Joint Concurrent Committee meeting of the Committee for the Economy and the Committee for Education
Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 14 May 2025
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
Present:
Mr Nick Mathison MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Phillip Brett MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Diana Armstrong MLA
Mr Danny Baker MLA
Mr David Brooks MLA
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA
Ms Michelle Guy MLA
Mr David Honeyford MLA
Mr Peter Martin MLA
Ms Cathy Mason MLA
Mr Gary Middleton MLA
Ms Emma Sheerin MLA
Present by video-conferencing:
Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA
Ms Cara Hunter MLA
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA
Apologies:
Mr Colin Crawford MLA
Ms Kate Nicholl MLA
Mr Pat Sheehan MLA
In Attendance:
Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Katie McMaster (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Karen O'Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Stuart Gilmour (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced in public session at 10:43am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Chairperson's Business
There was no Chairperson's business.
4. Cross-Departmental Delivery
The following officials joined the meeting at 10:46am:
Moira Doherty, Deputy Secretary of the Skills and Education Group, DfE;
Clement Athanasiou, Director of Apprenticeships, Careers and Vocational Education Division, DfE;
Mark Lee, Director of Higher Education Division, DfE;
Linsey Farrell, Deputy Secretary for Education Policy & Children's Services , DE;
Karen McCullough, Director of Qualifications, 14-19 Strategy and Statistics & Research, DE; and
Andrew Scott, Director of Curriculum and Youth, DE;
David Brooks joined the meeting at 11:03am.
Danny Baker and Cathy Mason joined the meeting at 11:09am.
Key issues discussed included:
Careers Action Plan - establishment of a cross-departmental careers working group, adoption of new quality standards, primary careers pilot scheme, a careers support information campaign, Matrix benchmark report on the careers service, recruitment issues for the careers service, work placement provision, Special Education Needs careers support including Autism Spectrum Disorder measures and the anticipated publication of the Careers Action Plan.
Careers Portal - the conclusion of the discovery phase, the inclusion of AI and digital tools and the anticipated Phase 1 roll-out scheduled for late 2026.
14-19 Framework - the development of system leadership, anticipated curriculum review, anticipated progress in teacher professional learning, anticipated changes in the qualifications landscape; the absence of a 6th Form policy; duplication and the need for policy in respect of the relationships between Further Education and Schools.
Post-19 SEN - a report produced by Stranmillis University College, a Ministerial statement expected in June 2025 and no related budget allocation in 2025-26 for Post-19 SEN.
Mandatory education - timeline for legislation and implementation 2030 and Green Skills guidance to be issued.
Other matters including - apprenticeships and cross border issues; apprenticeships as a preferential career development route; addressing productivity shortfalls and skills gaps; reforming the Common Funding Scheme; increasing co-operation and collaboration between the Department of Health and the Department of Education at pre-school stages and inter-departmental co-operation in line with the provisions of the Children Services Co-operation Act.
Phillip Brett left the meeting at 11:28am.
Jonthan Buckley left the meeting at 11:36am.
Danny Baker left the meeting at 11:58am.
Cara Hunter left the meeting at 12:15pm.
Sinead McLaughlin left the meeting at 12:20pm.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their evidence.
Officials left the meeting at 12:41pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to meet again in 6 months' time, in joint concurrent session, in order to consider issues relating to the cross-departmental delivery of childcare.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to meet again in 12 months' time, in joint concurrent session, in order to consider progress in respect of cross-departmental delivery relating to: careers support; the 14-19 Framework; Post-19 SEN; and mandatory education and training.
5. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
6. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next joint concurrent Committee will take place in approximately 6 months' time.
The Committee meeting was adjourned at 12:44pm.
Nick Mathison MLA Phillip Brett MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Education Chairperson, Committee for the Economy
21 May 2025 21 May 2025
