Stephen Farry
North Down · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Speaking for a party that has a longer pedigree in advocating a public inquiry than both the DUP and Sinn Féin, I nonetheless welcome this announcement, despite the torturous path that we have had and, indeed, the missed opportunities.”
“The first was a reform of the petition of concern to take it back to the original intent when it was designed in 1998. It was clear at that stage that Arlene Foster banged the table and said, "No, never. We are not doing that. That is a way whereby we are going to have to fold on equal marriage: it's not happening".”
“<BR /> <BR />The main points that I make concern the substance of the order. There are probably three aspects that the Minister needs to address properly before the Assembly, and they really relate to what other options he has.”
“That raises the question of why they want to go as far as 2022, especially when I am not sure — I would welcome any clarification to the contrary on it — that there has been formal Executive approval of this.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are three major substantive issues that I do not believe have been properly aired on this: VAT; European Commission infraction proceedings; and, most important, the opportunity foregone to revisit the classification of Northern Ireland Water and the ability, through a separate water charge, to allow it to borrow commerc…”
“While my party was supportive of the Good Friday Agreement back in 1998, at that time, we expressed some reservations around the very detailed nature of the proposals and how those could, in due course, destabilise Northern Ireland and prevent us from realising our full potential. We have been very much vindicated in that analysis.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,504 lines we hold for Stephen Farry, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 46 of 51.
“<BR /> <BR />For workplace mentors and tutors delivering the non-work-based elements of training, new requirements will be set for their industry experience and pedagogical skills. At a system level, a new quality model will ensure that only those providers who achieve prescribed quality standards will be funded to deliver youth training. The system will also be underpinned by robust data collection analysis and evaluation, and it will provide mechanisms for young people to provide qualitative feedback on their experience of training. The proposals will help to ensure that the system can be monitored and improved over time to serve the needs of young people, employers and our economy. From today, the proposals will be the subject of public consultation over the next 12 weeks.”
“<BR /> <BR />A final key aspect of engagement is to support the youth training system through clear branding and marketing for employers, young people, parents and guardians. Effective branding will promote engagement and improve the image of professional and technical training overall. <BR /> <BR />The final theme of the report sets out a range of measures to ensure that the highest standards of quality for training are maintained. To ensure a quality work-based learning experience for young people, a registration and approval system is proposed for participating employers. Work-based learning will also be underpinned by a clear contractual agreement between the young person, the host employer and the training provider.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am also proposing the creation of dedicated industry consultants to work directly with sectors and employers, and I will consider incentives that are targeted at small businesses and at microbusinesses and that are aligned to the priorities of the Northern Ireland economy. By having mechanisms in place that can take the pulse of the local job market, we will be able to assess the extent to which the system is providing young people with the skills to allow them to be absorbed directly into the workplace, and, where necessary, to take timely corrective action. My Department will also actively target and work with local councils and the wider public sector to provide work experience opportunities and promote the system at a local level.”
“<BR /> <BR />Sectoral partnerships will define the qualifications to be delivered, alongside the duration, structure and timing of work placements. Depending on the sector's skills needs, sectoral partnerships may be shared between apprenticeship or youth training provision, or they could be established to carry out this specific function for youth training. Along with those strategic and sector-led proposals, there will be a more targeted approach towards employer engagement to encourage work-based learning opportunities and to recruit young people for the youth training system. A central service will be created to facilitate the sourcing and advertising of work-based learning opportunities for the youth training system.”
“Through those support measures, we will hope to ensure that young people engage in training that is relevant to their interests and that they are supported to achieve and make a successful start to their careers. <BR /> <BR />While we can set standards for the curriculum and design support measures for young people, the youth training system will be effective only if employers are engaged in its design and delivery. Following the approach being implemented through the apprenticeships strategy, a strategic advisory forum will advise government on the youth training system. A common forum for apprenticeships and youth training can also help to ensure that the two systems are aligned. However, the forum’s roles and responsibilities in youth training will be shaped around the particular needs of this system.”
“To support young people in the workplace, participating employers will provide workplace mentors to develop their employability skills and achieve their learning outcomes. Financial support will also be provided to young people, whether through a training wage or allowance. <BR /> <BR />Support will be targeted towards those with additional requirements, such as young people with a disability or caring commitments, or those leaving care. My Department’s forthcoming disability employment and skills strategy will have a key focus on young people, including those in training. Youth training will make use of innovative online technologies to engage young people, prepare them for the workplace and facilitate opportunities for international exchange.”
