Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
disconnected from their community and wider society. The GRIT experience specifically targets young
people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET. While the majority of GRIT participants may not be
ready at this stage for a work experience placement, some young people who have already completed
GRIT may, with the support of Opportunity Youth (the prime delivery agent for the GRIT programme), be
able to avail of the Department’s Steps to Work placement opportunities.
I believe the model deployed and being developed in DOE should be escalated across government
in the remainder period for Steps to Work and reconfigured for the proposed NEW EMPLOYMENT
programme. On one reading the DOE placements programme implemented across government would
see 1500 or more placements.
Review of PPS 21
Mr Flanagan asked the Minister of the Environment (i) for an update on the review of PPS 21; (ii)
whether the policy will be relaxed to enable non-farming rural families to build homes; and (iii) when the
revised policy statement will be published.
(AQW 12526/11-15)
Mr Attwood: I can advise that the review of the operation of PPS21 is close to conclusion.
In relation to your point on non-farming rural families you will be aware PPS21 already offers
considerable development opportunities in this regard. It does this by providing for: Replacement
dwellings (Policy CTY 3); The conversion and reuse of non-residential buildings as dwellings (Policy CTY
4); New dwellings within an existing cluster or ribbon of buildings (Policy CTY 8); Social and affordable
housing schemes (Policy CTY 5); Development within designated Dispersed Rural Communities (Policy
CTY 2); and a dwelling to meet compelling personal or domestic circumstances (Policy CTY 6).
However, in recognition of continued interest in this issue I met with 3 of the members of the
Independent Working Group on Non-farm Rural Dwellers set up by the previous Executive as part of my
review. I was interested to hear their expert perspectives first hand and have taken these into account
in the review.
Finally, you should note that I have said from the beginning that this review should focus on the
operation of PPS21. It is not a fundamental review of PPS21 policies and, as such, it is not my
intention to publish a revised policy statement.
I am currently finalising the review report.
Allotment Schemes
Mr D McIlveen asked the Minister of the Environment how many Local Councils offer an allotment scheme.
(AQW 12627/11-15)
Mr Attwood: Currently 11 councils have indicated that they offer allotments. A further 3 councils do not
offer allotments directly but support groups who do provide allotments.
In addition, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is giving consideration to making lands available
for allotments at some of its country park properties. These could potentially be offered in association
with the relevant councils.
I should add I had previously asked NIEA to consider developing a business model and best practice
guide for councils in setting up allotments, to organise an Allotments Event, and to work up a related pilot.
NIEA officials have identified the possibility of leasing suitable lands in some of its Country Parks as
allotments. Crawfordsburn, Scrabo and Redburn all have old walled gardens which might be suitable
and there is a field at Roe Valley which might also be used.
WA 515