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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2.00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2000

1. Minutes of Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Subordinate Legislation
4. Primary Legislation
5. Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children in NI
6. Any Other Business
7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Rev. R Coulter
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams

Apologies: Ms S Ramsey
Mrs I Robinson

In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin
Mrs V Artt Mrs K McFerran

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2.08 pm.

Private Session

1. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

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2. Matters Arising

Members were issued with copies of the Chairman's synopsis of the critical issues relating to the proposals for Muckamore Abbey Hospital following his visit there on 21 September. While members are in agreement with the principles behind care in the community, some concerns were raised about the logistics of the implementation of the proposals for those patients in the seven resettlement wards. Members also raised concerns about whether the necessary support mechanisms exist in the community for those with a severe learning difficulty who are intended to be discharged over the next two years.

Agreed: In light of the Committee's general concerns on the proposals, and particularly with regard to the introduction of Human Rights Legislation, the Chairman will write to seek the views of the Minister on the matter. In addition, the Chairman will consult with the Official Solicitor, and the Clerk will seek advice from Ms Imelda McAuley, who is a Legal Advisor to the Assembly, specializing in Human Rights.

Agreed: The Clerk will obtain the Department's baseline Budget figures for next week's meeting.
Agreed: The Clerk will provide an executive summary of the Departmental paper on the Capitation Formulae.

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3. Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Department's proposals for a Statutory Rule - Specified Risk Material (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

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4. Primary Legislation

Agreed: In light of members' unanimous concern over the perceived inadequacy of the 30-day period allotted for the Committee Stage of a Bill, the Chairman will raise the matter at the next meeting of the Committee Chairpersons' Liaison Group with a view to the urgent re-examination of the relevant Standing Order by the Assembly authorities.

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Public Session

5. Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children in NI: Oral Evidence from the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Panel Members: Ms Bairbre de Brún, The Minister
Mr Clive Gowdy, Permanent Secretary
Dr Kevin McCoy, Chief Inspector of the Soc.Services Inspectorate
Mr Leslie Frew, Director of Children and Community Care

The Chairman welcomed the Minister and her Officials to the meeting at 2.33 pm. Before moving into the Inquiry, the Chairman invited the Minister to make a brief comment on the current crisis in relation to the acute hospitals sector, particularly in light of the recent statement from Craigavon HSS Trust.

The Minister explained that she had already discussed the need for increased funding for the acute hospitals sector with the Committee, and that she had written to Assembly Members on specific cases. In relation to Craigavon Hospital, the Minister stated that she had requested a meeting with both the Trust Board and the Chairman of the Southern HSS Board, and had asked the Trust to provide a recovery plan setting out the period for reclamation of the deficit.

The Minister then made an introductory statement summarizing the main issues in relation to the children's residential care sector and the initial steps that are being taken to address the problems. The entire proceedings, including the subsequent question-and-answer session, are recorded in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 3.26 pm.

Rev. R Coulter left the meeting at 2.58 pm.

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Private Session

6. AOB

Agreed: The Committee will meet with the Acute Hospitals Review Group on Saturday, 14 October 2000 for a brainstorming session on the key principles underpinning the review. As a preparatory step, the Clerk will include this item on the agenda for next week's Committee meeting.
Agreed: As a matter relating to the Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accommodation for Children, the Clerk will investigate the background behind the intention by Barnardo's to change the current services provided by its Carraigfoyle Children's Unit.
Agreed: As a result of Members' perception that the Press and media are under some misunderstanding as to the Assembly's Committee system in relation to its openness to public scrutiny, the Chairman will raise the matter at the next meeting of the Committee Chairpersons' Liaison Group.
Agreed: In light of the volume of evidence, the Committee agreed that the report on the Inquiry into Residential Care and Secure Accommodation for Children in Northern Ireland will include only the minutes of oral evidence and accompanying memoranda. The remainder of the written evidence will not be published but will be made available for public consultation through the Clerk's office.

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7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2.00 pm on Wednesday, 11 October 2000 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

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The meeting ended at 4.02 pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
October 2000

27 September 2000 / Menu / 11 October 2000