Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Peter Weir (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Ms Anna Lo 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)
Ms Leanne Johnston
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve

Apologies:
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA

The meeting opened in public session at 10. 03 am.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from the principal of Glastry College in relation to the NEETs Inquiry

Errol McMaster, principal of Glastry College, Ballyhalbert, provided the Committee with a school perspective on the issues facing young people from a rural environment.

10.06 am Mr Peter Weir joined the meeting

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Departments of Education and Regional Development on the provision of transport for students

3. Briefing from North Down Training Ltd in relation to the NEETs Inquiry

The Committee was briefed by Nigel Finch from North Down Training Ltd on the work of the organisation on providing alternative education for young people outside the greater Belfast area. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education on the issue of funding for providers of alternative education

4. Programme Led Apprenticeships

Agreed : The Committee considered further information from various stakeholders on the way forward for the Programme Led Apprenticeships programme, and agreed to issue a press release on this subject.

Agreed : Members further agreed to write to other statutory Committees to establish the work being carried out by other departments to address youth unemployment and apprenticeships

5. Quinn Insurance Redundancies

Members noted the latest information on redundancies proposed by Quinn Insurance at its offices in Northern Ireland.

11.30 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting

6. Matters Arising

• Concessionary College Fees for Older People
  Agreed: Members considered the response provided by the EU Commission to a written question on the legitimacy of providing concessionary fees for older people at FE Colleges, and agreed to forward this information to the Department
• Review of the EMA scheme
  Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Department indicating that consultants had been appointed to carry out a review of the EMA scheme, and agreed to write to DEL querying the cost of this appointment and clarifying the scope of the review
• Post-Project Evaluations (PPEs)
  Agreed: The Committee considered the latest quarterly update from the Finance and Personnel Committee detailing the rate of completion of PPEs by all the departments, and agreed to commend DEL on its performance

11.39 am Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting

• New Deal 25+
  Agreed: Members considered a response from the Minister on recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee in its report into New Deal 25+, and agreed to forward his response to the PAC
• Ofqual
  Agreed: Members considered the Minister’s reponse regarding the role of Ofqual in Northern Ireland and agreed to advocate a more local arrangement within the role of the new ESA
• Apprenticeship Redundancies
  Members noted the latest update from the Department on apprenticeship redundancies.
• Welfare Reform Bill – RNID submission
  Agreed: Members considered the above submission, forwarded by the Committee for Social Development, and agreed to pass it on to the Minister for comment
• Step Ahead Programme
  Agreed: The Committee considered a response from the Department regarding issues on the above programme, and agreed to forward the response to the original correspondent who raised these concerns.

7. Chairperson’s Business

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

8. Departmental Press Notices and Press cuttings

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

9. Any Other Business

• Draft Sustainable Development Report
  The Committee noted the above report from the OFMDFM Committee.
• Quarterly Research Review
  Members noted the above report provided by the Department
• EU Commission in Northern Ireland
  The Committee noted the latest bulletin from the EU Commission Office in Brussels
• Forward Work Programme – for information
  Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the period of May to June 2010.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10.00 am on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 at the premises of NIACRO, Amelia House, Belfast.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.50 am

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
19 May 2010

21 April 10 / Menu