Present:
Mr Mervyn Carrick (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Joe Byrne
Mrs Joan Carson
Mr John Dallat
Prof Monica McWilliams

In Attendance:
Dr Andrew C Peoples
Mr Colin Jones
Ms Anne Colville
Miss Kelly-Anne Llewellyn

Apologies:
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mr William Hay
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Mr John Kelly
Mrs Mary Nelis

Meeting opened at 2.10pm in open session. Mr Carrick in the Chair.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Evidence session with Newry and Mourne District Council

As part of its Inquiry into "Education and Training for Industry," the Committee took evidence from the following representatives from Newry and Mourne District Council: Councillor Isaac Hanna; Councillor Brendan Lewis; Councillor Jim McCart and Mr Jonathan McGilly, Enterprise Development Officer. Following a short presentation on the main issues relating to the local education and training systems, witnesses answered questions in the following areas:

• the need for District Councils to become more directly involved in the local provision of further education;

• the possible short-term aspects of skills training and its importance to economic redevelopment;

• the cost to small firms of releasing employees for training and the impact of an employers' levy;

• the importance of careers education in providing local links between schools and industry;

• the funding of business education partnerships; and

• a central system for the co-ordination of student placements.

3. Evidence session with Forfás

Members also took evidence from Forfás, the National Policy and Advisory Board for Enterprise, Trade, Science, Technology and Innovation in the Republic of Ireland. Mr Seamus Bannon, Manager, Trade and EU Skills Policy Department and Mr Lorcan O'Raghallaigh, Manager, Skills Project, answered questions on:

• the accuracy of future predictions of skills needs and the labour market base;

• how this information could be better communicated to schools through co-operation between government departments;

• the remit and status of Forfás, how its Board are appointed, remunerated and its relationship with elected representatives;

• how reports of the Expert Skills Group are communicated to ensure their effectiveness; and

• the contribution of Community Employment Schemes to help alleviate poor attitudes to work in the Republic of Ireland.

4. Approval of draft minutes of 10 May 2001

Agreed. Proposed: Mrs Carson. Seconded: Mr Dallat.

5. Matters arising

The Committee considered a draft response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel's Inquiry into Public/Private Partnerships. A final response would be agreed at next week's meeting.

6. Correspondence

Members considered information provided by the Department on the membership and Terms of Reference of the Taskforce on Employability and Long Term Unemployment. The Clerk was directed to draft a response to the Minister for consideration at next week's meeting.

Action: Clerk

Members examined a progress report received from the Department on the uptake of Individual Learning Accounts, and directed the Clerk to obtain more detailed information in this area.

Action: Clerk

Members noted the Annual Report of the Certification Officer for Northern Ireland.

Members considered two Statutory Rules at pre-draft stage, to update financial support arrangements for students in the 2001/02 academic year. It was noted that any provisions in the draft legislation relating to the new proposals recently announced by the Minister were provisional and subject to the outcome of the ongoing Equality consultation.

Members also considered a draft Statutory Rule to amend the powers of governing bodies of institutions of further education in Northern Ireland and noted that the Committee was to be included in the consultation process on this piece of legislation.

7. Any Other Business

The Chairman welcomed Miss Kelly-Anne Llewellyn to her new post in the Committee office.

Members agreed to meet with the Welsh Committee for Education and Lifelong Learning over a working lunch on Tuesday 12 June 2001.

Action: Clerk

Members noted receipt from DFP of a proof copy of the Northern Ireland Estimates for 2001/02, together with a provisional timetable for Assembly scrutiny of the budget process.

Members agreed to meet on 24 May 2001 and to take evidence from the Education and Training Inspectorate. As requested by the Department, evidence from the Head of the FE Division, originally scheduled for 24 May 2001, would be postponed.

Action: Clerk

Members noted that the Sherrard Report had still not been received from the North East Institute. It was agreed to issue a reminder detailing the Committee's legal power to request papers.

Action: Clerk

8. Date and Time of Next Meeting

On Thursday 24 May 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings, to include evidence from the Education and Training Inspectorate, as part of the Committee's Inquiry.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 4.35pm.

Mervyn Carrick

Mr Mervyn Carrick
Deputy Chairman,
Committee for Higher and Further Education,
Training and Employment
24 May 2001

10 May 2001 / Menu / 24 May 2001