Minutes of Proceedings

Present:
Mr Basil McCrea MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Phil Flanagan MLA
Mr Fra McCann MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA

Apologies:
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA

The meeting opened in public session at 10.37 am.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

• The Chairperson welcomed Mr Sydney Anderson MLA to the Committee.

• The Committee discussed the Armagh Planetarium Event in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings on 2 October 2012.

3. Minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2012

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

4. Matters arising

• The Committee noted a list of matters arising from the previous meeting.

• The Committee discussed a Research and Information Service research paper on the EU Employment Forum Conference to be held in Brussels on 27-28 November 2012.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to the visit and to provide the names of those attending the Conference at the next Committee meeting.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting information on what input it is having to EU Employment week and to the EU Employment Forum Conference.

• The Committee considered a Research and Information Service research paper on the admissions criteria of the Central Applications Office (CAO) in the Republic of Ireland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the CAO and UCAS to request that they brief the Committee on what possible barriers the admissions criteria of CAO places on students in Northern Ireland wishing to study in the Republic of Ireland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking information on any representations it has made on the matter.

• The Committee discussed a Departmental consultation paper on the implementation of the European Union Directive on the Extension to Parental Leave Entitlement
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the consultation document.

5. Briefing from the South West College on The Children’s University

Representatives joined the meeting at 10.52 am.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Liam Curran, Director of the Northern Ireland Children’s University on the Children’s University.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Assembly Outreach and Education Service requesting that they consider becoming a ‘learning destination’ for the Children’s University.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to host an event promoting the Children’s University when it has been established.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Education asking if they have received any information from the Children’s University and if they have had any engagement with the organisation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister highlighting the work of the Children’s University and seeking its views on the organisation given its remit for Child Poverty.

Mr Curran agreed to provide the committee with further information regarding the Children’s University.

11.31 am Mr Ramsey left the meeting.

Representatives left the meeting at 11.50 am.

6. Correspondence

The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:

• Press release regarding an EU fund to assist MLAs who wish to undertake a ‘study visit’ to a European country between March & June 2013 and an Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper on the EU study visit programme.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to copy the press release and Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper to all MLAs for information.

• European Commission press release on the need for EU action to promote the use of IT among education and training providers.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward to the Department and ask for comment.

• Further information on claimant count rates and student immigration figures.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the information.

• Press release from Queens University Belfast advising that it has been named Sunday Times University of the Year runner-up and top University in the UK for Medical Science and Pharmacy.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write a letter congratulating the University on its success.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold a reception for the University to mark the award.

• Invitation from Belfast City Council to attend an event bringing together Businesses and Social Enterprises to highlight opportunities for potential partnership working.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Committee for Education response Re: University of Ulster - allocation of places August 2012 and request to defer a joint meeting with Committee for Employment and Learning and officials from the university to the New Year to discuss the impact of the error.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Department for Agriculture and Rural Development / CAFRE response to the Committee’s Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Thank you letter to the Chairperson for participating in Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee’s ‘Youth Talks’ World Suicide Prevention Day.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Departmental Regular Update on Apprenticeships - Position at 01 October 2012
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the information.

• Request for teams of MLAs from Committee’s to take part in Action Mental Health (AMH) “The Great Push for Mental Health - Don’t Lose Your Marbles” event, The Great Hall, Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 9th October, 1pm – 1.45pm.
  Agreed: Members agreed to inform the clerk if they wished to take part.

• Departmental correspondence relating to scheduling of round table events for the LAEP Programme.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Departmental correspondence regarding the impact of the admissions error on A’ Level students.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Education for information.

7. Draft Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 21 November 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a visit to Enniskillen into the forward work programme in the New Year.

8. Any Other Business

The Committee discussed the Education Maintenance Allowance.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting information on the Education Maintenance Allowance.

The Committee discussed the Departmental briefing at last weeks meeting on the Employment Programme consultation.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday, 10 October 2012, at 10.00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to attend 10 minutes before the beginning of next week’s meeting to allow staff to demonstrate how Members can access the Inquiry documentation on a shared drive.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.05 pm.

Mr Basil McCrea
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
10 October 2012