Monday 10 March 2008

Questions to the Minister for Education

The DUP’s Gregory Campbell will ask the Minister to detail the progress made to ensure that primary and post-primary schools in the East Derry/Londonderry constituency have modern and appropriately designed educational accommodation.

Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey will ask the Minister to outline any policy proposals she has received from the Committee for Education since May 2007. Later a similar question will be asked by party colleague Michelle O’Neill in relation to the proposals the Minister has received from the Committee for Education, in relation to post-primary transfer.

Stephen Moutray (DUP) will ask the Minister to outline the legal status of academic selection in existing legislation.

The Alliance party’s Trevor Lunn will ask the Minister to outline the consultation she will undertake with parents in relation to the new area-based planning process.

The UUP’s David McNarry will ask the Minister to detail the lists used by her department to identify Education Board employees, including teachers, who are under restriction in relation to their contact with school pupils, and to confirm whether any current employees have convictions for sexual offences.

Dominic Bradley (SDLP) will ask the Minister to detail the basis on which pupils transferring at age 14 under her proposals can be refused by the receiving school.

Mickey Brady (Sinn Féin) will ask the Minister to detail (i) the number; and (ii) the percentage, of school children in each Education and Library Board area who are not accessing their entitlement to free school meals; and to outline the action her department is taking to ensure that all children entitled to free school meals receive them.

David Ford (Alliance) will ask the Minister to outline her plans for post-primary education.

The SDLP’s Patsy McGlone will ask the Minister to detail the reasons why her proposals for transfer are neither addressed nor provided for in the Programme for Government or the Budget; and what action she is taking to remedy this situation.

Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea will ask the Minister to detail the organisations consulted by her department during the preliminary screening of the policy, 'Composition of School Boards of Governors'.

Fred Cobain (UUP) will ask the Minister to detail the plans she has in place to ensure that equality is achieved on school Governing Boards, in light of the Review of Public Administration process. Later party colleague John McCallister will ask the Minister to detail the reasons why the policy on 'Composition of School Boards of Governors' need not be subject to an Equality Impact Assessment, in light of the preliminary screening process.

West Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann will ask the Minister to detail the plans her department has to fund alternative education projects in West Belfast that are currently funded by Peace II.

The DUP’s David Simpson will ask the Minister to outline the steps she is taking to ensure that her proposals in relation to post-primary transfer are in line with legislation that safeguards academic selection.

Questions to the Minister for Employment and Learning

Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton will ask the Minister to detail the steps that he is taking to ensure ease of access to a university education for people from deprived backgrounds.

The SDLP’s John Dallat will ask the Minister to outline the terms of reference of the review of Training for Success, including its time frame; and whether or not it will consider (i) training opportunities for part-time workers; (ii) the capacity to award contracts to specialist training organisations addressing the needs of hard to reach groups; and (iii) the amount paid to apprentices in the construction industry.

Jennifer McCann (Sinn Féin) will ask the Minister to detail the steps that he is taking to ensure that education and training services that are delivered by the voluntary and community sector will continue to receive funding.

Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan will ask the Minister to outline his plans to support funding for programmes for people with learning disabilities, in particular the Appleby Trust in Armagh city.

Dolores Kelly (SDLP) will ask the Minister what special measures have been introduced to help with the specific training and employment needs of the growing Polish, Portuguese, Latvian, Lithuanian and Chinese communities.

Questions to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Jonathan Craig (DUP) will ask the Minister to detail the discussions he has had with local councils in relation to the Review of Public Administration.

Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen will ask the Minister to give his assessment of the enforcement role of trading standards, particularly in respect of false and misleading advertising aimed at young people.

Sammy Wilson (DUP) will ask the Minister to give his assessment of proposals and measures to increase the generation of energy from waste.

The UUP’s Leslie Cree will ask the Minister to detail why the draft Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Corporate Plan 2008-2011 has moved away from encouraging inward investment into areas of social need, towards a strategy that focuses more on job creation and higher wages.

Committee Business

Statutory Committee Membership

Sinn Féin MLA Caral Ní Chuilín has proposed a motion: “That Mr Raymond McCartney replace Mr Paul Maskey as a member of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.”

The Executive will discuss a motion proposed by the Minister for Finance and Personnel “That this Assembly approves the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.”

Motion for Debate

Eames/Bradley Consultative Group on the Past

The UUP’s David Burnside has proposed a motion: “That this Assembly calls on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to give their full support and co-operation to the operations of the Eames/Bradley Consultative Group on the Past.”

Adjournment

‘Housing in the Village area of South Belfast’ proposed by Jimmy Spratt MLA.

Tuesday 11 March 2008

Committee Business

Report on the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters

The Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee has proposed a motion: “That this Assembly approves the report of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee relating to the devolution of policing and justice matters, and agrees that, as required by section 18 of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, it should be submitted to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, before 27 March 2008, as a report of the Northern Ireland Assembly.”

Committee Meetings

Click here to see in full the Assembly Committee Business Diary including times and venues.

Tuesday 11 March 2008

1.30pm - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

Wednesday 12 March 2008
10.00am - Finance and Personnel Committee
10.30am - Regional Development Committee
10.30am - Employment and Learning Committee
2.00pm - Committee for the OFMDFM

Thursday 13 March 2008
10.30am - Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
10.30am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee (Armagh)
11.00am - Social Development Committee
2.30pm - Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee
Environment Committee (Giants Causeway)

Friday 14 March 2008
10.30am Education Committee