“The report's second theme focuses on support measures to help young people to successfully complete their training. To inform young people’s choices and promote progression, independent careers advice and guidance that is informed by the skills barometer will be provided to young people before starting training and upon completion. <BR /> <BR />Pastoral support will also be provided to address the range of complex issues that young people face and will help them to succeed in their chosen occupational area. Indeed, flexibility and support will be the cornerstone of provision, ensuring that the new system reflects the needs of young people and the barriers that they face as they transition from school to the world of work.”
“<BR /> <BR />Collectively, the proposals constitute the core components of the youth training system in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Young people not yet ready to start youth training will be supported to attain a minimum of a full level 1, which is defined as being equivalent to four GCSEs at grades D to G, including English and mathematics at grades D to F. That support should be delivered through a range of targeted interventions, including further education courses at level 1 and specialised projects funded through the European social fund. The new baccalaureate-style award for youth training will be designed to take a maximum of two years to complete. However, the system will be flexible to allow those who can complete sooner to achieve and progress into employment or further training, and to allow those with additional needs to receive more time.”
“The employed route will be similar to the current apprenticeship pathway, with a young person employed by a business or organisation and benefiting from a mix of on- and off-the-job training. Under the non-employed route, a young person will benefit from an extended work placement. Work-based learning will be the primary method for developing skills, including employability. For those not yet in employment, the system will facilitate short project-based work tasters to help to inform their choice of occupational area. Beyond the core curriculum, youth training will also provide opportunities to study additional qualifications relevant to the interests of the individual young person and the requirements of employers.”
“<BR /> <BR />Secondly, the youth training system will provide a new baccalaureate-style professional and technical award at level 2, equating to a minimum of five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics. By setting that standard for the curriculum at level 2, youth training will ensure that all those who achieve at that level can progress into higher level options and that the achievements of those progressing from training are recognised and valued by employers. Research has shown that this is the foundation level for progressing in the workplace and facilitating a platform for lifelong learning. <BR /> <BR />In addition to that breadth of learning, structured work-based learning, whether through employment or a work placement, will be a mandatory element of youth training.”
“Importantly, that will include young people who have already entered the job market but do not have the comparable skills and training proposed under the new system. Therefore, youth training will be accessible to those starting a new job, those in existing roles and those not yet in employment. Through that approach, we will seek to ensure that the system is flexible enough for all young people to access training at level 2, regardless of their employment status. It will support young people regardless of where they reside in their training and employment journey. I want to ensure that all our young people are provided with the opportunity to compete in the workplace. No one should be left behind.”
“It will provide a new professional and technical award at level 2, the curriculum content of which will be informed by employers in order better to match demand and supply. The system will provide flexible routes and support mechanisms to make training accessible to all young people, and it will facilitate progression into apprenticeships, further or higher education and directly or indirectly into sustained employment. <BR /> <BR />First, in a major departure from current provision, and for the first time in Northern Ireland, youth training will be available to all young people aged between 16 and 24 who require training at level 2, regardless of where they reside on their employment and learning journey.”
“By linking a new baccalaureate-style professional and technical award to the needs of employers and the wider economy, the youth training system will better match supply to demand and provide a seamless progression route for young people to a breadth of professional and technical occupations. <BR /> <BR />To achieve our vision, the report makes 26 proposals for the future of youth training in Northern Ireland. They can be grouped under four themes: the core components of the youth training system; supporting young people; delivery and employer engagement structures; and ensuring quality. The implementation of the proposals will provide a youth training system that incorporates structured work-based learning for all participants, including an employment-based pathway.”
“My aspiration is that our new system will be recognised locally and internationally by employers, further and higher education providers, young people, parents and guardians for its quality, flexibility and transferability. The system will be centred on the career aspirations and needs of young people, and it will be a conduit to support their ongoing career development. Young people in training will be sought after by prospective employers, and the system will be respected by young people, parents and guardians as an alternative progression route to the traditional academic pathway.”
“<BR /> <BR />The provision of work-based learning was also pinpointed as a current weakness, with local stakeholders highlighting that work-based learning needed to be integrated into the curriculum to better prepare young people for the world of work. <BR /> <BR />Finally, at an individual and system level, research indicated that young people required greater support to guide their choices through independent careers advice and guidance, supported by up-to-date labour market information. The greater monitoring of outcomes and destinations of participants could also help to improve the system. <BR /> <BR />The interim report draws on that rigorous analysis and articulates a vision for a new youth training system.”
