Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 10.10am in open session. 

Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 10.10am.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

Chairpersons Business

The Chairperson reminded members that a meeting with organisations and individuals that have contacted the Committee in relation to SEN will with take place this afternoon in the Brasserie. 

Mrs Dobson joined the meeting at 10.12am. 

The Chairperson informed members that he and other members of the Committee met with colleagues from the Oireachtas, Education and Skills Committee and discussed several issues of similar interest.

The Chairperson suggested that the All Party Group for Children and Young People are invited to the breakfast meeting the Committee is hosting with Barnardos on 30 May.

Agreed – the Committee would write to the All Party Group for Children and Young People inviting them to the breakfast meeting.

The Chairperson thanked the deputy Chairperson, Mr Danny Kinahan, for chairing last week’s Committee meeting.

1.    Draft Minutes of 25 April 2012

The Committee approved the minutes of the meeting on 25 April 2012 subject to a minor amendment.

2.    Matters Arising

2.1.    The Committee noted correspondence of 19 April 2012 from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Review of Budget Allocations for 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Mr Kinahan rejoined the meeting at 10.16am. 

Mr Craig joined the meeting at 10.17am.

Agreed – the Committee would forward this correspondence to the Department informing them that the Committee looks forward to engaging with them regarding this issue in a timely matter.

Agreed – the Committee would write to the Department asking for an update on the delegated budget, how it intends to improve the percentage of the overall budget that is delegated to schools each year and how the establishment of an authority, such as the Education and Skills Authority, will improve the amount of budget that is delegated.

Agreed – the Committee would write to the Department asking for future budget papers supplied to the Committee to include an extra level of detail showing what is contained in the overall budget headings and how much money is allocated under each.

3.    Correspondence

3.1.    The Committee noted correspondence of 29 March 2012 from the BELB regarding the Integrated Services for Children and Young People.

Agreed – the Committee would forward this correspondence to the Department for comment.

Agreed – the Committee would write to the Department asking it to clarify whether the £750k funding is provided by it or another source and asking if it is the lead Department on this initiative.

Agreed – the Committee would write to ISCYP asking for copies of the earlier correspondence with OFMdFM that is referred to in its correspondence, if they would be willing to provide the Committee with an update on how the programme is progressing and any outcomes, inform them of an event on underachievement that the Committee is organising and making them aware and inform ISCYP of the action the Committee have taken.

3.2.    The Committee noted correspondence of 18 April 2012 from WIMPS informing the Committee of a discussion regarding education being streamed on their website.

3.3.    The Committee noted correspondence of 24 April 2012 from the Chairperson’s Liaison Group enclosing a copy of their minutes from their 17 April 2012 meeting.

3.4.    The Committee noted the following invitations, previously emailed to Members;

•         Barnardo’s – invitation to meet American delegation regarding Community School;
•         PTI – NI – invitation to Gold Star Awards 2012.

3.5.    The Committee noted the following DE News Releases, previously emailed to Members;

•          Department appoints governors to Harryville Primary School and Kirkinriola Primary School;
•          Minister announces closure of Dunmurry High School.

4.     Briefing on draft Statutory Rules

Adrain Arbuthnot, Director of Curriculum, Qualifications and Standards, Carl savage, Assessment and Qualifications Team and Lisa Boal joined the meeting at 10.25am and provided the Committee with a briefing on the following draft Statutory Rules:

• The Education (Pupil Records & Reporting) Regulations (NI) 2012;
• The Education (School Information & Prospectuses) Regulations (NI) 2012;
• The Education (Target-Setting in Schools) Regulations (NI) 2012.

Mr Lunn joined the meeting at 10.39am.

Mrs Hale left the meeting at 10.48am.

Mr Craig left the meeting at 11.03am.

Mr Flannigan left the meeting at 11.03am.

Mr Craig rejoined the meeting at 11.12am.

Mrs Dobson left the meeting at 11.19am.

Mr Flannigan rejoined the meeting at 11.21am.

Mr Storey left the meeting at 11.21am.

Mr Kinahan replaced Mr Storey as the chairperson of the meeting at 11.21am.

Agreed – the Department would provide the Committee with an update on how access to the C2K system for pre-school providers is being addressed and will this include statutory and non-statutory organisations? In addition an overview of the assessment tools that are available which has previously been provided to schools in 2010.

5.     Departmental Briefing on the Viability Audit. 

John McGrath, Deputy Secretary, Diarmuid McLean, Director of Investment and Infrastructure and Lorraine Finlay, Head of Area Planning Policy Team joined the meeting at 11.26am and provided the Committee with a briefing on the Viability Audit.

Mrs Dobson rejoined the meeting at 11.29am.

Mr Storey rejoined the meeting at 11.34am.

Mr Storey resumed the position of Chairperson of the meeting at 11.34am.

Mr Flannigan left the meeting at 11.40am.

Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 12.05pm.

Ms McIlveen joined the meeting at 12.07pm.

Mr Kinahan rejoined the meeting at 12.10pm.

Mrs Dobson left the meeting at 12.38pm.

Agreed – the Department would provide the Committee with an explanation as to how the figures in relation to LMS and attainment were reached in relation to primary schools, an update on the projected deficits for primary and post-primary schools and a paper on capital funds broken down by primary, post-primary and special education schools.

6.     Forward Work Programme

Members considered and agreed the draft forward work programme.

Agreed – the Committee would invite Mr D McNarry to brief the Committee on 6 June 2012 on Community Use of Schools.

7.    Any Other Business                                                                                                   

8.    Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 10.30 am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.59pm.

Mervyn Storey MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Education
9 May 2012