https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/ An independent tracker of the questions asked by Kellie Armstrong, Alliance Party MLA for Strangford, in the Northern Ireland Assembly – with answers, search, filters and downloads. en-gb Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:46:49 GMT https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503257/ 503257-answered Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Justice To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the joint independent review of the arrangements governing trials of the facts. Answer (19 October 2026): Mrs Long: The Health Minister and I are jointly commissioning an external independent review into the law and procedures on unfitness to plead, including trials of the facts. The review responds to my concerns about whether the current arrangements are fair to defendants and victims and provide adequate protection for the public. The Departments have worked at pace to establish the review and, having had the agreement of the Minister of Health this morning, the terms of reference will be published tomorrow, together with an announcement on who will lead the review. The review will be… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504511/ 504511-tabled Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to provide a copy of all interim reports relating to the Housing Executive's Ending Homelessness Together Strategy 2022-2027. Awaiting answer; due by 30 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504510/ 504510-tabled Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to provide a copy of any operational processes that Housing Executive staff follow, including timelines, from the day a person presents as threatened with homelessness and throughout the 28 day period defined as threatened with homelessness in the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988. Awaiting answer; due by 30 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504509/ 504509-tabled Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the number of households that were moved into temporary accommodation within the 28 day period defined as threatened with homelessness in the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 in each of the last five years; and (ii) the rationale as to why the household was moved into this temporary accommodation before their notice to quit period ended. Awaiting answer; due by 30 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504508/ 504508-tabled Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail all departmental targets (i) achieved; and (ii) not achieved, within Assembly mandate 2022-2027, including the reasons for each missed target. Awaiting answer; due by 30 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504507/ 504507-tabled Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any (i) commitments contained within his Department's current business plan that are currently behind schedule; and (ii) corrective action that is being taken. Awaiting answer; due by 30 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504431/ 504431-tabled Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Education To ask the Minister of Education to outline the plans in place to facilitate the appropriate placement of children in September 2027 transitioning from both Oakwood School and Assessment Centre sites. Awaiting answer; due by 3 November 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504303/ 504303-tabled Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for the Economy To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail the number of people living in park homes, where energy bills are supplied by the landlord, that will be able to access the £63 reduction in electricity costs. Awaiting answer; due by 22 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504302/ 504302-tabled Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Infrastructure To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether there have been any uplifts in grants provided to Community Transport operators of her Department's (i) Dial-a-Lift Scheme; and (ii) Disability Action Transport Scheme, to assist with increased fuel costs, during the period from April 2026 to date. Awaiting answer; due by 29 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504301/ 504301-tabled Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Infrastructure To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether the uplift announced for recipients of the Bus Services Operators Grant in England will be extended to Northern Ireland; and (ii) whether she will consider providing equivalent support to Community Transport operators funded through her Department. Awaiting answer; due by 29 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504110/ 504110-tabled Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the number of social homes identified as being required in rural settlements that have been delivered compared to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive identified need. Awaiting answer; due by 28 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504109/ 504109-tabled Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any papers his Department has presented to the NI Executive detailing the additional investment required to bring Housing Executive homes up to modern energy-efficiency standards. Awaiting answer; due by 28 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504108/ 504108-tabled Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the value of any outstanding maintenance backlog within the Northern Ireland Housing Executive estate, broken down by Northern Ireland Housing Executive area. Awaiting answer; due by 28 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504107/ 504107-tabled Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any assessment his Department has made of the impact of maintenance backlogs within Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties on (i) tenant welfare; and (ii) housing quality. Awaiting answer; due by 28 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/504106/ 504106-tabled Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail where statutory regulations under the Sign Language Act will be officially published. Awaiting answer; due by 28 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/501753/ 501753-answered Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the number of households that achieved recorded P1E homelessness prevention outcomes through projects funded by the Homelessness Prevention Fund, in each of the last three years. Answer (13 October 2026): This issue is an operational matter for Northern Ireland Housing Executive, they have advised me as follows: “Please note the Homeless Prevention Fund did not operate in 2023/24 and 2024/25. In 2025/26, a total of 1,144 P1E outcomes were recorded by projects funded by the Homeless Prevention Fund.” https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/500892/ 500892-answered Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail whether multi-year funding arrangements for homelessness prevention projects through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive are included in the budget. Answer (13 October 2026): The draft budget proposals for 2026/2030 reflected an extremely constrained budget position, falling substantially short of requirements to tackle homelessness over the budget period. In the absence of an agreed budget, I have maintained ringfenced funding for Strategic Homelessness Prevention within the Housing Executive's interim allocation for 2026/27. While funding for Community Prevention and Support Initiatives is not ringfenced, it has been protected at the same level as 2025/26. I also circulated an Executive paper seeking additional funding to ensure homelessness services… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/500890/ 500890-answered Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) any assessment his Department has made of the outcomes of the Fresh Foundations homelessness prevention pilot, which supported 50 households and recorded 32 P1E homelessness prevention outcomes; and (ii) any funding for the Fresh Foundations homelessness prevention pilot beyond its initial funding period. Answer (13 October 2026): The Fresh Foundations pilot was supported through NIHE’s 2025/26 Homeless Prevention fund with £50k allocated to Homeless Connect to deliver this project in partnership with frontline homeless services. The positive contribution and impact of the project within the context of the wider prevention programme was acknowledged in the overall programme evaluation. The Housing Executive invited applications to the Homelessness Prevention Fund in 2026/27 and prioritised the continuation of 25 projects. At present no further funding has been confirmed for the Fresh Foundations project. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503769/ 503769-tabled Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities whether his department has any targets to reduce fuel poverty by the end of the 2022-27 Assembly mandate. Awaiting answer; due by 27 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503768/ 503768-tabled Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any assessment that has been made of the impact of poverty on different equality categories, including whether this analysis will be published. Awaiting answer; due by 27 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503767/ 503767-tabled Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the number of households with children under the age of 18, presenting as homeless that were placed in temporary accommodation in each of the last five years; and (ii) the average duration of stay for a child. Awaiting answer; due by 27 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503766/ 503766-tabled Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the percentage of households assessed as being in housing stress that have been waiting longer than (i) one year; (ii) two years; (iii) three years; and (iv) five years, for a social housing allocation. Awaiting answer; due by 27 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503765/ 503765-tabled Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities pursuant to AQW 54110/22-27, to detail the number of social housing completions for each of the past three years broken down by Northern Ireland Housing Executive area. Awaiting answer; due by 27 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/501755/ 501755-answered Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities whether his Department plans to prioritise homelessness prevention programmes within future budget allocations for homelessness services. Answer (12 October 2026): I continue to prioritise homelessness prevention within my funding decisions. In 2025/26, in addition to the £4.3m available for community prevention activity, I introduced a ringfenced allocation of £2.5m for strategic homelessness prevention. While no Executive Budget has been agreed for 2026/27, interim allocations have been issued to delivery partners, including the Housing Executive, to support the continuation of key programmes and services. This includes a ringfenced allocation for Strategic Prevention which has been maintained, as well as funding for Community Prevention and Support… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503687/ 503687-answered Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health whether there will be a roll-out of dedicated menopause healthcare practitioners to every GP practice. Answer (12 October 2026): Women’s health is a priority for my Department. My Department recognises the significant impact that perimenopause and menopause can have on women’s physical health, mental wellbeing, employment and overall quality of life. A Regional HSC Gynaecology Services Forum has been established to oversee ongoing service improvement and implementation. Work being progressed by the menopause Task and Finish Group includes mapping a clinical pathway from presentation at GP services into secondary and tertiary care, which will benefit both patients and clinicians. The pathway will consider which stages… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/500893/ 500893-answered Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any