“Greater clarity and indeed greater opportunities from progression routes was also a key concern that was highlighted by stakeholders. <BR /> <BR />A connected issue to progression was the curriculum offer at level 2. Employers expressed concerns about the rigour and relevancy of the professional and technical qualifications that are available at level 2 as well as the considerable number that are currently available. Some options at level 2 also require that literacy and numeracy skills be developed at level 1 only, which may inhibit a young person's access to higher-level training courses, lifelong learning and progression in the workplace.”
“A call for submissions and an employer survey were also conducted and the review has been aided greatly by the Committee for Employment and Learning and an expert panel. <BR /> <BR />Therefore, the development of the new system is based firmly on evidence of international best practice and the application and fit of this in the local context. It is a made-in-Northern Ireland solution that combines local innovation with world-class standards. <BR /> <BR />My team used the evidence that was gathered to critique and examine current youth training provision. One of the key challenges was the complexity of the current system, with a variety of different options available to young people seeking training at level 2.”
“This measure of achievement at level 2 is, in many cases, the minimum requirement for prospective employers and is a common entry requirement for the progression routes that are available at level 3 through both apprenticeships and further education. <BR /> <BR />Over the past year, the youth training review team carried out extensive work which led to the findings that are presented in the interim report. We engaged with experts in the OECD to identify examples of best practice and completed study visits to the Netherlands, Denmark and Scotland, the findings of which have been incorporated in case studies throughout the report. My team also carried out an extensive literature review and tested each proposal through engagement events and meetings with employers, young people and other key stakeholders.”
“My Department's skills strategy 'Success through Skills — Transforming Futures', demonstrates clearly that our economy will rely increasingly on higher-level skills, with a decreasing demand for low-level skills at entry level and level 1. For example, by 2020, the proportion of our workforce with lower-level skills is set to halve from the level that was recorded in 2005. <BR /> <BR />In order to prepare young people for the demands of the labour market, achievement at level 2 is critical, but there are challenges on the supply side in ensuring that young people reach this level. Last year, approximately two out of five young people left school without five GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and mathematics.”
“<BR /> <BR />The new system will ensure that young people can progress to the apprenticeships of the future, provide a progression route into higher-level professional and technical training that is available through further education and facilitate transition for young people into sustained employment. However, immediate progression is not the only aspiration that I have for the new system. I believe that the changes that I am proposing will provide young people with a foundation to support their lifelong learning and provide the stepping stone that is needed to allow them to adapt and progress in the modern workplace. <BR /> <BR />The focus at level 2 was also informed by supply and demand for skills in our economy.”
“<BR /> <BR />The proposed new system of youth training will primarily serve those young people who are leaving school at age 16 and will focus on professional and technical training at level 2. <BR /> <BR />In essence, this new system will fill the space that is currently occupied by a wide range of interventions and time-bound initiatives, providing consistency and certainty for young people, employers and providers. They include Skills for Work level 2 under Training for Success, the current legacy programme-led apprenticeships, current level 2 ApprenticeshipsNI opportunities and some mainstream level 2 further education provision.”
“Last year, I launched major reviews of youth training and apprenticeships. I indicated then that I was committed to making these areas major priorities. The aim of the reviews was to ensure that both youth training and apprenticeships matched the needs of young people, employers and the wider economy. <BR /> <BR />In June, I published 'Securing our Success: the Northern Ireland Strategy on Apprenticeships'. The implementation of this strategy will establish apprenticeships as the key mechanism through which individuals can gain knowledge and skills while in work. Apprenticeships will commence at level 3, which is equivalent to A level, and will be available at all levels up to level 8, which is equivalent to a doctorate.”
“We have an important role in preparing our young people for the world of work and sustained employment through improving levels of skills. Complementary to that is the need to provide opportunities for education and training at all levels, and to ensure that both current and potential future employers have access to the skilled employees, particularly young people, that they require.”
“Today, I am announcing my proposals for the future of youth training in Northern Ireland. I believe that these proposals have the potential to establish a new youth training system that will form a key part of our wider education and skills landscape. This marks the launch of the publication of the interim report on the review of youth training and the launch of a public consultation on its proposals. <BR /> <BR />Building and rebalancing our economy are key strategic priorities for the Executive. Investing directly in people and providing opportunities for personal development and fulfilment, and, consequently, delivering the skills required for the economy, are key overriding responsibilities for my Department and me.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment Nos 5 and 6 are purely technical amendments, which adjust and improve drafting. Nonetheless, it is important that we make those changes. So, I leave those amendments before the House.”
