MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS AT 2.00 PM
ON THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 2000
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Future Work Programme
4. Presentation by the NI Housing Executive
5. Presentation by the Social Security Agency
6. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Mr F Cobain (Chairman)
Ms M Gildernew (Deputy Chairperson)
Sir J Gorman Mr G Kelly
Mr D McClarty
Mr D O'Connor
Mr E ONeill
Mr M Robinson
Mr J Tierney
Apologies: Mr B Hutchinson
In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin Mr L Hart Ms V Surplus
Mr F Cobain took the Chair.
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
The Department has made copies of its paper on funding for 2000/2001 available to the Committee in advance of next week's meeting with the Minister.
The Chair and Deputy Chairperson will meet local university experts next week with a view to sourcing relevant expertise, and the Committee will then aim to identify suitable names at its meeting scheduled for Tuesday 1 February. Sir John Gorman advised the Committee of his very high regard for Magee College's housing research team from his previous related dealings with them.
Agreed:
i. The Committee will meet on Tuesday January 25 between 12.00 PM and 2.00 PM to discuss housing issues and the Departmental paper on budgets.
ii. Unless special circumstances prevail, the majority of future meetings at which the Committee takes evidence will be opened to the public. Next week's meeting with the Minister will be a public session.
iii. The Clerk will arrange for the relevant Senior Departmental officials to attend the Committee's meetings on the dates scheduled below to speak to the topics listed.
27 January-The Departmental budget
3 February-Street Trading and Voluntary Sector Compact
10 February-District Council Community Services Programme
24 February-New Regeneration Strategy
2 March-New Belfast Regeneration Strategy
4. Presentation by the NI Housing Executive
Panel Members: Mr Sid McDowell, Chairman
Mr Paddy McIntyre, Chief Executive
Mr Dermot O'Hara, Acting Head of Information
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2.15 PM, after which they gave a comprehensive presentation accompanied by copies of slides. There followed a question-answer session, which is summarised in Annex A The Chairman thanked the panel for their presentation, and they left the meeting at 3.25 PM.
5. Presentation by the Social Security Agency
Panel Members: Mr Chris Thompson, Chief Executive
Mr David McCurry, Director of Benefit Security
Mr Barney McGahan, Director of Operations
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 3.35 PM, after which they gave a comprehensive presentation accompanied by copies of slides. The follow-up question-and-answer session is summarised in Annex B. The Chairman thanked the panel for their presentation, and they left the meeting at 4.35 PM.
6. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The Committee will meet next at 12.00 PM on Tuesday 25 January in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
MR F COBAIN
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN