Upcoming at the Assembly - 15 October

Monday 15 October2007

Questions to the Minister of Education

Danny Kennedy (UUP) will ask the Minister further to her stated intention to replace the existing transfer procedure, to detail what criteria she will be recommending to over-subscribed post-primary schools, in selecting pupils who are transferring from primary school at the end of year seven.

The Alliance Party’s Stephen Farry will later ask the Minister what guidance she is giving teachers of pupils currently in year five, regarding any transfer arrangements likely to apply when these pupils reach year seven.

Roy Beggs (UUP) will ask the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to increase parent-pupil interaction in areas of high social need.

South Down MLA John McCallister also of the UUP will ask the Minister what percentage of pupils in year 12 failed to achieve at least one GCSE at grade C or above (or equivalent); and to outline how these figures compare with other UK regions.

The DUP’s Mervyn Storey will ask the Minister to outline her current timetable for bringing forward proposals for a replacement schools transfer system for Northern Ireland.

Mr Storey’s party colleague, Michelle McIlveen, will then ask the Minister to confirm that all workers who enter the grounds or vicinity of a school, and who are employed as part of a Public Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative scheme, have been appropriately vetted.

Sinn Féin’s Francis Brolly will ask the Minister what discussions officials in her department have held with Irish language education groups, in relation to safeguarding the education of over 3,200 children, currently attending Irish-medium schools.

Gerry McHugh also of Sinn Féin will ask the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to develop teaching arrangements for children from the travelling community.

Tom Elliott of the UUP will then ask the Minister what action she is taking to identify and support pupils with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, considering its significant impact on educational attainment.

Leslie Cree (also UUP) will ask the Minister what action she is taking to identify pupils who are likely to engage, or who are currently engaged, in anti-social behaviour, and to support schools in challenging anti-social behaviour.

Mr Cree’s party colleague, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, will ask the Minister what plans she has to disseminate the academic best practice of the leading grammar schools in Northern Ireland to secondary schools, so that overall school performance can be enhanced.

Questions to the Minister for Employment and Learning

Anna Lo (Alliance) will ask the Minister what steps he is taking to encourage better relations between students and local residents in the Holyland area of Belfast.

The SDLP’s Alex Attwood will then ask the Minister to confirm the number and percentage of young people aged (i) under 25; (ii) under 21; and (iii) 16-18, who are not in education, employment or training.

The UUP’s Tom Elliott will ask the Minister what assessment he has made of the impact on other service providers, following the decision to deliver a higher proportion of community training through regional colleges.

Mervyn Storey of the DUP will ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the remaining issues which surround the completion of arrangements for the management of the new Job Ready Scheme.

The Alliance Party’s Stephen Farry will ask the Minister if he will give his assessment of the variation in levels of economic inactivity in different areas in Northern Ireland.

Gerry McHugh of Sinn Féin will then ask the Minister what steps he is taking to reduce the exploitation of migrant workers by employers.

The SDLP’s Pat Ramsey will ask the Minister what action he is taking to improve the success rate of New Deal in moving participants into sustained, unsubsidised employment.

Sinn Féin’s Micky Brady will ask the Minister what steps he has taken to encourage adult learners to return to courses.

Finally, Kieran McCarthy (Alliance) will ask the Minister if he will give his assessment of the success of the concessionary fees scheme in the further education sector.

Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

George Robinson (DUP) will ask the Minister to outline his plans to increase the overall percentage of the power requirements of Northern Ireland produced from renewable sources.

Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams will ask the Minister if he will report on progress towards implementing the recommendations of the West Belfast and Shankill Economic Task Force Report.

Motions for Debate

Bill of Rights Forum Membership
DUP MLA’s Michelle McIlveen and Gregory Campbell have proposed a motion that:

‘This Assembly acknowledges that the unionist community has been largely excluded from the human rights process in Northern Ireland, and under-represented within the human rights sector, resulting in the Bill of Rights Forum having a clear imbalance in the composition of its membership; believes that without the support of all sections of our community any Bill of Rights process is fundamentally flawed; and calls upon the Secretary of State to address these problems urgently, by ensuring processes that will facilitate better engagement with the unionist community, and ensuring that the membership of the Bill of Rights Forum is more reflective of all the people of Northern Ireland.’

Executive Legislative Programme
Danny Kennedy, Ken Robinson and Robert Coulter of the UUP have tabled a joint motion that

‘This Assembly calls on the Executive Committee to produce, before the Halloween recess, an Executive legislative programme detailing executive business for the current Assembly session.’

Tuesday 16 October2007

Motions for Debate

Training and Employment Places
Sinn Fein MLA’s Sue Ramsey, Claire McGill and Caral Ní Chuilín have tabled a motion that

‘This Assembly expresses its concern at the dearth of training and employment places for disabled children and young people; and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to undertake an immediate review and produce an action plan to address this issue as a matter of urgency.’

Fiscal Reform
The Alliance Party’s Sean Neeson has proposed a motion that

‘This Assembly recognises the complexity of the global economy and calls for fiscal reforms, and other measures, to ensure that Northern Ireland is competing on a level playing field.’

Committee Business

Tuesday 16 October 2007

10:30am - Assembly and Executive Review Committee
1.00pm - Agriculture & Rural Development Committee
2.00pm - Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee

Wednesday 17 October 2007

10.00am - Finance & Personnel Committee
10.30am - Employment and Learning Committee
1.00pm - Committee on Standards and Privileges
2.00pm - Committee on Procedures
2.00pm - Committee for the OFMDFM

Thursday 18 October 2007

10.30am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
10.30am - Environment Committee
11.00am - Social Development Committee
2.00pm - Public Accounts Committee
2.30pm - Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee

Friday 19 October 2007

10.30am - Education Committee