Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10. 02 am in public session

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meetings held on 27 January 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from Assembly Research on Young People not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs)

Dr Robert Barry, Senior Assembly Research Officer, briefed the Committee on his paper, “Young People not in Education, Employment or Training” . The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

10.07 am Mr Jonathan Bell joined the meeting

3. Briefing from the Prince’s Trust on its research into NEETs

Members received a briefing from Aodhan Connolly, Head of Public Sector Fundraising and Communications, and Orla Major, Public Affairs Officer, on research conducted into NEETs by the Prince’s Trust. Jessica Smyth, a Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador, also spoke of her personal experiences and of the support she has received from the Trust. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed : Members requested some more detailed information from the Trust on its research.

Agreed : Members further agreed the Committee would conduct an inquiry into the issue of young people who are not in Education, Employment or Training.

4. Briefing from Departmental officials on the February Monitoring Round

Members received a briefing from Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, and Trevor Connolly, Director of Finance and European Division, on the draft submission for the February monitoring round.

11.29 am Mr Trevor Clarke joined the meeting

Agreed: Members requested further details on Departmental internal re-allocations.

5. Matters Arising

• Welfare Reform Bill

Members noted correspondence from the Social Development Committee on areas of concern about the EQIA of the Welfare Reform Bill.

11.45 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting.

• Uni-link service/Update on A2Road improvements

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Minister for Regional Development and agreed to forward this letter to the Education and Welfare Officer at the University of Ulster.

• Revised Spending Plans 2010-11

Agreed: Members agreed to forward a Committee response on the Departmental Revised Spending Plans 2010-11 to the Finance and Personnel Committee.

• Review of Student Fees

The Committee noted correspondence from the Chairperson of the Review of Student Fees, requesting assistance with information for the Review.

• Press Release/ Newspaper Article

Members noted a press release and a newspaper article on the Committee’s NEETs event, also in the Lagan Valley Island centre following immediately after the Committee meeting.

6. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.

7. Departmental Press Notices and Press cuttings

Members noted a number of recent Departmental press notices and other extracts from the local press.

8. Any Other Business

• Forward Work Programme – for information

Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the period of January to March 2010.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 10 February 2010 in Room 30, Parliament Building.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.50 am

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
10 February 2010