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Dr Caoimhe Archibald: Assembly records
All of Dr Caoimhe Archibald’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I thank the Member for her question. Part of it potentially relates to our previous conversation about the contingency allocations that our further education colleges are working to this year in the absence of a Budget. Certainly, my hope is that we will have a better Budget settlement than that which was on the table…
I recognise the important contribution that the arts and creative sectors make to our society, culture and economy and the significant role that is played by further education colleges in arts and creative education. Learners who attend our further education colleges can study traditional disciplines, such as fine…
I thank the Member for her question. I reflect, as would, I am sure, our universities, that it is not a problem of just this year but one that has grown over a number of years, because we have not seen the type of investment that we need in our public services in general. Particularly in our further and higher…
I do not have the specific figures in front of me to which the Member refers — I think that they come from a response to a question for written answer — but I am happy to correspond with him further. It goes back to my point about how we need to see investment in our further and higher education institutions in…
I thank the Member for her question. I agree with her. I have had significant engagement with representatives from our universities and our further education colleges, at both principal and board level, and with the trade unions that represent further and higher education staff. In some respects, we have the shared…
I thank the Member for his question. The Brain Gain research has provided us with an important evidence base for how we can sustain our universities into the future. It challenges what has been the mainstream narrative for quite some time, which is that there has been a brain drain, by showing that the number of…
I thank the Member for her question. I am on record as saying that I could not sign up to the Executive Budget that was on the table because it would have put our further and higher education institutions, in particular, in significant difficulty and limit the opportunity for wider economic development. I, along with…
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will answer questions 1 and 13 together. I recognise the vital role that further education colleges and higher education institutions play in supporting our economy, developing skills and promoting regional balance. Ulster University has commenced a process inviting applications…
First, let me say that I am really proud to support the determined and resilient people of the Garvaghy Road, who have conducted themselves with absolute dignity over recent days and weeks. Over the past couple of days, I talked to many people in that community who are utterly dismayed by what has happened and by how…
Let me see if I have that information in front of me. I am not sure that I have the figures, but I am happy to write to the Member about the specifics. The capital funding that was available through the local growth fund in the last financial year was quite small. For this financial year, my Department has received…
I thank the Member for her question. As she indicated, she has written to the Department about that business. I always encourage businesses to engage with either Invest NI or their local council on what support might be available and what might be most appropriate. I am always happy to engage and to facilitate any…
I thank the Member for that question. She will be aware — as, I know, all Members will be — of some of the particular challenges that face our hospitality and tourism sectors, not least of which is, of course, the VAT differentials that are now in place across the island and have widened over the course of recent…
I thank the Member for his question. We have been developing a policy on clustering with Invest NI. There has been a significant focus on certain clusters in particular. The Minister — the Member will be aware from his time as Health Minister of the health and life sciences cluster the Health Innovation Research…
I thank the Member for his question. Regional balance is one of my Department's four priorities. We have done considerable work to advance regional balance within the mandate. The key plank of that has been the subregional economic plan, which saw the formation of local economic partnerships (LEPs) across all 11…
I reject the characterisation that there has been a spat between me and the business community. That is not true. We have a difference of opinion on particular elements of the Bill. I work really closely with the business community on many issues. I work constructively and positively with it on many things and have…
I thank the Member for her question. It is unfortunate that we are in the position that we are in with the Bill and that it continues to be stuck in the Executive. That achieves nothing other than to obstruct the open, transparent consideration of important legislation. I reject the Member's characterisation of the…
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 was a landmark event, bringing together communities to celebrate Irish music, language and culture. I was pleased to be able to support it with an additional £1 million this year. It strengthened our international profile, supported local businesses, encouraged future tourism and created…
I thank the Member. As I have mentioned in previous answers to Members, we do not yet have the full details of the impact of the redundancies and where exactly they might have an impact specifically. Therefore, it has not been possible thus far to determine any potential impacts on courses or qualifications.…
I thank the Member for his question. Yes, I certainly agree that it is clear that more funding is required. The proposed redundancies very much highlight the financial pressures that face our universities. It creates challenges for the institutions and for the staff and students. As I said to other Members, it…
I thank the Member for his question. Likewise, I have met the unions that represent workers at Ulster University, and I have continued to engage with the trade unions and the university. There are particular financial challenges that face our universities, and that is why we continue to engage to try to get a better…
I thank the Member for her question. As I said to Miss McAllister, my top priority in the ongoing Budget negotiations is to achieve additional funding so that we can invest in our further and higher education institutions. As skills, which include further and higher education, make up 75% of my budget, we invest…
I thank the Member for her question. The first stage of the higher education funding review was an independent financial needs assessment of the different higher education institutions. That was completed, and a summary report was published earlier in the year. Officials are engaging with the sector on the next steps…
Ulster University has announced the commencement of a process inviting applications under a voluntary redundancy scheme. Ulster University is an autonomous institution, and decisions relating to staffing are a matter for it. My Department continues to engage with the university on the issue. I encourage the university…
I thank the Member for his question. We will publish the storage policy before the end of the year. I cannot give a firm date — I will check with officials — but it is being finalised, and we will publish it before the end of the calendar year.