Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
However, the “Radon in Dwellings in Northern Ireland: 2009 Review and Atlas” indicates that 10-30%
of homes in the Belcoo area will have a radon level at or above the Action Level. There is an area to
the south-east of Garrison and an area to the north-east of Derrygonnelly where 5-10% of homes are
expected to have a radon level at or above the Action Level.
In relation to part (vii) of the question waste containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM)
is normally generated during gas and oil production. Based on data from analysis of produced water
from unconventional gas exploration elsewhere in the UK, NIEA considers that storage and disposal
of produced water from any future fracking activity would require authorisation under the Radioactive
Substances Act 1993. An application would need to be submitted and determined prior to generating
any produced water. The application would have to include a radiological impact assessment for the
proposed storage and disposal option. Clearly this is a matter that will be of importance as the issue
of fracking develops and I will be highly vigilant in this regard.
Staff Member Re-Employed in the Same Position
Lord Morrow asked the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQW 10541/11-15, in relation to
the officer who was re-employed in the same position (i) whether this is an accepted practice in local
government; and (ii) whether the post was advertised or trawled prior to the officer being re-employed.
(AQW 11851/11-15)
Mr Attwood: In relation to the officer who was re-employed, this person was re-employed on a
temporary part-time basis to work on a project which lasted just short of a year.
In respect of (i), the council advises that it has complied with the Local Government Staff Commission
Code of Procedures on Recruitment and Selection. In relation to (ii), there was no formal competition
as the post was not replaced, the employee returned at the same grade but was involved in a different
project. The council deemed there was no requirement to either trawl or advertise for this temporary post.
I do have concerns about practices that see some staff re-employed, quickly after their departure, as
identified in the Assembly Questions. I shall write to all Councils on the matter.
Planning Applications for Minerals Extraction or Minerals Plant/Machinery
Mr Agnew asked the Minister of the Environment how many planning applications for minerals extraction
or minerals plant/machinery have been (i) approved or (ii) refused in each of the last five years.
(AQW 11996/11-15)
Mr Attwood: In the last five years 162 applications for minerals extraction or minerals plant/machinery
have been determined. Of these, 153 have been approved and 9 have been refused.
The breakdown of planning approvals over those five years is as follows:
(i) 26 in 2007/08, 36 in 2008/09, 39 in 2009/10, 25 in 2010/11 and 27 in 2011/12.
The breakdown of refusals over those five years is as follows:
(ii) 1 in 2007/08, 3 in 2008/9, 4 in 2009/10, 1 in 2010/11 and 0 in 2011/12.
Planning Permissions Granted Under Special Circumstances
Mr Lynch asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the (i) number; and (ii) planning application
numbers of planning permissions that were granted under special circumstances, in each of the last
12 months, broken down by divisional planning office.
(AQW 12059/11-15)
Mr Attwood:
19 applications have been granted under special circumstances during the 2011 calendar year.
The planning application numbers are listed in Table 1 (overleaf) along with the Area Office and the
month approved.
WA 511