By Sean Kelly from NICVA
Published on 11 Feb 2008
An overview of upcoming business at the Assembly from 11 February 2008 to 15 February 2008.
Monday 11 February 2008
Questions to the Minister for Education
Robin Newton (DUP) will ask the Minister to detail the progress she has made in resolving the classroom assistants' dispute.
Sinn Féin’s John O'Dowd will ask the Minister to confirm whether or not she has sought the views of the Assembly Committee for Education in relation to the future arrangements for transfer to post-primary education.
North Down MLA Stephen Farry will ask the Minister for Education to provide an update on her proposals for post-primary transfer.
The Alliance Party’s Anna Lo will ask the Minister what plans she has to fund the Council for Education in World Citizenship.
Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton will ask the Minister to identify her department's allocation in the Budget in relation to the costs of implementing her 'vision' for education.
Kieran McCarthy (Alliance) will ask the Minister what consideration she has given to providing free public transport for special needs children and young adults.
Mid Ulster MLA Michelle O'Neill will ask the Minister for Education what action she is taking to ensure that disabled children in St Joseph's Secondary College, Coalisland, have suitable access to school facilities; and what plans she has to ensure that the rights of disabled children in mainstream schools will be protected.
Sinn Féin’s Paul Butler will ask the Minister to detail all existing cross-departmental funding for youth services in Belfast up to the end of this financial year.
Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin) will ask the Minister to outline the extent to which her department is funding youth provision in South Belfast; and to detail the portion of this funding that is targeted on drug and alcohol awareness.
Questions to the Minister for Employment and Learning
Three Sinn Féin MLAs will question the Minister in relation to the Springvale Project. Party Leader Gerry Adams will ask the Minister to outline the measures he intends to put in place to ensure that publicly funded projects, involving government partnerships with outside organisations, only take place with full, open and constructive co-operation between project partners, in order to reduce the risk of partners withdrawing, such as happened in the Springvale project. Further questions on the Springvale Project will follow from party colleagues Paul Maskey and Sue Ramsey.
Lagan Valley MLA Paul Butler will ask the Minister to detail the proposals for the future of further and higher education within the area defined by the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Force Report 2002.
The DUP’s Sammy Wilson will ask the Minister to outline the instructions given to colleges by his department in relation to concessionary fees for pensioners.
Thomas Burns (SDLP) will ask the Minister to identify the areas where final budget allocations have resulted in gaps in his department's ability to deliver the skills necessary to compete in the global market.
The UUP’s Leslie Cree will ask the Minister to outline how he proposes to support the economically inactive and disadvantaged.
Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn will ask the Minister to confirm whether or not the figure in the Budget for increasing the number of PhD places takes account of the 150 places that will be lost in March due to the withdrawal of European Union Social Funds.
Questions to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Thomas Burns (South Antrim) will ask the Minister for his assessment of the impact of the 14% tariff increase in Economy 7 on low income families.
Paul Butler (Sinn Féin) will ask the Minister to confirm that findings presented to his department, in relation to a previous audit of Targeting Social Need, indicate that job location is a factor in unemployment levels in areas of high deprivation, such as West Belfast.
The SDLP’s Pat Ramsey will ask the Minister to detail the steps he is taking to ensure the renewable energy target of 12% by 2012 is met.
West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff will ask the Minister to outline the role and contribution of local enterprise companies in (i) addressing the skills needs of employers; and (ii) helping to stimulate the local economy.
John McCallister (UUP) will ask the Minister to outline how he proposes to encourage growth in the social economy.
Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn will ask the Minister to outline the funding commitments he has made to Regional Tourism Partnerships; and to provide a timescale within which these commitments will end.
The UUP’s Tom Elliott will ask the Minister to outline his plans to create higher paid jobs, increase productivity, and close the income gap with the United Kingdom average.
Executive Committee Business
Budget
The Executive will discuss the First Stage of the Budget Bill
Review of draft PPS 14
The Minister for the Environment has proposed a motion: “That this Assembly notes the emerging findings of the review of draft Planning Policy Statement 14 ‘Sustainable Development in the Countryside’.”
Tuesday 12 February 2008
Executive Committee Business
Budget
The Executive will discuss the Second Stage of the Budget Bill
The Draft Disability Discrimination
The First Minister and Deputy First Minister will propose a motion: “That the draft Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs, etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.”
Committee Business
Extension of Committee Stage - Charities Bill
The Chairperson of the Committee for Social Development will propose a motion: “That, in accordance with Standing Order 31(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 31(2) be extended to 27 June 2008, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Charities Bill.”
Private Members’ Business
Bullying of Children and Young People with Disabilities
Sinn Féin MLAs, Caral Ní Chuilín, Michelle O’Neill and Sue Ramsey have tabled a joint motion: “That this Assembly calls on the Executive to carry out a thematic inspection across public bodies, to establish their response to bullying experienced by children and young people with disabilities.”
Adjournment
‘Broadband access in rural parts of West Tyrone’. (Mr B McElduff)
Committee Business
Click here to see full the Assembly Committee Business Diary including times and venues.
Tuesday 12 February 2008
1.30pm - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
Wednesday 13 February 2008
10.00am - Finance and Personnel Committee
10.30am - Employment and Learning Committee
10.30am - Regional Development Committee (Ballymena)
Committee for the OFMDFM (Dungannon)
Thursday 14 February 2008
10.30am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
10.30am - Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
11.00am - Social Development Committee
2.30pm - Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee
Environment Committee (Mid Ulster)
Friday 15 February 2008
10.30am - Education Committee
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