“I have made the point already that we will look to make that as user-friendly as we can and to make full use of the different media available. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I will reiterate that the concept of entitlement to be in the relevant employment in this particular context is associated with a package of welfare reform proposals, which has not been agreed by the Assembly. Therefore, there is no rationale for including those paragraphs in the Bill, which is the rationale for amendment Nos 1 to 4. We are, therefore, removing references in the text of the Bill. So, for anyone with any lingering concerns, we are removing references to welfare reform from the Bill, even though I have explained it, there is no entrenchment even with the language in the Bill; it is the opposite.”
“I have pointed out the wider business and economic rationale for doing this, but let me focus on the flip side of the coin for a moment: how we will deal with the situation by way of regulation and guidance. <BR /> <BR />I am keen that the legislation will be in place by 1 April 2015 and that we will have a common approach to shared parental leave across the UK. There is a very strong rationale for meeting that target, particularly given the changes that HMRC will conduct in relation to the changes happening in Great Britain. If we are able to buy into that at the same time, it will make life a lot easier for all of us, including businesses. A large piece of work will be accelerated on how we work through the regulations and the development of the guidance.”
“However, I echo the comments that Mr McCann made about the importance of proper maternal rights, and I stress that there is a very strong rationale for individual choice and respecting family life. There is also a very strong business rationale for why it is important that we invest in that. He referred to what is happening, sometimes negatively, elsewhere in the European Union. However, there is also a lot of good practice elsewhere in the European Union that we should seek to draw on. <BR /> <BR />Pat Ramsey referred to the wider benefits of and rationale for the Bill. I welcome his strong endorsement of the legislation. Like others, he stressed the potential additional administrative costs and difficulties that businesses may experience.”
“We are talking about the same level of access to maternity leave as pertains at present. The Bill creates options for that leave to be shared between partners to a greater extent than is the case at present. So, companies should not expect any greater absence in relation to the birth of a child. <BR /> <BR />Fra McCann made points about welfare reform. The position of his party has been clearly articulated. Again, I stress that this legislation has nothing to do with welfare reform; it is simply the case that it is sometimes cross-referenced in the wider context of other policy developments. This is free-standing legislation that stands entirely on its own merits. I am more than happy to return to welfare reform on another occasion, but I will not get into that debate today because it is not pertinent to our discussion.”
“A business could see a situation in which an important employee could, if her partner took advantage of their shared parental leave entitlement, return sooner. So, rather than companies having employees away for a longer period, this may facilitate key personnel returning to work earlier. That situation may become more apparent at higher skill levels, so this legislation may, in its own way, add to the productivity gain occurring in our economy. <BR /> <BR />Tom Buchanan raised the issue of what would happen if a husband and wife, or two partners, worked in the same business. The same point applies. At present, parental leave entitlement lies with the mother. If the couple takes a decision to share that entitlement, the company will not see any greater level of absence.”
“We know that talent is spread across genders. At times, very strong segmentation in certain businesses or sectors of the economy means that we do not fully draw on the talent that is there and do not operate purely on the basis of merit, but that is what we should be aspiring and trying to do. So, if, subject to choice and decisions being made, we see greater potential for women to return to the workplace more quickly and can create another leg that allows us better to retain women in the workplace, we will move towards a greater maximisation of the existing talent pool. <BR /> <BR />I move now to the situation that may pertain in individual businesses. Businesses are aware of the clearly defined right to a paternity break. A female employee may be off work for a number of months or, on some occasions, for a period approaching a year.”
“In so far as the Assembly can give flexibility in that area, we should seize that opportunity and enshrine it in the policies that pertain in Northern Ireland. <BR />There is also a very strong business rationale for the reform. I appreciate that we often get trapped by looking at the technicalities and the administrative burdens that it is perceived will be imposed, without having a full recognition of the opportunities for business and the wider economy. The Bill will make changes, albeit on the margins, and will have the effect of creating a more inclusive workforce. We want to aspire to that for a whole host of reasons. At its heart, we will be moving towards a greater maximisation of the talent pool out there.”
