(AQW 4056/01)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) The primary schools which will contribute pupils to Year 8 (Form 1) at Down High School; (b) the number of pupils transferring to Down High School from each primary school; and (c) the grades obtained by pupils in each primary school who will be transferring to Down High School in September 2002 are detailed below as follows:

(AQW 4057/01)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) The primary schools which will contribute pupils to Year 8 (Form 1) at St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick; (b) the number of pupils transferring to St Patrick’s, Downpatrick from each primary school; and (c) the grades obtained by pupils in each primary school who will be transferring to St Patrick’s, Downpatrick in September 2002 are detailed below as follows:

(AQW 4068/01)

Mr M McGuinness: All grant-aided school sectors and the voluntary and private playgroup sector have the opportunity to benefit from the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme, with voluntary and private providers able, for the first time, to access government funding. As a result of the Programme pre-school education provision has almost doubled in a period of 4 years. The NTSN aspect of the policy relates to targeting places, in the first instance, on children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

(AQW 4071/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Under my Department’s Pre- School Education Expansion Programme, the voluntary and private playgroup sector has become a valued partner of the statutory sector in providing pre-school education and is, for the first time, able to access government funding. The NTSN aspect of the policy relates to targeting the Programme, in the first instance, at provision for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Last year my Department published evidence that the introduction of the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme equalised the participation rate of children from disadvantaged and less disadvantaged backgrounds in pre-school education. The relevant document is "New Targeting Social Need: Analysis of existing information on education participation, achievement and outcomes for disadvantaged individuals and groups".

(AQW 4078/01)

(a) Units are intended to meet parental demand for Irish-medium education in circumstances where it would not be appropriate or effective to do so by providing a free-standing school. Each case is considered on its merits.

(b) The initial intake for September 2002 to the Irish-medium unit at St Catherine’s College, Armagh is expected to be 10.

(c) The Southern Education and Library Board has responsibility for funding this unit and is currently in discussion with the school regarding the financial allocation to be made.

(d) The development proposal to establish the unit was approved on 8 March 2002.

(AQW 4080/01)

Mr M McGuinness: My Department has, in conjunction with education and library boards and CCMS, commenced an equality impact assessment on the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme which will be the subject of public consultation and will take account of the equality impact on community-based playgroups.

(AQW 3340/01)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): [supplementary answer]: Unfortunately, the information contained in my previous answer to you on 21 May 2002 was incorrect.

The last two sentences of my response should read "Seven full-time Foundation Degree pilots, with 100 FTE students are currently running which focus specifically on Information Technology. A further 100 FTEs in Information Technology will be provided during 2002/03".

I apologise for any inconvenience.

(AQW 3941/01)

Ms Hanna: The management and accountability of the institutes is a matter for their management teams and their Governing Bodies, which were newly appointed on 1 April 2002. My Department has spoken to each Governing Body individually and has completed a series of induction training seminars for Governors covering their roles and responsibilities. The Principals are the Accounting Officers of the institutes and are responsible for the use of public funds. In general, the sector remains in sound financial health. Four institutes are in financial deficit and are either implementing recovery plans or developing recovery plans with external support.

(AQW 3990/01)

Ms Hanna: The table below details the number of applications for teacher training courses at NI Higher Education institutions 1998/99 to 2002/03

Source: Queen’s University Belfast, University of Ulster, Stranmillis University College, St Mary’s University College

The table below details the number of students enrolled on teacher training courses at NI Higher Education institutions 1997/98 to 2001/02

Source: HESA

(AQW 4037/01)

Ms Hanna: Priority will be placed on Essential Skills in all training programmes within my Department. All participants on these programmes will be given the opportunity and support to develop and enhance their Essential Skills. My Department is currently piloting a number of projects to test the curricula across programmes in Further Education, New Deal, Jobskills, Focus for work, and Learndirect.

(AQW 4065/01)

Ms Hanna: The legislation permits my Department to allocate capital funds to Queen’s University and the University of Ulster for specific projects aimed at enhancing teaching and research facilities and at improving access for the disabled. There is no scope to make funding available towards the redevelopment of the Queen’s University Students’ Union.

(AQW 4072/01)

Ms Hanna: New Deal for Disabled People is aimed at helping people receiving incapacity-related benefits to move off benefit dependence and into work. There is a range of support available under NDDP, including education and training to prepare people for work.

(AQW 4073/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department is allocating approximately £4.75 million in 2002/03 to provide up to 850 places on the Employment Support programme. This programme is available to young people with disabilities, if appropriate to their circumstances. My Department also provides match funding to a range of providers that deliver a variety of supports to disabled young people, using ESF funding.

(AQW 4075/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department funds and provides a wide range of training and further education provision for young people with disabilities. This includes Jobskills, Further Education courses, specialist training with disability organisations, and New Deal for Disabled People. Advice on these opportunities can be obtained from the Department’s Special Needs Careers Service and Disablement Advisory Service.

(AQW 4076/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department’s Disablement Advisory Service is carrying out a review of the delivery of the Employment Support programme in Northern Ireland. The Taskforce on Employability and Long Term Unemployment is also considering representations about Employment Support. It would be premature therefore to make any commitments at this time on numbers in the programme. My Department will be prepared to bid for funding for extra places in Employment Support if this is appropriate.

(AQW 4084/01)

Ms Hanna: Incapacity Benefit claimants have a choice about participation in New Deal for Disabled People. The Programme is voluntary, and clients may choose either to register with a Job Broker or deal with the Personal Adviser service offered in my Department’s JobCentres.

(AQW 4139/01)

Ms Hanna: It is recognised that the Review, which advocates the setting up of a Collegiate system, would have significant implications for the work of Further Education Colleges. Representatives of the Principals of the Colleges met the Minister for Education to discuss their initial reaction to the Review and stressed the need for co-operation and collaboration. The sector also provided Mr McGuinness with its collective view on Burns in writing. During my own discussions with Mr McGuinness we agreed it was now timely for both Departments to engage in a wider review of 14-19 year olds.

(AQW 4186/01)

Ms Hanna: At the University of Ulster, Jordanstown campus there were 41 PGCE (secondary) places made available and filled in the academic year 2000-01, and 37 in 2001-02. Figures for the forthcoming academic year are unavailable as recruitment is ongoing.

The University, like Universities throughout the U K, is an autonomous institution responsible for setting its admission criteria, selection processes, outcomes and appeals procedures and I have no locus in this matter.

(AQW 4248/01)

Ms Hanna: All redundant employees will be eligible for early entry into the New Deal and will also be able to participate in the Focus for Work initiative. Funding will be available for these employees to undertake training, including help with job search skills as appropriate.