Committee for Education
Minutes of Proceedings - 5 June 2024
Committee for Education - Minutes of Proceedings 5 June 2024.pdf (173.16 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Nick Mathison MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Pat Sheehan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Danny Baker MLA
Mr David Brooks MLA
Ms Cheryl Brownlee MLA
Mr Robbie Butler MLA
Mrs Cathy Mason MLA
Ms Kate Nicholl MLA
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joshua Devlin (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 2:00 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
An apology was received from Ms Cara Hunter.
2. Chairperson’s Business
2.1 The Committee noted a record of issues discussed at an informal meeting with the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA) and a briefing paper from NICMA.
Mr Brooks joined the meeting at 2:02pm.
Ms Brownlee joined the meeting at 2:02pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move to closed session at 2:02pm.
The Committee discussed its schedule.
The Committee returned to public session at 2:08pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed not to add any further briefings to its forward work programme and to make a decision on its proposed meeting on 3 July 2024 at its next meeting.
3. Declaration of Interests
There were no declarations of interest.
4. Matters Arising
No matters arising were discussed.
5. Minutes of Proceedings
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of its meeting held on 29 May 2024.
6. Actions arising from concurrent meeting with the Committee for the Economy
The Committee noted minutes of the concurrent meeting with the Committee for the Economy of 29 May 2024
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Chairperson of the Committee for the economy thanking him for the invitation and Committee members for their contribution to the concurrent meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Education:
- Urging consideration of a clear action plan, benchmarks, targets to measure outcomes for the delivery of the 14-19 strategy;
- Seeking his views on the need for a more robust legislative framework for young people leaving special educational settings and their need for guidance and support.
7. Budget Briefing – Department of Education oral briefing
The Committee noted a Department of Education briefing paper, Assembly Research papers on the Children’s Services Co-operation Act and on Pooled Budgets; and a Northern Ireland Fiscal Council report on the Northern Ireland Executive's 2024-25 Budget.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 2:12 pm:
Mr Neil Palmer, Acting Director of Finance, Department of Education
Mr Stephen Van Houten, Acting Deputy Director of Finance, Department of Education
Mr Stephen Creagh, Acting Director of Investment and Infrastructure, Department of Education
The witnesses provided the Committee with a briefing on the Department of Education budget.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education:
- Asking in relation to the Children’s Services Co-operation Act if there were any areas where it was actively working with other Departments on joint bids and pooled budgets for projects that had cross cutting benefits such as Happy Health minds holiday hunger, or emotional health and wellbeing interventions of any kind;
- Asking how funding was secured for the Bookstart scheme;
- Seeking an update on specific actions on reviewing procurement practices for maintenance and cleaning contracts; and
- Seeking a description of how backpay has been allocated so as to have minimal impact on school budgets.
8. Northern Ireland Equality Commission - Oral Briefing
The Committee noted Equality Commission Childcare and Early Years briefing papers.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 2:55 pm:
Ms Geraldine McGahey OBE, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Mr Darren McKinstry, Director of Public Policy & Strategic Engagement, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Ms Kathryn Barr, Senior Policy Officer, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Mr Chris Jenkins, Senior Policy Officer, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Sheehan left the meeting at 3:46pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward Raise research papers to the Department of Education for information.
Mr Sheehan rejoined the meeting at 3:54pm
The Committee adjourned at 3:54pm.
The Committee resumed at 4:01pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 10.
10. Correspondence
10.1 The Committee noted an index and summary note of correspondence.
10.2 The Committee noted a response from the Department of Education about free school meals, uniform and transport policy.
10.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Education on a statement ‘Investing in our Children’s Future: Education’.
10.4 The Committee noted Correspondence from the Minister of Education on the launch of the RAISE Programme.
10.5 The Committee noted Correspondence from the Education Authority regarding Indoor Air Quality.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to share this response with the individuals that originally raised these concerns with it.
10.6 The Committee noted the fifteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
10.7 The Committee noted the Investing Activity Report for May 2024.
10.8 The Committee noted a newsletter from Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC).
10.9 The Committee noted a report on screen-time impacts on education and wellbeing from House of Commons Education Committee.
10.10 The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Education providing a statement on the North South Ministerial Council education sectoral meeting on Wednesday 22 May 2024.
10.11 The Committee noted correspondence from the Speaker regarding a public petition titled ‘Dean Maguirc College — Enrolment Cap’.
10.12 The Committee noted correspondence from Stratagem re Invitation to an All Party Group on Parental Participation.
10:13 The Committee noted correspondence from Angel Eyes NI seeking a meeting with it.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Angel Eyes NI to brief the Committee following summer recess.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered a draft forward work programme.
Agreed: the Committee agreed to invite Dr Rebecca Loader to brief it on newcomer children.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Forward Work Programme as amended.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to agenda item 9
9. Update on Early Years and Childcare Strategy – Department of Education oral briefing
The Committee noted a Department of Education briefing paper.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 4:08 pm:
Mr Paul Brush, Director of Early Years, Childcare & Children & Young People’s Strategy, Department of Education
Ms Tina Dempster, Head of Early Learning and Childcare Team, Department of Education
Mrs Linda Drysdale, Head of Early Years - Intervention Programmes Team, Department of Education
The witnesses provided the Committee with a briefing on Early Years and the Childcare Strategy.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education:
- Seeking a timeline for delivery of Early Learning and Childcare Strategy;
- Seeking regular written updates over summer recess on implementation;
- Asking that the Department of Education provides the Committee with a further oral update following summer recess;
- Asking for the data officials agreed to provide on the implications of tax-free childcare proposals.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education regarding the expansion of Surestart provision and concerns that different providers had different rates of pay for the same role.
12. Any Other Business
No other business was discussed.
13. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 12 June 2024 in Room 29, Parliament Buildings at 2:00pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:57 pm.
Nick Mathison MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Education
12 June 2024
