to see it happening. It is happening in Britain and in the South, and those two existing models seem to be working. <BR /> <BR />One of the big frustrations that people who are trying to connect have is that they are given one price from NIE.”
“There is a issue around the over-subsidisation of some forms of renewable electricity. However, ROCs are funded through a Westminster scheme, so they actually provide more benefit here for electricity customers than they cost. It comes back to "the understanding of the issues". Maybe, Mr Wilson would like to know that windmills are used for milling flour and wind turbines are used for generating electricity — a fundamental difference. <BR /> <BR />In terms of vision and a strategy, the Minister told us that a vision document was published in July 2013. The Committee was presented with a copy of that, but we have heard nothing on it since. Through our deliberations on this most recent phase of the inquiry, it has not been raised once by the Department.”
“I hear you, Paul, and I will say the same thing that I have said every other time. I am mandated by successive Sinn Féin ardfheiseanna to tell you at every available opportunity, through the Chair, that we are opposed to the construction of an overhead North/South interconnector, and at our most recent ard fheis we approved a motion calling for the North/South interconnector to be built underground as part of the A5/N2 project, which is going to happen. There is no reason why it cannot be built as part of that project, through underground ducts, and I hope that we move to that process. <BR /> <BR />Somebody used the phrase, "the understanding of the issues". I think it was Mr Wilson, and I want to respond to a number of issues. He talked about ROCs, and ROCs are a huge issue.”
“If somebody wants to put up a single wind turbine, is it worth them spending £1 million to connect it to the grid? It certainly is not: they would be better off not connecting it to the grid and using it to generate their own power in their house, farm business or wherever. Larger projects pay for their own connection, because it makes economic sense for them to do so. Speaking personally — I am stepping away from speaking on behalf of the Committee — there needs to be a policy where the connections that have an overall economic benefit, help our economy and move towards reduced prices and more sustainable energy need to be prioritised, instead of running about putting a wind turbine up on the top of every hill. So I hope, Basil, that answers your question somewhat.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am a bit disappointed that he changed it, because he has asked the same question three times, although it is the same question in essence. <BR /> <BR />It is important for us to clarify where phase III of the inquiry came from. It started after we had been inundated with complaints from people who wanted to connect to the grid. There were people who wanted to connect a single wind turbine and were being quoted figures of up to £1 million and experienced never-ending delays. That was the logic behind our looking at the whole issue of grid connection. We were going to stick it on as an addendum to phase II, which was on other aspects of electricity policy, but we thought that this issue needed a specific report. <BR /> <BR />The question of who pays for it is an important one, because somebody has to.”
“I will, Basil, because the next two words I have down here are, "Basil's question". So, fair play to you, Basil: you must have quare eyesight.”
“As Trevor Lunn said, it is a complex matter, but it is an extremely important one and needs to be acted on quickly. <BR /> <BR />Paul Frew told us that electricity is the blood that runs through the veins of business, and that is how important it is. However, he disagreed with the view that there is no vision or strategy. Is the report that he referred to a strategy, a vision or an analysis of what the electricity sector will look like in 2050? That is something that is completely different.”
“<BR /> <BR />The absence of a clearly communicated vision and strategy for electricity has been covered in detail by other Members, including the Chairman in his opening remarks. There are a lot of objectives that the Department wants to see implemented, such as the 40% target, reforming the electricity market and improving competition. Those objectives are mostly a reaction to events, rather than things that have arisen from an overall vision and strategy. <BR /> <BR />Sydney Anderson will be missed on the Committee. He played a key role in the formulation of the report: maybe he can put that in his next Assembly manifesto. He told us that all the key stakeholders should be involved in developing a vision. Danny Kinahan agreed that we need to act quickly to develop the strategy that we need, along with the development of pilot projects.”
“<BR /> <BR />The inquiry started nearly two years ago as a result of the substantially higher prices that large energy users here pay compared with those in most other parts of Europe. Our blushes were largely spared by Italy, whose costs were the highest in Europe, closely followed by ours: we managed to come in second place all the time. <BR /> <BR />Running through the inquiry were five main themes: the need for a clear vision and a strategy; the need for contestability arrangements to be put in place; the need for smart-grid solutions, including microgrids; the need for NIE to be more transparent and communicate better with developers; and the need for NIE to improve its policies and processes to better meet the needs of developers.”
“This is the third report that we have published as part of our now concluded inquiry into electricity policy. I am sure that other members of the Committee will be glad that we can talk about other things now apart from electricity policy, because, apart from Mr Frew, an awful lot of them do not have a pile of interest in it. A lot of us would prefer to talk about people as opposed to electricity policy. <BR /> <BR />This is the third and final report of the Committee's inquiry. I thank the Committee staff, who have done an excellent job in helping us, as lay people, to get our heads around an extremely complicated process. I also thank all of those who have provided evidence and expert advice to the Committee on this issue.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I am glad to have the opportunity to wind up the debate on electricity policy. I thought we were beyond winding up things to get a bit of electricity but maybe that is the way we are going in future. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Members who took part in the debate for their contributions and interest in this important topic. As Members said, this is a complex issue and it takes time to get to grips with some of the complexities of electricity policy, particularly around grid connections. It is a huge issue for consumers and businesses, particularly those involved in the renewable electricity sector. <BR /> <BR />I think it was Mr Frew or Mr Wilson who made the comment that the Assembly needs to keep this to the fore, and I think the Assembly certainly has.”
