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An overview of upcoming business at the Assembly from 21-25 April 2008.
East Antrim MLA Sean Neeson will ask the Minister if she will introduce legislation to allow special schools to transform to integrated status. Later party colleague Stephen Farry will ask the Minister of Education to report on the viability criteria for integrated schools.
The SDLP’s Pat Ramsey will ask the Minister to detail the provision for training teachers of deaf pupils.
Tom Elliott (UUP) will ask the Minister to give a timescale within which she intends to inform the Assembly of her decision on the future role of local councillors in relation to the proposed Single Education Authority.
Sammy Wilson (DUP) will ask the Minister to give a timescale within which she intends to commence consultation on her numeracy and literacy strategy.
Sinn Féin’s John O'Dowd will ask the Minister to outline how she plans to spend the £25 million for the implementation of the Special Educational Needs and Inclusion review.
The DUP’s Allan Bresland will ask the Minister to outline how the Western Education and Library Board addresses the educational needs of post-primary school children with autism.
UUP MLA Alan McFarland will ask the Minister to outline the training teachers receive in relation to pupil behaviour management.
Alliance Party leader David Ford will ask the Minister to give his assessment of the impact of variable tuition fees on university enrolment among people from deprived backgrounds.
North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey will ask the Minister to detail the number of adults who have completed further education courses in each of the last three years.
Fred Cobain (UUP) will ask the Minister to detail the progress being made towards the appointment of a Northern Ireland representative to the Learning and Skills Commission.
Sinn Féin’s John O'Dowd will ask the Minister what steps he is taking to (a) promote good relations in the further education sector; and (b) ensure that further education colleges are neutral and free from displays of flags and emblems.
Paul Butler (Lagan Valley) will ask the Minister to provide details of the steps he is taking to (a) resolve the ongoing further education lecturers’ dispute; and (b) address the disruption this dispute is having in further education colleges. Later a similar question on the lecturers’ dispute will follow from the SDLP’s Mary Bradley.
John McCallister (UUP) will ask the Minister if he has received any representations from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People in relation to the training of interpreters.
South Belfast MLA Alasdair McDonnell will ask the Minister to confirm the energy targets apportioned to Northern Ireland following the meeting of the 2007 Spring Energy Council, and to outline the implications of these targets for Northern Ireland.
The SDLP’s Alban Maginness will ask the Minister to outline his department's assessment of the economic and environmental potential from the development of anaerobic digestion as a means of producing heat and electricity from municipal, industrial and farm waste.
North Down MLA Alan McFarland will ask the Minister to provide an update on his arrangements for the forthcoming Economic Investment Conference. Additional questions on the Investment Conference will follow from the Alliance Party’s Anna Lo and Naomi Long and from the DUP’s William Irwin.
Jonathan Craig (DUP) will ask the Minister to detail the steps Invest Northern Ireland is taking to assist (i) social; and (ii) rural entrepreneurs.
Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton will ask the Minister to detail the steps he is taking to ensure the sustainability of the energy market.
Tommy Gallagher (SDLP) will ask the Minister to outline the steps he will take, along with his colleague in the Republic of Ireland, to set up a subvention programme which would allow for cross-border trade in renewable energy.
Final Stage- Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA 8/07)
[Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]
First Stage- Local Government (Boundaries) Bill (NIA 14/07)
[Minister of the Environment]
Motion - Accelerated Passage Local Government (Boundaries) Bill
The Minister of the Environment will propose a motion: “That the Local Government (Boundaries) Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure, in accordance with Standing Order 40(4).”
Post Office Closures
SDLP MLAs Carmel Hanna and John Dallat have proposed a joint motion:
“That this Assembly notes with concern the recent announcement that 96 local post offices are to close or be replaced by an ‘outreach’ service; believes that the six-week consultation period is too short; further believes such closures and service reductions will have an adverse impact on community and social infrastructure in rural and urban areas and will adversely affect older people, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups; acknowledges that provision of post office services is a reserved matter; and resolves to establish urgently an Ad Hoc Committee to think creatively about, and make proposals for partnerships that could enhance the economic case for viable local postal services based on engagement with commercial, voluntary and public sector partners and learning from the experience in the Republic of Ireland.”
Second Stage- Local Government (Boundaries) Bill (NIA 14/07)
[Minister of the Environment]
Consideration Stage- Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA 12/07)
[First Minister and Deputy First Minister]
Graduated Driving Licensing
DUP MLAs Alastair Ross and Peter Weir have proposed a joint motion: “That this Assembly recognises the positive impact that graduated driving licences have had on reducing road traffic accidents in other parts of the world; and believes that a similar scheme should be introduced in Northern Ireland to combat the unacceptably high number of deaths on our roads.”
Schengen Agreement
Alliance MLAs Stephen Farry, David Ford, Naomi Long and Sean Neeson have tabled a joint motion: “That this Assembly recognises that the Schengen Agreement contains advantages for all parts of the United Kingdom, and for the Republic of Ireland, particularly in relation to policing, security and opportunities for the free movement of people; calls upon the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to sign up to, and implement, the Agreement; and considers that this will be critical to maintaining a common travel area between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.”
Adjournment Debate
‘Interfaces in North Belfast’ (debate proposed by Caral Ní Chuilín)
Click here to see full Assembly Committee Business Diary with times and venues.
1.30pm - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
10.00am - Finance and Personnel Committee
10.30am - Regional Development Committee
10.30am - Employment and Learning Committee
2.00pm - Committee for the OFMDFM
10.30am - Environment Committee
10.30am - Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
10.30am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
2.30pm - Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee
Social Development Committee (Visit to Cork)
10.30am - Education Committee
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