Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Peter Weir (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
None

The meeting opened in public session at 10. 00 am.

The Chairperson welcomed the new members and thanked previous members, including the former Chairperson, Ms Sue Ramsey, for their contribution to the work of the Committee.

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

3. Briefing from Departmental officials on Workforce Future Skills Needs Analysis

Victor Dukelow, Head of Analytical Services, and Colin Woods, Head of Skills Delivery Branch, provided the Committee with a summary of the future skills needs analysis for the six area Workforce Development Forums. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: Members agreed that officials should provide details of expenditure on priority re-skilling and quarterly reports on the progress of the newly appointed local skills advisors.

10.06 am Mr Paul Butler joined the meeting
10.16 am Mr Trevor Clarke joined the meeting
10.50 am Mr Trevor Clarke left the meeting

4. Briefing from representatives of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum in relation to the NEETs Inquiry

Chris Quinn, Transitional Director, and Neil Symington and Caroline McCracken, Participation Workers, briefed the Committee on the work of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum in addressing young people not in employment, education or training. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

10.59 am Mr Trevor Clarke rejoined the meeting

Agreed : The Committee discussed the proposed study visit to Scotland and Wales to see projects which are engaging with young people not in employment, education or training, and agreed that the Clerk should circulate a draft programme

5. Matters Arising

• Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP) – Implementation Plan

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee, inviting comment on the recommendations of the IREP Implementation Plan, and agreed that a final response would be considered at the next meeting

• Apprenticeships Update

Members noted the regular update from DEL on the number of apprentices who have been made redundant in recent weeks. The Clerk also reminded new members of the forthcoming meeting between Departmental officials and stakeholders, which is being facilitated by the Committee to provide a forum for discussion of issues relating to Programme-led Apprenticeships.

• Establishment of Ofqual

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and from Katharine Tattersall, Chair of Ofqual, outlining the role of this new regulatory body. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting details of the cost of the Ofqual service in Northern Ireland.

• Review of 2010/11 Spending Plans

Agreed: Members agreed on a response to correspondence from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster on the recent DEL Review of Spending Plans

• ‘Get on Board’ programme - Committee motion

Members noted that the above motion has been scheduled for debate on Tuesday, 20 April 2010.

6. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.

7. Departmental Press Notices and Press cuttings

Members noted a number of recent Departmental press notices and other extracts from the local press.

8. Any Other Business

• Research papers: EU Funding

Agreed: Members noted the above research papers forwarded by the OFMDFM Committee for information, and agreed to request a briefing from DEL on European funding issues

• Proposed Changes to the Construction Industry Training Board

Members noted correspondence from DEL outlining proposed changes to the subordinate legislation governing the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and opening a period of public consultation.

• Research paper: NI Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance strategy

Agreed: Members noted the above Research paper and agreed to request a briefing on this issue in relation to the NEETs inquiry.

• Cancellation of forthcoming Committee meetings

Agreed: The Committee agreed to cancel meetings scheduled for 28 April and 5 May in view of members’ commitments prior to the General Election.

• Forward Work Programme – for information

Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the period of April to June 2010.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 21 April 2010 at the Lisburn campus of the South-Eastern Regional College

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.10 pm

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
21 April 2010

24 March 10 / Menu