“I imagine that we will be able to provide the technical amendments at that stage and that it will be taken forward in that format if we come to that situation. <BR /> <BR />Tom Buchanan and Pat Ramsey touched on the wider rationale of why we are providing shared parental leave. At times, there was maybe a slight degree of reservation from some quarters, but, equally, there was very strong endorsement from others. Let me reiterate the rationale of why we want to do this. Shared parental leave is important for individuals and families. It is about facilitating choice and recognising that households today come in all shapes and sizes and that there are different pressures on work and the need to bring in income.”
“All sorts of cross-references have to be made to other pieces of legislation and anticipation made of other legislative changes that are being made elsewhere. <BR /> <BR />An assumption was made that welfare reform would progress through the Chamber, but, to date, that has not transpired. I wish that it was otherwise, although I appreciate that other Members do not share that point of view. All we are doing is taking out technical references to welfare reform or its implications in the surrounding knock-on effects of the Bill, and the issue will be left to the welfare reform legislation that will be going through the Assembly. If we get to that stage, I imagine that amendments will be tabled to the Welfare Reform Bill, the current draft of which is about 18 months old and which will need to be updated in a whole host of areas.”
“We also recognise the importance of making sure that the administrative burden is as simple as possible, and we will give full guidance on the implementation of the measures. <BR /> <BR />Speaking in his party-political capacity, the Chair asked for an assurance that the Bill is not related to welfare reform. Let me be very clear: the Bill is a free-standing piece of legislation that is not inspired by welfare reform nor dependent on it taking place in the rest of the UK or, indeed, in Northern Ireland. This is something that we should be doing on a free-standing basis, because it is the progressive thing to do. Also, as I will come to in a moment, it is the right thing for businesses and the wider economy. But, quite simply, no piece of legislation exists in a vacuum.”
“Concerns have been raised by different stakeholders about the approach that will be taken to leave through consultation periods and how the leave will be allocated. On the periods in which decisions have to be made, a threshold has to be drawn that balances the needs of employers and employees. I think that the thresholds that we have set in the Bill are a fair balance in that regard. There will always be particular difficulties with any type of scheme that is put in place, but there is enough space to accommodate very particular situations that may arise and create difficulties in businesses. <BR /> <BR />It is worth emphasising that, if an agreed pattern of access to shared parental leave cannot be agreed, there will a default to the leave being taken in a single block. Ultimately, there is that protection for businesses.”
“It is about providing them with options on that. It is our expectation that the current situation where the mother takes the balance of the leave entitlement will probably remain the case, but, on the margins, if we can facilitate a change in patterns of behaviour, that is all to the good. While the Bill removes the current entitlement for additional paternal leave, the basic paternal leave is still there and the expectation is that it will be taken.”
“There are a number of aspects to that, including areas where the Committee raised concerns or caution about the delivery of certain aspects of the Bill while supporting them going into legislation. We will certainly take note of that, and the Committee will signpost us towards areas where particular work needs to be done on delivery and implementation. <BR /> <BR />The Chair also made the point, quite rightly, about the situation where fathers will perhaps be less likely to take advantage of what are shared provisions as opposed to dedicated rights that are available to them. It is worth making the point that this is an enabling Bill and is not about enforcing any particular type of situation on the parents or those who are in any relationship with the child or newborn child for how they must take forward their leave.”
“I thank all the Members who spoke for their comments. It is probably fair to say that most of the comments were of a general nature on the Bill as a whole rather than on the specific amendments. They were also about the important points on delivery and implementation and ensuring that we provide regulations that are balanced and appropriate for the situation and that proper guidance is provided through all the different media that are available to us. <BR /> <BR />I will start with the Chair's comments. I reiterate our appreciation to the Committee for its deliberations on the Bill and for the prompt delivery of the Committee report, which I and my officials have read.”
