MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTY FIRST MEETING OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2001

Present:
Mr D Kennedy (Chairman)
Mr S Wilson (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Fee
Mr T Gallagher
Mr T Hamilton
Ms P Lewsley
Mr G McHugh
Mr B McIlduff
Mr K Robinson

Apologies:
Mrs E Bell
Mr O Gibson

In Attendance:
Mrs C Darrah
Mrs V Artt
Miss J Adair
Ms C Angelone
Ms Gillian Kane (Assembly Research Directorate for items 2, 3 and 6)

The Committee met at 10.40 a.m. in private session.

1. Minutes of the Meeting of 20 September 2001

The minutes of the meeting of 20 September 2001 were agreed.

2. Evidence Session with the Western Education and Library Board on the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula - Public Session

Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m. and Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 11.00 a.m.

Mr McIlduff declared an interest, registering that he is a member of the Western Education and Library Board.

As part of the Committee's consideration of the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula, the Chairman welcomed Mr Martin, Chief Executive and Mr Rainey, Senior Education Officer. They gave oral evidence on the Western Education and Library Board's submission to the Committee on the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula and this was followed by a short question and answer session. Areas discussed included:

• The Funding of Small Schools
• The Treatment of Teachers Salaries
• The Equitable Distribution of Resources
• The need to move forward in conjunction with the other major reviews currently on-going
• The possibility of the proposals creating a system which will assist Boards, Principals, teachers etc. to improve the learning of all pupils.

Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in due course.

3. Evidence Session with the North Eastern Education and Library Board on the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula

Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 11.30 a.m. and Mr Fee joined the meeting at 11.35 a.m.

Mr Robinson declared an interest, registering that he is a member of a Board of Governors of a school in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area and he took no part in the session.

As part of the Committee's consideration of the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula, the Chairman welcomed Mr Topping, Chief Executive, Mr McCurdy, Chief Finance Officer and Mr Lynn of the Finance Department to the meeting. They gave oral evidence on the North Eastern Education and Library Board's submission to the Committee on the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula and this was followed by a short question and answer session. The main issues discussed included:

• The implications for ELB Services and Resources if the high ASB model is implemented with no extra funding provided
• Targeting Social Need and the need for evidence that targets are being achieved
• Treatment of Teacher Costs
• The possibility of the proposals establishing a fair and transparent system that will be easy to operate and understand

Hansard recorded the evidence for publication in due course.

4. Matters arising from the Minutes of Proceedings

1. Copies of the finalised Committee Work Programme for the Autumn had been circulated.

2. Copies of the Chairman's letter to the Minister of Education requesting comments

on the recommendations in the Report by the Committee for the Environment on Transport used for Children Travelling to and from School had been circulated. The Committee noted that similar letters had also been sent to the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards and agreed to consider the issue further once replies have been received. The Committee also noted that the Chairman had written to the Chairman of the Committee for the Environment concerning the Report.

3. Copies of the Chairman's letter to the Minister of Education requesting further information in relation to the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula had been circulated.
4. Further information provided by Assembly Research Directorate on a range of issues relating to the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula had been circulated for members information and consideration.
5. Three submissions on the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula received by the Committee from Primary Schools in the Dungannon/Cookstown area had been circulated.

5. Chairman's Business

1. Proposals to assist the Committee's consideration of the Review of School Information and Prospectuses had been circulated. The Committee agreed the proposals and timetable. It was also agreed that the Research Directorate should provide an additional paper outlining the position in a European country.
2. After a discussion on the publication of papers prepared by the Assembly

Research Directorate for the Committee the Chairman agreed to raise the matter at the next meeting of the Chairperson's Liaison Group and seek clarification of the position.

3. Information on the Budget issues for 2001/2002 and 2002/2003, in relation to the

   Programme for Government objectives and targets, had been circulated. The Deputy Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee had written outlining the Budget timetable and requesting the Committee's views and comments on the draft Budget proposals by Friday 26 October and copies of the letter had also been circulated. The Committee noted that Departmental officials were due to attend the meeting on 18 October to discuss the draft Budget and answer questions. It was agreed that members should forward to the Clerk any questions they wished to raise.

Mr Robinson and Mr Fee left the meeting at 12.10 p.m.

The Committee adjourned at 12.15 p.m.

The Committee reconvened at 12 .25 p.m.

6. Evidence Session with the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education on the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula

As part of the Committee's consideration of the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula, the Chairman welcomed Mr Wardlow, Chief Executive, Mr Sheeran, Public Affairs, Ms Frost, a Primary Principal and Mr Dolan a Post Primary Principal. They gave oral evidence on the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education's submission to the Committee on the Proposals for a Common Funding Formula and this was followed by a short question and answer session. The areas discussed included:

• Age weighted pupil units
• Administrative and other costs unique to Grant Maintained Integrated Schools
• The Transitional arrangements
• Clarification of contingency arrangements for pupil growth
• The possibility of the proposals creating a system which will assist Boards, Principals, teachers etc. to improve the learning of all pupils according to their needs
• The experiences of operating the LMS system
• The main issues affecting a Post-Primary Grant Maintained Integrated School under the Proposals

Hansard recorded the evidence for publication in due course.

The meeting returned to private session at 1.05 p.m.

7. Date and time of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday 2 October at 2.00 p.m. in Room 152, Parliament Buildings. A meeting of the Committee will also take place on Thursday 4 October at 10.15 a.m. in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 1.10 p.m.

DANNY KENNEDY
Committee Chairman
October 2001

25 September 2001 / Menu / 2 October 2001