“— is a call for the Minister and the trust to support public services, to support Loane House and to maintain the excellent services that are on offer in that wonderful facility.”
“However, I do not think that the driving agenda behind this is to facilitate people to live at home longer. If that were the case, home help staff would be paid properly, they would have adequate support, and they would be getting a proper contract and terms and conditions. The agenda is not to move patients to another NHS facility in Craigavon; I think that has been thrown out there as some sort of a ruse. From what I can see of how the health service is going, the driving agenda here is to put more people into privately run nursing homes in the local area. It is not about sending them to another hospital; it is about driving the private sector and putting people into private nursing homes. <BR /> <BR />The clear message that I want to come out of the debate —”
“Fifteen minutes is just not enough to provide the very basic services needed by people who are not well and who are trying to live at home. <BR /> <BR />The other aspect that home help gives you is a bit of mental stimulation, and 15 minutes is not enough to meet the basic requirements of people. If any of our trusts were serious about sorting the issue out, they would do away with those 15-minutes of time when people are expected to provide home help. The front line staff who are providing the home help are completely under-resourced and underfunded. They are being asked to work for poverty wages but are providing a key service, which not only allows people to live at home in their communities for longer but saves the health service a fortune because it means that people do not have to stay in hospital.”
“Transferring them somewhere where they will not know anybody and where people will be more reluctant to travel to visit them is not, in my opinion, a sensible idea. <BR /> <BR />We have been told by the Southern Trust that everything will be OK because community services are in such a great state that people will be fit to live at home and will not need rehabilitation in hospital; but they are saying that if they do need it, they can travel to one of those other hospitals. Let us take a look at how the community services are providing that. All of us as political representatives regularly engage with people who are employed as home helps. They travel round the country and look after people who are trying to live in their homes; they have 15 minutes to go into a house and do everything that they need to do.”
“This is not about an institution, a building or a facility; it is about the people who use it. Asking elderly, vulnerable people to completely move out of the area that they have lived in all their lives and travel 30 or 40 miles to access rehabilitation services, which then means that their loved ones, their family and children and those around them who generally support them have to travel that same distance to visit them, will have serious consequences on the mental well-being of the person who is in there for rehabilitation. <BR />We are dealing with elderly, vulnerable people, some of whom are suffering from complex medical needs, and they need the support of their family, friends and neighbours around them at this time.”
“As I have said, the local community is strongly opposed to the closure of the facility. I found a couple of quotations that indicate the strength of feeling and logic behind that. One person said, "it is a good place" and the rehabilitation is "second to none". Someone else said:”
“That is what the trust is saying; it says that that is how it is dealing with the community. People do not need to go to the hospital any more; they can be dealt with adequately at home. It also says that about two thirds of the 45 beds are empty. In my opinion, that is not as a result of a lack of need but a lack of willingness by the Southern Trust to adequately utilise the much needed facility and explore options for using the facility in a way that meets the changing needs of our health service. <BR /> <BR />Personally, I do not agree that the current non-acute hospital model has to change. I think that the current service is a very effective alternative to an acute setting for people who do not require such treatment. There are 45 non-acute hospital beds in Loane House, eight of which are used for stroke patients.”
“Over 8,000 people have signed a petition calling for Loane House to remain open, and my colleague Bronwyn McGahan submitted a petition here in July. <BR /> <BR />The trust is proposing that, in future, all inpatient hospital services will be based at Daisy Hill Hospital or Craigavon Area Hospital; that will mean that inpatient services at Loane House will transfer to Craigavon. The trust, in its spin, claims that it is caring for older people at home with more complex needs, through the development of new community services, day hospitals and engagement with local communities. Conditions that were previously treated in hospital can now be managed without the need for a hospital admission, and that has led to a reduction in demand for beds in Loane House in recent years, especially during summer months.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. At this stage of the evening, there is not a pile left to say or do, apart from wait for the Minister's response. Hopefully, it will be reflective of the comments that have been made to date. <BR /> <BR />We are debating a very serious issue, which affects people from across a considerable geographic area; it is not just a Dungannon issue. As Bronwyn outlined, people come from a considerable number of places to avail themselves of the excellent facilities on offer in Loane House. As we have heard, the Southern Trust is undertaking a consultation process that could spell the end of Loane House, which has served elderly and vulnerable members of the local community for decades. There is considerable community anger at the proposal.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a freagraí. With a planted question from her colleague, I thought that we were going to hear something new or positive. It is not good enough that we have announcements from SONI or AES on new supply with no details of the cost. I know that this is not the direct responsibility of the Minister, but does she have any indication as to when we can expect to see details on the cost of that new supply?”