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HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE Present: Dr Esmond Birnie (Chairman) In Attendance: Dr Andrew C Peoples Apologies: Mr Joe Byrne
Meeting opened at 2.12pm in closed session.
1. Presentations from Departmental senior officials Mr Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary, Department of Higher and Further Education,
Training and Employment, welcomed members and Committee staff to the Department’s
headquarters at Adelaide House. Senior officials then gave a number of presentations
on:
2.25pm. Prof McWilliams joined the meeting.
2. Apologies Apologies are detailed above.
3. Approval of draft minutes of 29 March 2001 Agreed. Proposed: Mr Dallat. Seconded: Mr Beggs.
4. Matters arising Members considered the draft response to the consultation document "Building a Stronger Network: Developing the Role of National Training Organisations," along with the Department’s written reply to questions arising from the recent evidence session. Members agreed that the Chairman should review the document before issue to meet the deadline of 12 April 2001.
Action: Clerk Members directed the Clerk to ascertain when the report on the review of careers guidance would be made available. It was agreed that initial findings on the effectiveness of careers guidance arising from evidence taken as part of the Committee’s Inquiry, should be forwarded to the Department for consideration.
Action: Clerk Members agreed that the offer from the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges to host the Committee should be postponed until the autumn.
Action: Clerk Members considered and debated a draft Forward Work Programme for after the Easter Recess in connection with the Committee’s Inquiry into "Education and Training for Industry." Members agreed that postponed visits to Craigavon Borough Council and Newry and Mourne District Council should now be rearranged. Other witnesses should also be asked to give evidence at these meetings.
Action: Clerk The previously postponed European study visit to Denmark should be rearranged for late June 2001, depending on the availability of the Committee’s special Adviser, Dr Steedman and senior Danish officials.
Action: Clerk Depending on the availability of potential witnesses and the restrictions
on the number of session still available, the Clerk should seek to arrange oral
evidence sessions with: In addition, the Committee would ask for an update on recent initiatives from Departmental officials towards the end of the Inquiry.
Action: Clerk The possible visits to BIFHE, CITB and Shorts Bombardier would be reviewed at the end of the Inquiry.
Action: Clerk 5. Any Other Business The Chairman informed members that the Sherrard Report had not yet been obtained from the North East Institute and five responses had so far been received from Further Education Colleges in response to the Committee’s request for staffing information. Members agreed to review this after the Easter Recess to decide on the way forward. The Committee agreed that a letter should be sent to the Public Accounts Committee, to advise on any recent work carried out by the Northern Ireland Audit Office within the remit of DHFETE, and whether any audits of Further Education Colleges were planned in the future.
Action: Clerk Members agreed that the Chairman should meet with relevant journalists to raise the profile of the Inquiry. Dr Rosanne Cecil’s contract should be extended to assist with the drafting of the initial report for the Inquiry, with Special Advisers producing specific papers if required and quality assuring the report at a later stage.
Action: Clerk Members noted that, as previously agreed, the Finance and Personnel Committee had requested details of PFI/PPP projects from DHFETE.
6. Date and time of next meeting The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Thursday, 26 April 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 152 Parliament Buildings, to include evidence form Departmental officials as part of the Committee stage of the Department for Learning and Employment Bill.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4.30pm.
Dr Esmond Birnie 26 April 2001 |