COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 7TH NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
In Attendance: Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Mr Jonathan Young (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA
The meeting opened at 10:35am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 24th October 2007
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
Agreed: Members noted a paper from the Department on the recent announcement of the closure of Seagate Technology. Members agreed that the Deputy Chairperson write to the Minister requesting updates on future developments and clarification on issues relating to the closure.
10:38am Mrs McGill joined the meeting
10:42am Mr McCrea joined the meeting
Members noted the Educational Guidance Service for Adult’s Annual Report.
Members also noted the Department’s Review of Labour Market Information provided as follow-up information to the Committee meeting on 17th October 2007.
The Deputy Chairperson updated Members on the private lunch meeting on 24th October and informed Members that the Clerk will bring a paper to the Committee on a proposed Forward Work Programme for approval in the near future.
The Deputy Chairperson briefed Members on an out-of-committee meeting with NIPPA held on 7th November.
Members noted that the Minister has agreed to brief the Committee on a range of issues on the 28th November.
Agreed: Members agreed that the issues of contracts with training providers and the inspection of training providers by the Education and Training Inspectorate be raised at the Departmental briefing on Training for Success at the Committee meeting on 28th November.
3. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed the proposed responses.
Agreed: Members agreed that Include Youth be invited to brief the Committee on the issue of economic inactivity in young people.
Agreed: Members noted and agreed that correspondence received from the OFMDFM Committee be forwarded to the Minister in line with Assembly protocol.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Deputy Chairperson write to the Chairperson of the OFMDFM Committee in relation to correspondence received from the National Union of Students / Union of students in Ireland (NUS/USI).
4. Departmental Briefing on Essential Skills
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Bernie O’Hare, Director of Further Education Division, and Deirdre McGill, Head of Essential Skills Branch, on the Department’s work on the Essential Skills campaign and how the campaign will progress in the future. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
11:27am Mr McClarty left the meeting
5. Departmental Briefing on Adult and Community Education
11:44am Mr McClarty returned to the meeting
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Bernie O’Hare, Director of Further Education Division, Richard Kenny, Head of Further Education Policy and Strategic Planning Branch, and Judith Shaw, Head of Careers and Guidance Services Branch, on the Department’s work on the provision of Adult and Community Education. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee communicate its concern regarding future provision and funding arrangements for community sector delivery of adult education.
12:22pm Mr McClarty left the meeting
6. Briefing from the Open University in Ireland
Mrs McGill declared an interest as a former student of the Open University in Ireland
The Committee received a briefing from Open University representatives Dr Rosemary Hamilton, Director of the Open University in Ireland, Gary Sloan, Assistant Director of Development, and Simon Gregg, Regional Student Services Manager, on the university’s work and the part it can play in the development of the Northern Ireland economy and to reducing social exclusion. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
7. Public Consultations on Further Education
Members noted that two consultation documents from the Department relating to
Further Education issued on the 5th November:
Curriculum provision in further education colleges; and
Review of higher education in further education, including foundation degrees.
8. Press Notices
Members noted Departmental press notices issued on 22nd and 29th October 2007.
9. Any Other Business
No other items of business were raised.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 14th November 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1:05pm.