Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mr Peter Weir 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 11.20 am.

Apologies

There were no apologies.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairperson expressed condolences to the Clerk on the death of his grandmother, Mrs. May Hall.

1. Briefing from Departmental officials on DEL engagement with Europe

The Chairperson thanked Departmental officials for their attendance at 10am, as scheduled, but the briefing session did not proceed as the meeting was not quorate at that time and its start was postponed.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2011

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

3. Briefing from Assembly Research on the European Commission Work Programme

The Committee agreed to proceed to agenda item 4

The Committee received a briefing from Eóin Murphy, Assembly Research and Library Service, on the EC Work Programmes for 2010 and 2011, and on the potential impact of the strategic initiatives on the work of the Department.

11.35 am Mr Jonathan Bell left the meeting

4. Matters Arising

The Committee agreed to return to agenda item 3

• ESF Application Process

Agreed: Members considered correspondence from DEL clarifying the application process for ESF funding, and agreed to have this information published on the website

11.37 am Mr John McCallister joined the meeting

• Postgraduate PhD Studentships

Members noted details of the application for QUB/ DEL PhD Studentships.

• Titanic Quarter

Agreed: The Committee noted the Minister’s response to its correspondence and agreed to obtain clarification on which department is taking the lead on the project

• Stranmillis Stakeholder Forum

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department outlining the role of the proposed Stakeholder Forum for the Stranmillis School of Education.

11.43 am Mr Sydney Anderson joined the meeting

• Young people not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs)

Members noted the Minister’s response to the recommendations of the Committee’s NEETs Inquiry and the consultation document on the above strategy, together with an invitation to attend the launch event of the consultation.

• Report on Quality and Performance

The Committee noted the annual report from DEL’s Quality and Performance Branch, together with an action plan to address issues raised in the report.

• Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee considered SL1s relating to the Employment (No.2) Bill, now enacted as the Employment Act 2011, which had been deferred from the previous meeting pending Royal Assent. Members were content for the Department to make the Statutory Rules but noted that these Rules would be scrutinised by the incoming Committee.

• Additional Budget allocation

The Committee noted detailed information provided by the Department on the additional funding received under the final allocation of the Budget 2011-2015.

• Post-Project Evaluations (PPEs)

Members noted an update from the Department on the current position with PPEs

• Apprenticeships Update

Members noted further clarification provided by the Department on the name of one of the sponsoring bodies

• Tribunal Reform

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice, indicating that the transfer of the Industrial and the Fair Employment Tribunal from DEL to the Department of Justice has been deferred

5. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson provided a brief outline of her attendance at informal meetings and events, and drew members’ attention to various invitations received.

6. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of recent Departmental and other press releases.

7. Any Other Business

• It was agreed by correspondence that the minutes of this meeting would be circulated to Members for approval and would be signed off at the Chairperson’s discretion.
• The Chairperson and Members expressed their appreciation to the Committee staff for their work over the past four years and also thanked Assembly Research and Communications staff for their advice and guidance.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.55 am.

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
24 March 2011

16 March 11 / Menu