Question - 10/06/08 

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what grants are available for the installation of (i) solar; (ii) geo-thermal; and (iii) wind energy, in domestic properties.

Answer

Currently the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) administered by the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) offers renewable energy grants to private households in Northern Ireland. The assistance available is outlined below:

Solar: Solar photovoltaics: Maximum grant of £2,000 per kW of installed capacity, subject to an overall maximum of £2,500 or 50% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower.

Solar thermal hot water: Overall maximum grant of £400 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs,

whichever is the lower.

Geo-thermal: Ground source heat pumps: Overall maximum grant of £1,200 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower.

Wind energy: Wind turbines: Overall maximum grant of £900 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is lower.

Question - 30/01/08

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to provide a report on his recent trip to Brussels.

Answer

I had the privilege of hosting a Reception at the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels on the 24th of January 2008 to mark 100 years of aviation innovation in Northern Ireland. Short Brothers, one of the world’s oldest aircraft companies, was founded in 1908 and celebrates its centenary this year.

The significance of this important aviation milestone provided an ideal platform from which to further promote Northern Ireland’s impressive credentials as a major force in world aviation; with an annual turnover of some £800 million, much of it exported, and employment across a diverse range of companies, of some 8,500.

The Brussels event was attended by 60 targeted individuals with an interest in transportation including aviation policy, research and development, regional development and government.

I am confident that the Reception, at which representatives of local aerospace companies and from the European Commission also spoke, achieved its objective in terms of further heightening awareness of Northern Ireland as a key player within the UK’s aerospace industry. This is extremely important as we continue to strive to secure further investment in this vitally important part of our regional economy.

Question - 06/11/07

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to provide an update on the preparations for the United States of America/Northern Ireland Investment Conference in 2008; and to detail the key objectives of this conference.

Answer

My Department and Invest NI are actively planning for this conference.

On 15 and 16 October 2007, along with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, I welcomed an inward mission of 17 US companies led by US Ambassadors Tuttle from London and Foley from Dublin. The visit provided an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of US investment to the development of the NI economy and to demonstrate that we are "open for business" in preparation for the investment conference to be held in Belfast next year. The feedback from all who participated in the visit was very positive and they were impressed with the Northern Ireland business messages and the solutions we can provide for international businesses.

Last week, to follow up the Ambassadors’ visit to Northern Ireland, I travelled to the East Coast of the United States. During this visit, I met with key business and political stakeholders, including Paula Dobriansky at the State Department. This allowed me to successfully raise the profile of the conference and to encourage senior business executives to participate. When the First Minister and deputy First Minister visit the United States early next month, they too will take the opportunity to reinforce this message.

In addition, the US Administration has plans to bring one further inward delegation to Northern Ireland, probably in February 2008. Arrangements are still to be finalised for this future visit.

The key objective of the conference will be to showcase a new Northern Ireland, governed by a stable Devolved Administration, that is pro-business and pro-active in meeting the needs of international business.

Question - 24/09/07

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what is his assessment of the Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013), with its focus on enterprise development, with reference to its ability to address and support the broader economic development needs of the west region, given the concerns highlighted by district councils in this area.

Answer

The future Northern Ireland Competitiveness programme 2007-13, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, has been drawn-up in partnership with a wide range of regional interests including local government representatives, public and private sector bodies, social partners, business and research bodies, and environmental agencies. The draft Programme, which is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission, has been prepared in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help achieve a step-change in Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

The draft Programme covers all of Northern Ireland and is aimed at boosting the performance of the regions as a whole. The draft Programme will allow support for a broad range of strategic economic development activities and needs across Northern Ireland. While the Guidelines for the programme do not provide for expenditure on large scale infrastructure, a point of concern for some Councils, I hope that all parts of the region, including the west, will benefit from it.

Question - 24/09/07

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans are in place within the Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013), to support the unique economic needs of the west whilst meeting the challenges proposed by the Lisbon Agenda.

Answer 

The future Northern Ireland Competitiveness programme 2007-13 co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund has been drawn-up in partnership with a wide range of regional interests including, local government representatives, public and private sector bodies, social partners, business and research bodies, and environmental agencies. The draft programme which is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission is fully in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help achieve a step-change in Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

The programme covers all of Northern Ireland and is aimed at boosting the performance of the regions as a whole. The programme will allow for support for a broad range of strategic economic development activities addressing needs and challenges across Northern Ireland.

Question - 24/09/07

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will make a statement on the new Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013); and if he will ensure that the Programme will allow local authorities to fund Town Centre Regeneration Programmes and Marketing Initiatives, as was the case within the previous Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme (2001-2007).

Answer

The Draft Programme, which is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission, has been prepared in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help achieve a step-change in Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

Under the new rules governing types of activities that may be funded under the new Competitiveness and Employment Objective, many of the activities that were previously funded under the Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme in Northern Ireland as an ‘Objective 1’ region are no longer eligible. No money has specifically been set aside within the draft Programme for town centre regeneration, but the programme would allow for strategic business development activities which could impact on urban and rural regeneration. Any proposals put forward would be considered on their merit and their potential contribution to meeting the aims and objectives of the future Programme.

Question - 24/09/07

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans are in place within the new Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013) to ensure that those Town Centre Regeneration Strategies previously funded by his department, in partnership with district councils, will be financially supported and implemented over the next five years.

Answer

The future Northern Ireland Competitiveness programme 2007-13, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission. The Draft Programme has been prepared in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help improve Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

Under the new rules governing types of activities that may be funded under the new Competitiveness and Employment Objective, many of the activities that were previously funded under the Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme in Northern Ireland as an ‘Objective 1’ region are no longer eligible. No money has specifically been set aside for town centre regeneration, but the programme will allow for strategic business development activities which could impact on urban and rural regeneration. Any proposals put forward would be considered on their merit, and their potential contribution to meeting the aims and objectives of the future programme.

Question - 24/09/07

To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what future role the Assembly will have in formulating and detailing the programme complement of the Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013), to ensure that it meets the economic needs of Northern Ireland, and in particular, the west.

Answer

Under the new EU Regulations for the funding period 2007-13, there is no requirement for a Programme Complement to EU Competitiveness and Employment programmes. The Northern Ireland ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is a strategic-level framework programme covering the whole of Northern Ireland: it sets out how we will use our share of the UK's Structural Fund allocation 2007-13 to complement national spending to improve our competitivity and create a sustainable, knowledge-based economy with opportunities for all. The strategy and the key spending Priorities in the draft programme, which is expected to be approved shortly by the EU Commission, is fully in line with the Lisbon requirement to devote EU resources to increasing the levels of Research and Development and promoting innovation. Equality and sustainable development are cross-cutting themes underpinning each of the Priorities in the future programme. The Assembly and its Committees have oversight of EU Programme expenditure in the same way as other public expenditure. The draft programme was presented to the Finance and Personnel Committee of the Assembly and approved by the Executive before submission to the EU Commission.