COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 22 January 2008
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
The Lord Browne MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Apologies:
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Linda Gregg (Clerk)
Mr Paul Trainor (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Mairéad Higgins (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Angela Aboagye (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 13:08pm in public session.
1. Discussion on funding concerns to Education and Library Boards
The following representatives of the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) joined the meeting at 13:10pm:
Ms Katherine McCloskey (Chief Librarian)
Ms Rosemary Frawley (Vice Chairperson of the Libraries Committee)
Ms Hilary Sloan (Member of the Library Committee)
The representatives briefed the Committee on the impact of the 2008/09 indicative budget, and highlighted a grave funding crisis facing the library service in the incoming financial year, with particular reference to the BELB as the education board that will be effected most from the proposed budget cuts. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The following representative of the North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB) joined the meeting at 13:24pm:
Mr Michael McFaul (Assistant Chief Librarian)
The representative briefed the Committee on the impact of the 2008/09 indicative budget, and highlighted a grave funding crisis facing the library service in the incoming financial year, with particular reference to the NEELB. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The following representative of the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) joined the meeting at 13:34pm:
Ms Beth Porter (Chief Librarian)
The representative briefed the Committee on the impact of the 2008/09 indicative budget, and highlighted a grave funding crisis facing the library service in the incoming financial year, with particular reference to the SEELB. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The following representatives of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) joined the meeting at 13:44pm:
Ms Helen Osborne (Chief Librarian)
Mr Barry Mulholland (Chief Executive)
The representatives briefed the Committee on the impact of the 2008/09 indicative budget, and highlighted a grave funding crisis facing the library service in the incoming financial year, with particular reference to the WELB. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The following representatives of the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) joined the meeting at 13:53pm:
Ms Kathleen Ryan ((Chief Librarian)
Mr Peter Aiken (Chairperson of the Library Committee)
The representatives briefed the Committee on the impact of the 2008/09 indicative budget, and highlighted a grave funding crisis facing the library service in the incoming financial year, with particular reference to the SELB. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to include the issues raised by the representatives of the various Education and Library Boards in the Committee’s meeting with Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure officials on Thursday 24 January 2008.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that a letter should be sent to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minster, to ascertain whether additional funding could be allocated to enhance library services for migrant workers and visitors.
2. Date and time of next meeting
Agreed – The Committee agreed to hold its next meeting on Thursday 24 January 2008 at 10:30am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 14:15pm.