UUP Welcomes Partial Reinstatement Of Early Years Fund

Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, Sandra Overend MLA, has welcomed the decision by the Minister of Education to partially reinstate some of the funding that he had previously cut from the Early Years Fund.

Sandra Overend, who is also Vice Chairperson of the Stormont Education Committee, said: "Early years education and intervention has a major influence in the learning prospects of our young people. There are clear educational and economic benefits of programmes that target children and young people, as well as other benefits for their health and social care outcomes.

"The Early Years Fund has been key in providing early years services in many of the areas across Northern Ireland with greatest need. The decision to cut the proposed £2.9m Early Years Fund by £2m was indicative of a Minister unable or unwilling to look at his responsibilities with any strategic thought.

"The Education Minister's original proposals would have had a devastating effect on young people in many of the most disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland. These services ensure that early years provision in those areas is high quality, by providing direct support and infrastructural assistance to service providers, playing a crucial role in the delivery of pre-school education."

Call For Irish Authorities To Co-Operate With The NCA

Tom Elliott MP has said that the development that the National Crime Agency (NCA) will lead the investigation into allegations made around the sale of NAMA properties in Northern Ireland demonstrates the importance of the Agency being allowed full operational powers in all regions of the UK.

The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MP said: "This development demonstrates why it was so important that the National Crime Agency be granted full operational powers in Northern Ireland. It is clear that the NCA has a level of expertise and resource that simply cannot be matched by regional police forces when it comes to major, international investigations such as this.

"I have also tabled questions to the Home Office asking what conversations the department has had with the relevant Irish authorities on how they will co-operate with the National Crime Agency investigation."

Consultation On New Further Education Strategy For NI Launches

Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry has launched a consultation on a new Further Education Strategy for Northern Ireland.

The Minister said: "The new strategy will set out the future direction of further education in Northern Ireland, providing a huge opportunity to drive positive economic change, promote individual opportunity and achieve greater social cohesion.

"The strategy aims to deliver an ambitious and prestigious further education system that will be recognised locally, nationally and internationally for high quality and economically relevant education and training."

The consultation document seeks views on a series of policy commitments that will establish a world class system of further education in Northern Ireland.

These recommendations are set out under a number of themes including economic development, social inclusion, curriculum delivery, international dimension, college partnerships and promoting the further education sector.

(CD/LM)