“in subsection (5) of clause 21 of the Bill. It reflects a change to drafting practice that legislative counsel has advised will be adopted in other Bills. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 6 makes an adjustment to the Assembly procedure applicable to an order made under newly inserted article 85ZS(6) or article 107AB(4) of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. The amendment to paragraph 4(19) of schedule 1 to the Bill ensures that any such order amending the definition of "approved foster parent" or "approved prospective adopter" as a consequence of changes to relevant DHSSPS legislation will be subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure. As a result, no order of that kind can be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment No 5 is a technical amendment. It modifies the draft to make clear that the draft affirmative procedure should be followed for subordinate legislation provided for under the Bill that amends Northern Ireland legislation or any Act of Parliament. The amendment replaces the term, "a statutory provision", with:”
“That paragraph makes reference to the requirement of a primary adopter to have met prescribed conditions regarding his or her entitlement to be in the relevant employment. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No. 4 will remove paragraph (e) from section 167ZW(4). That is part of the same insertion into the 1992 Act under subsection (2) of clause 5. The text that the amendment seeks to omit makes reference to the requirement of an adopter who is not the primary adopter to have met prescribed conditions regarding his or her entitlement to be in the relevant employment. <BR /> <BR />As with amendment Nos 1 and 2, the text to be omitted by amendment Nos 3 and 4 relates to welfare reform proposals and, once again, may need to be considered as part of any welfare reform package that is agreed by the Assembly.”
“Paragraph (e) makes reference to the requirement of the other claimant — that is, the person who is not the claimant mother — to have met prescribed conditions regarding his or her entitlement to be in the relevant employment. As with amendment No 1, the paragraph being removed relates to welfare reform proposals, and it is, therefore, appropriate that that is considered as part of any welfare reform legislation and not as part of this Bill. <BR /> <BR />Amendment Nos 3 and 4 address similar issues to amendments Nos 1 and 2 but in relation to adopters. Amendment No 3 will remove paragraph (d) of section 167ZW(2) from the proposed insertion into the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 under subsection (2) of clause 5.”
“That paragraph makes reference to the requirement of a claimant mother to have met prescribed conditions regarding her entitlement to be in the relevant employment. However, as that relates to welfare reform proposals, it is appropriate, given the present circumstances, for that paragraph to not be inserted by the Bill. It will only become relevant if welfare reform is taken forward, and, in that event, it would need to be considered as part of that package. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 2 will remove paragraph (e) of section 167ZU(4) from the provisions to be inserted into the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 under subsection 2 of clause 5.”
“I thank the members of the Employment and Learning Committee for their detailed consideration of the Bill. As always, the Bill has got to this stage due to partnership between the Department and the Committee. <BR /> <BR />While the amendments are relatively minor and somewhat technical in nature, they are, nonetheless, necessary and reflect the detailed work carried out by the Committee, the Office of the Legislative Counsel and officials in my Department. I thank everyone involved for their efforts. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 1 will remove paragraph (d) of section 167ZU(2), which is part of an insertion into the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 under subsection (2) of clause 5.”
“Hopefully, we can return to Priory in the very near future. There is no doubt that Gordon Dunne, in particular, as a Holywood-based MLA, will be keen to see that happen. <BR /> <BR />The same goes for St Columbanus' College. It has proven that it meets every single objective of the Department, including being a key partner in shared education. It meets all the tests of sustainability. There is ample space for a rebuild. It will be easy to do and for that to be accommodated. It passes all the tests. All that we need is the formal go-ahead and money for redevelopment.”
“It also had artificial restrictions placed on it that caused difficulties in its ticking boxes when we all know that it was sustainable. I note that the Minister said earlier that he believed that Priory was now fully sustainable, but that there was now no money in the kitty for its capital build. It is a pity that we missed that opportunity several years ago.”
“There has also been £1 million spent on planning, which will be dead money if it is not fully utilised. The numbers in the school are more than sustainable. The sad fact is that we are talking about figures of around 450 in years 8 to 12, but that is artificially capped. The fact that the school can support over 600 students quite comfortably indicates that meeting the 500 threshold for years 8 to 12 would not cause any difficulty whatsoever. There is no prospect of a new build at St Columbanus' undermining any other post-primary school within quite a large catchment area. <BR /> <BR />In some respects, the history of St Columbanus' mirrors the situation at Priory Integrated College, about which an announcement was made and subsequently withdrawn a number of years ago.”
“<BR /> <BR />The college is also worth referencing in the wider context of schools in north Down. The Minister will be well aware that virtually all of the primary schools and, I think, every single post-primary school is either oversubscribed or full. We also have one of the strongest area-learning communities locally, so there can be strong confidence in the sustainability of each of the schools, including St Columbanus', as well as in the north Down school system as a whole. <BR /> <BR />Other Members have discussed the history of the potential redevelopment of St Columbanus' and the history of announcements, approvals and disappointments. The school was, at one stage, very close to proceeding with a new build — it was only a matter of weeks away — only to have those hopes dashed.”