Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.00 am.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

• The Committee discussed the hosting of a showcase event for the three Northern Ireland Universities on 19 November 2013 in the Long Gallery.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to host the event and to provide lunch.

• The Committee discussed the hosting of the Adult Learners Week in May 2014.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to host the event.

3. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2013

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

4. Matters arising

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

5. Correspondence

The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:

10.04 am Mr Ross joined the meeting.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response regarding its consultation with stakeholders on the strategy to tackle economic inactivity.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response regarding the possibility of an increase in student places at the University of Ulster Magee Campus.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response and forward it to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for information.

• The Committee considered a response from the University of Ulster regarding a research paper on Renewable Energy Generation.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the monitoring of Post Project Evaluations (PPE’s).
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and forward to the Department for comment.

• The Committee considered a Ministerial response regarding the publishing of the Savings Delivery Plans Report.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response regarding its knowledge of the Curriculum Audit at the North West Regional College.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response to Committee correspondence regarding the Public Sector Pensions Bill.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered a Departmental update on the Further Education Means Business Strategy
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the update.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response to a request for further information on NEET’s statistics.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response to a request for further information on training provision for Allstate and Wrightbus vacancies.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response to a request for further information on the Further Education Colleges Development Plans.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

• The Committee considered a Departmental response regarding a research paper on Renewable Energy Generation.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.

6. Forward Work Programme

• The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 4 September 2013.

7. Ministerial briefing on the Review of Apprenticeships

Officials joined the meeting at 10.09 am

The Committee was briefed by Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, Mrs Catherine Bell CBE, Deputy Secretary, Ms Yvonne Croskery, Further Education Policy and Strategic Development Branch and Ms June Ingram, Director of Skills Industry on the Review of Apprenticeships.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The Minister agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the levels of educational attainment in Switzerland in comparison with Northern Ireland.

Officials left the meeting at 11.11 am.

8. Ministerial briefing on current Departmental issues.

Officials joined the meeting at 11.11 am.

The Committee was briefed by Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, Mrs Catherine Bell CBE, Deputy Secretary and Mr Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary on current Departmental issues.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Officials left the meeting at 12.00 pm.

12. 00 pm Mr Ross left the meeting.

9. Departmental briefing on Steps 2 Success

Officials joined the meeting at 12.01 pm.

The Committee was briefed Mr Colum Boyle, Director of Employment Service, Mr Brendan McCann, Head of the New Employment Team and Mr Tony Montgomery, Employment Service, Programme Management and Development Branch on Steps 2 Success.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Officials agreed to provide details of the additional payment to be made to providers for working with those clients facing additional barriers to work on an “in confidence” basis.

Officials left the meeting at 12.36 pm.

10. Departmental briefing on the June Monitoring Round

The official joined the meeting at 12.37 pm.

The Committee was briefed by Mr John Smith, Director of Finance on the June Monitoring Round.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The official left the meeting at 12.44 pm.

11. Any other Business

None.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday 5 June 2013 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.44 pm.

Mr Robin Swann MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
5 June 2013