assessment his Department has made of the impact of short-term funding cycles on the delivery and evaluation of homelessness prevention services. Answer (12 October 2026): This issue is an operational matter for Northern Ireland Housing Executive, they have advised me as follows: “The Housing Executive recognises the challenges caused by short-term funding cycles on the delivery and evaluation of homelessness prevention services. The Housing Executive regularly engages with providers in receipt of funding and while we acknowledge their commitment to ensuring service objectives, the Housing Executive recognises that short-term funding causes particular difficulties in sustainability of staffing arrangements where short-term funding impacts on the length of… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503521/ 503521-tabled Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Infrastructure To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any action she can take with NI Water to stop effluent overflow into private homes from NI Water's sewerage system in Newtownards. Past due date; due by 19 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503520/ 503520-tabled Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any actions he is taking to secure funding, outside the block grant, for social housing. Awaiting answer; due by 26 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503176/ 503176-tabled Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the rationale for his Department not submitting any joint bids to the multi-year budget to address the capital funding shortfall for housing, given that the Department of Health are asking charities to provide supported living in suitable accommodation. Awaiting answer; due by 23 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503175/ 503175-tabled Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of people currently held on a separate waiting list pending addition to the official Audiology waiting lists published by each Health and Social Care Trust. Awaiting answer; due by 23 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503174/ 503174-tabled Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities whether he will consider asking the arm’s-length bodies funded by his Department not to seek recovery of funding from third sector organisations delivering policy priorities, such as homelessness services. Awaiting answer; due by 23 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/503173/ 503173-tabled Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health whether the loop systems installed in all Health and Social Care Trusts have been updated to enable digital hearing aids provided by the Trusts to be used across Health services. Awaiting answer; due by 23 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/500889/ 500889-answered Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any actions being taken through his Department to develop a Swim Strategy. Answer (8 October 2026): I refer the Member to my response to AQO 3728/22-27. I asked the Chief Executive of Sport NI about any engagement on the development of a swimming strategy for Northern Ireland and received the following response: “Sport NI can advise it has had no engagement with Swim Ulster regarding a swimming strategy for Northern Ireland. Sport NI does not develop individual strategies for each sport in Northern Ireland. The development of strategies for each sport falls under the remit of the recognised National Governing Body. Sport NI would welcome the opportunity to work with Swim Ireland and Swim… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/498816/ 498816-answered Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the level of funding sought by the Housing Executive for the Supporting People Programme; and (ii) the level of funding allocated, in each of the last five years. Answer (8 October 2026): This issue is an operational matter for Northern Ireland Housing Executive; they have advised me as follows: Please see the table below which provides the level of funding sought by the Housing Executive for the Supporting People programme in each of the last 5 years. Year Funding Sought (£k) 2026-27 92,446 2025-26 90,163 2024-25 85,272 2023-24 85,789 2022-23 76,462 The table below shows the level of funding allocated to the Supporting People Programme, in each of the last 5 years. Year Funding Allocated… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502888/ 502888-tabled Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities whether any evaluation has been undertaken of the long-term tenancy sustainment rates of households assisted through Homelessness Prevention Fund projects. Awaiting answer; due by 22 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502887/ 502887-tabled Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail any improvements that (i) have been made; and (ii) are planned, to the triage of neurology referrals following the allocation of recurrent funding for neurology services. Awaiting answer; due by 22 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502886/ 502886-tabled Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail how recently allocated recurrent funding for neurology services will be distributed, including (i) the allocation to each Health and Social Care Trust; and (ii) the services or initiatives that will be funded. Awaiting answer; due by 22 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502885/ 502885-tabled Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans to introduce (i) Patient Reported Outcome Measures; and (ii) Patient Initiated Follow-up arrangements, for people with epilepsy, including any timetable for implementation. Awaiting answer; due by 22 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502884/ 502884-tabled Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the proportion of the Department's homelessness budget which is currently allocated to preventative services as a percentage of (i) the Housing Executive's budget; and (ii) the Housing Executive's regional services budget. Awaiting answer; due by 22 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502713/ 502713-answered Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Education To ask the Minister of Education to outline any action he has taken to reach an agreement with teachers to prevent industrial action short of strike. Answer (7 October 2026): Each of the five recognised teaching trade unions balloted their members for industrial action and this commenced on Monday 28 September in the form of action short of strike action (ASOS). I have urged the teaching unions to reconsider their industrial action, and to give the additional time needed to secure a durable outcome for the profession, rather than continuing on a course of action that serves no one's interests - least of all those of the children and young people our schools exist to serve. I consider a negotiated agreement can be reached without the need for industrial action.… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/498463/ 498463-answered Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the Housing Executive’s funding bid for £92.45 million for the Supporting People programme in 2026-2027, as per their projected expenditure, broken down by thematic area; (ii) any new pipeline schemes included within the bid, including the (a) thematic area; (b) geographical location; (c) proposed annual cost; (d) anticipated number of service users; and (e) funding sought for each scheme; (iii) whether any assessment has been made of the impact on Supporting People services if funding for 2026-2027 is provided at a level below that sought by the Housing Executive. Answer (7 October 2026): A number of these issues are operational matters for Northern Ireland Housing Executive, they have advised me as follows: “(i) The table below provides a breakdown of the Housing Executive’s 2026-27 Supporting People funding bid by thematic area, together with externally funded programme funding and the balance of discretionary funding. The figures total £92.446m, rounded up to £92.45m. Thematic Area SP Grant SP Pipeline Externally Funded Programme Other Total £k's £k's £k's £k's £k's Disability 35,307 250 73 - 35,630 Homelessness 37,905 250 - - 38,155 Older… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/497279/ 497279-answered Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities whether any consideration will be given to the establishment of a cross-departmental governance group, chaired by their Department, to oversee delivery of actions aimed at ending the need for food banks. Answer (7 October 2026): This question has been directed to the Department for Communities for response as my Department is leading on the development of the Executive’s Anti-Poverty Strategy. Work is underway on refining the Strategy and action plan following the public consultation developing a range of preventative measures which will address, short, medium and long term causes and impacts of poverty. This will maximise the impact of the Strategy and help us tackle poverty in a more sustainable manner. The Executive’s Anti-Poverty Strategy will take a cross-departmental approach. Decisions on the final… https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502603/ 502603-tabled Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department for Communities To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any funding that has been allocated through the Homelessness Prevention Fund, including any outcomes achieved through funded projects., broken down by (i) project; and (ii) amount awarded, in each of the last five financial years. Awaiting answer; due by 21 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502600/ 502600-tabled Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of patients currently waiting for a follow-up neurology appointment, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust. Awaiting answer; due by 21 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502599/ 502599-tabled Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail any specialist neurology and epilepsy advice services that are available to general practitioners seeking clinical guidance on the care and treatment of patients awaiting neurology appointments. Awaiting answer; due by 21 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502223/ 502223-tabled Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail any progress made in developing the proposed regional epilepsy care pathway, including any consultation undertaken with clinicians, patients and representative organisations. Awaiting answer; due by 20 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502222/ 502222-tabled Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail any arrangements in place to ensure the representation from people living with neurological conditions, carers and voluntary sector organisations in the implementation of the Regional Review of Neurology Services. Awaiting answer; due by 20 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502221/ 502221-tabled Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health to detail any (i) proposed membership; (ii) remit; and (iii) reporting arrangements, of the Neurology Delivery Team as referenced in the Regional Review of Neurology Services. Awaiting answer; due by 20 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/502220/ 502220-tabled Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Health To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 50998/22-27, to detail (i) the number of individuals who have been transferred to Great Britain for mental health treatment in line with the Extra Contractual Referral process; (ii) any associated cost per individual; and (iii) any source of funding for such transfers, in the last five years, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust. Awaiting answer; due by 20 October 2026. https://askedbykellie.nidata.fyi/questions/501982/ 501982-tabled Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Department of Finance To ask the Minister of Finance whether Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency consulted stakeholders on the continued inclusion of the second religion question prior to the most recent Census. Past due date; due by 19 October 2026.