Committee for Education
Minutes of Proceedings 29 January 2025
Committee for Education Minutes of Proceedings - 29 January 2025.pdf (153.46 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
Mr Colin Crawford MLA
Mrs Michelle Guy MLA
Mr Peter Martin MLA
Mrs Cathy Mason MLA
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Thomas McConville (Clerical Officer)
Present via Teleconference
Ms Cara Hunter MLA
The meeting commenced at 2:00pm in public session.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee discussed the impact of recent storms on school properties.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Education Authority praising the work of the Estates Management team safely reopening schools following Storm Eowyn.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education seeking a breakdown of the response to Storm Eowyn, and lessons identified for the future.
The Committee discussed research carried out by Ulster University on the role of classroom assistants, ‘A profile of Classroom Assistants in Northern Ireland’.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the authors to brief it on the study.
3. Declaration of Interests
There were no Declarations of Interest.
4. Matters Arising
There were no Matters Arising.
5. Minutes of Proceedings
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of its meeting held on 22 January 2025.
6. Relationships and Sexuality Education Inquiry – Oral briefing from Love for Life
The Committee noted a submission to the RSE inquiry from Love for Life.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 2:06pm:
Ms Judith Cairns, Chief Executive Officer, Love for Life
Ms Heather Joy Wallace, School and Community lead, Love for Life
The witnesses provided the Committee with a briefing on Relationships and Sexuality Education.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
7. Relationships and Sexuality Education Inquiry – Oral Briefing from Women’s Aid
The Committee noted a submission to the RSE inquiry from Women’s Aid.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 3:05pm:
Ms Karen Devlin, Representative, Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland
Ms Sonya McMullan, Regional Services Manager, Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland
The witnesses provided the Committee with a briefing on Relationships and Sexuality Education.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Ms Hunter left the meeting at 3:44pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education asking that it engage with Women’s Aid on the Early Years and Childcare Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask Women’s Aid for an evaluation of the Helping Hands programme as discussed in Q&A.
The Committee adjourned at 4:02pm.
The Committee resumed at 4:08pm.
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Committee noted a correspondence Index.
8.2 The Committee noted is a response from the Minister of Education on recent changes to senior staff at the Department of Education.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move to closed session at 4:12pm.
The Committee returned to public session at 4:19pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Education seeking further clarification on staffing issues.
8.3 The Committee noted a response from Department regarding the process for the appointment of the new Chairperson of the Education Authority.
8.4 The Committee noted a response from the Education Authority providing details of the Cubbie® Sensory Integration Hub pilot.
8.5 The Committee noted an invitation from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) to an environmental event on Saturday 29 March 2025.
8.6 The Committee noted correspondence from National Museums NI seeking the committee’s views on its new Corporate Strategy and offering to meet with the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move to closed session at 4:23pm
11. Forward Work Programme
The Committee discussed its oral briefing with the Minister for 5 February 2025.
The Committee considered a draft forward work programme.
The Committee returned to public session at 4:47pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its Forward Work Programme.
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 5 February 2025 at 2:00pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:48pm.
Nick Mathison MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Education
5 February 2024
