5 October 2007

EDU 03/07

COMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION URGES MINISTER TO INTERVENE IN DISPUTE

At today’s meeting of the Committee for Education, the Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Education to ask her as a matter of urgency to use her influence to ensure that the Classroom Assistants’ dispute comes to an end as soon as possible.

The Committee reminded the Minister that she told the Assembly on 24 September 2007 “I plan to intervene” in the dispute.

The Committee expressed its serious concerns that agreement will not be reached in the short term and children, who are already disadvantaged, will continue to suffer as a result. The Committee therefore asked the Minister what contingency plans are in place should this dispute continue.

ENDS

NOTE FOR EDITOR

The Chairperson of the Committee is Mr Sammy Wilson, MP MLA

The Deputy Chairperson is Mr Dominic Bradley MLA

The Committee has a further 9 members:

Mrs Mary Bradley MLA

Mr Paul Butler MLA

Rt. Hon Mr Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA

Mr Trevor Lunn MLA

Mr Basil McCrea MLA

Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA

Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA

Mr Ken Robinson MLA

Mr Mervyn Storey MLA

The Committee has a scrutiny, policy development and consultative role, and advises the Minister of Education directly on the policies and plans of the Department.

All enquiries about the work of the Committee should be directed to:

Mr Dominic Bradley, MP
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Education
Tel: 07884 070306
e-mail: dominic.bradley@niassembly.gov.uk

John Simmons,
Clerk, Committee for Education.
Tel: +44 (0)28 9052 1787
Mobile 079 0005 3929
Fax: +44 (0)28 9052 1371
e-mail: john.simmons@niassembly.gov.uk