Minutes of Proceedings

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson informed the Committee that he met with representatives of Serco, a service provider company, on 25 September 2012 who had requested a meeting to discuss business opportunities in Northern Ireland.

3. Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2012

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

4. Matters arising

11.15 am. Mr McCann joined the meeting.

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

• The Committee noted an Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Employment and Learning and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund.

• The Committee considered the briefings received at the meeting on 19 September 2012 in the Armagh Planetarium.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to sponsor an event for the Armagh Planetarium to showcase its work. The event will take place in the Long Galley, Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 2 October 2012 at 12:30 pm and a buffet lunch will be provided.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Armagh Planetarium requesting information on the aspects of its work which would fit with the Department for Employment and Learning remit.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Employment and Learning requesting information on the funding streams available to the Armagh Planetarium.

• The Committee considered a Research and Information Service research paper on the admissions criteria of the Central Applications Office in the Republic of Ireland.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to this item at next week’s meeting.

• The Committee discussed a Research and Information Service research paper on EU Employment Forum Conference to be held in Brussels on 27-28 November 2012.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to this item at next week’s meeting.

5. Briefing from the Prince’s Trust on Business needs Young People as much as Young People need jobs.

Representatives joined the meeting at 11.29 am.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Mark Dougan, Head of Public Sector Partnerships for the Prince’s Trust, Ms Susie Cuthill, Young Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and Ms Ashleigh Murray, Young Ambassador for the Price’s Trust on Business needs Young People as much as Young People need jobs.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11.48 am. Mr Buchannan joined the meeting.

The Prince’s Trust agreed to invite the Committee to a Roundtable event in the Long Gallery on 6 November 2012.

Mr Flanagan declared an interest that he had taken part in a Prince’s Trust programme.

Representatives left the meeting at 12.15 pm.

6. Departmental briefing on the Employment Programme Consultation

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 12.15 pm.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Colum Boyle, Director of Employment Services, Mr Brendan McCann, Head of the New Employment Team and Mr Gerry Lindsay, Employment Service, Programme Management and Development on the Employment Programme Consultation.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The officials agreed to provide the Committee with the Business Case for the proposed Employment Programme when all approvals have been received.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting further information on any potential savings to the Department.

12.48 pm. Mr Ramsey left the meeting.

12.50 pm. Mr Flanagan left the meeting.

12.53 pm. Mr Allister left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a copy of the presenation given by Departmental officials at the new Youth Employment Scheme Conference on 26 September 2012.

12.57 pm. Mr Flanagan rejoined the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking information on how equipped front line staff are to meet clients needs, what training they are given and what organisations provide that training.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update on the ongoing discussions regarding potential funds released as a result of reductions in benefit costs between the Department of Finance and Personnel and H.M. Treasury.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department, providing a copy of the Hansard of the briefing session and asking for comments on the issues raised.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a further briefing on the results of the consultation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister seeking clarification on how he intends to bridge the gap between the end of the ‘Steps to Work’ programme and the beginning of the ‘Steps 2 Success’ Programme.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 1.13 pm.

1.13 pm. Mr Lyttle left the meeting.

7. Departmental Briefing on the October Monitoring Round and Budget Update 

Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 1.13 pm.

The Committee was briefed by Ms Nuala Kerr, Acting Deputy Secretary, Department for Employment and Learning and Ms Maryann Smith, Head of Financial PLanning, Department for Employment and Learning on the October Monitoring Round and Budget Update.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland and to Stranmillis College requesting information on their capital projects.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a briefing paper on the money received under the Barnett Consequentials for youth contracts.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the South West College seeking information on whether they have applied for Capital Funding and if so what the funding was allocated to. 

Departmental officials left the meeting at 1.39 pm.

8. Correspondence

The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:

• Response to ETI Committee Re: redundancies at Target Express.   

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Research and Information Service paper entitled Mapping Poverty and Social Deprivation: Executive and Departmental Strategies, Policies and Programmes in Northern Ireland.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the research paper to the Department for information and comment.

• European Commission press release regarding the setting up of a high level group to focus on quality and excellence in teaching.           

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Ms Mary McAleese, the Chair of the group, to brief the Committee on this issue.

• Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People highlighting a report on the Review of Transition to Adult Services for Young People with Learning Disabilities.          

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the Review.

• Correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding the Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Invitation to World Mental Health Day ‘Challenging Stigma, Raising Awareness and Promoting Discussion’.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Invitation from The Education and Training Inspectorate to the Launch of the Chief Inspector’s Report at Cultra Manor, Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Invitation from QUB to the official opening of Riddel Hall campus by Ms Mary McAleese and launch the University’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign, led by the Queens foundation at Riddel Hall, Queen’s University, Belfast, Belfast.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Committee for Education response to request that Committee deal directly with the Department for Education in relation to the Inquiry into Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG).

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Departmental response to Committee request for costs to the Department of the recent University of Ulster admissions error.

 

Agreed:The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Education for information.

• Departmental response to Committee request for the number of students entering higher education in 2012.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill: Renaming of ‘Compromise Agreements’ To ‘Settlement Agreements'.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Departmental ‘Consultation on implementation of EU Directive: Extension to Parental Leave Entitlement.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to this item at next week’s meeting.

• Invitation to Basil McCrea MLA to attend Northern Ireland Science Park 25K Award Dinner on Thursday 27 September 2012.

 

Agreed:he Committee agreed to note the invitation.

• Invitation to Basil McCrea MLA to attend Northern Ireland Science Park event on 28 September 2012 to celebrate engineering innovation in Northern Ireland in conjunction with the Royal and Irish Academies of Engineering.

 

Agreed:The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

9. Draft Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 14 November 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing by representatives of the Northern Ireland Football Academy into the Work Programme. 

Agreed:  The Committee agreed to schedule a visit to the Belfast Metropolitan College, E3 Building.

10. Any Other Business

The Committee discussed the matter regarding training organisation First4skills Limited, has went into administration.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a response to the matter.

11.  Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday, 3 October 2012, at 10.00 am in The STEM Centre, South West College, Dungannon.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.45 pm.

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