Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.32am in public session.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1.    Minutes of the meeting held on 21 st November 2007

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

2.    Matters Arising

Members noted a response from the Department for Employment and Learning the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm.

The Committee noted a press release from the Department on the success of Jonathan Lloyd at the WorldSkills 2007 competition in Tokyo. The Deputy Chairperson updated Members on the event.

Members also noted a paper from the Department on university research funding.

3.    Arrangements for Committee Study Visit to USEL

Members noted the arrangements for the proposed study visit to Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) on 5 th December.

10:38am Mr Attwood joined the meeting

4.    Arrangements for DEL Corporate Planning Event

Members noted the arrangements for the Department’s corporate planning event on 11th and 12th December.

10.56am Mrs McGill joined the meeting
10.59am Mr Butler joined the meeting

5.    First Departmental Monitoring Report on Training for Success

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretary, and Des Lyness, Training Programmes / IFI Branch, on the Department’s roll-out of the Training for Success Programme. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee to receive a further Departmental update in mid – January 2008.

6.    Departmental Statement on the Commission for Skills & Employment

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretary, and Tim Devine, Skills & Industry Division, on the establishment of a Commission for Skills & Employment. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee to receive Departmental information on costings and further update at appropriate time.

7.    Departmental Briefing on the Draft Budget

The Committee received a briefing from the Minister, Sir Reg Empey, and Departmental officials Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary and Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary, and Trevor Connolly, Finance and European Division on the draft budget. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

1:00pm Ms Ramsey left the meeting, Mr Spratt took the Chair
1:18pm Ms Ramsey rejoined the meeting and resumed the Chair
1.52pm The meeting moved into closed session.

Agreed: The Committee discussed and agreed, subject to amendment, a submission to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Draft Budget.
Agreed: The Committee further discussed and agreed, subject to amendment, a submission to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Programme for Government (PfG).

8.    Date, time and place of next meeting

The Committee will be visiting Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) on 5 th December.
The Committee will be attending the Departmental corporate planning events on the 11th and 12th December.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9th January 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2:02pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
9 January 2008