Department for Employment and Learning

Aim

DEL's overall aim was to "promote learning and skills, to prepare people for work and to support the economy".

Responsibilities

The department's network of 'job centres' and 'jobs and benefits offices' advertised job opportunities for Northern Ireland residents. It was also responsible for policy in the following areas:

• further education
• higher education
• skills and training
• employment rights and responsibilities

The Department of Education was responsible for all other levels of education in Northern Ireland. DEL's main counterparts in the United Kingdom Government were:

• the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (including employment relations); and
• the Department for Work and Pensions (on general employment policy).

In the Irish Government, its main counterparts were:

• the Department of Education and Youth;
• the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (on employment).

History

Following a referendum on the Belfast Agreement on 23 May 1998 and the granting of royal assent to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on 19 November 1998, a Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive were established by the United Kingdom Government under Prime Minister Tony Blair. The process was known as devolution and was set up to return devolved legislative powers to Northern Ireland. DEL is one of five new devolved Northern Ireland departments created in December 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and The Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

The department was named the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment until 20 July 2001 but was changed to its current title as the initials DHEFETE were pronounced as "Defeat".

A devolved minister first took office on 2 December 1999. Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the department came under the responsibility of direct rule ministers from the Northern Ireland Office:

• between 12 February 2000 and 30 May 2000;
• on 11 August 2001;
• on 22 September 2001;
• between 15 October 2002 and 8 May 2007.

Since 8 May 2007, devolution has operated without interruption. The Independent Review of Economic Policy, which reported in September 2009, recommended a single economic policy department within the Northern Ireland Executive, which would result in the abolition of DEL.

On 11 January 2012, the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness respectively, announced their intention to abolish the department. The department's functions would be "divided principally" between the Department of Education and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment "in an agreed manner". The proposal was resisted by the Alliance Party, which viewed it as "power grab" by the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, but was approved on 18 January 2012. No timescale for the abolition was outlined and the department remained in operation, as of February 2015.

Ministers for Employment and Learning

Direct rule ministers

During the periods of suspension, the following ministers of the Northern Ireland Office were responsible for the department:

• Adam Ingram (2000)
• Jane Kennedy (2002–04)
• Barry Gardiner (2004–05)
• Angela Smith (2005–06)
• Maria Eagle (2006–07)

References

References

1. "Northern Ireland Quarterly Employment Survey Historical Data". Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
2. "Budget 2011–15". Department of Finance and Personnel.
3. "Customer Service Standards 2007–2008". Department for Employment and Learning.
4. "Customer Service Standards 2007–2008". Department for Employment and Learning.
5. Northern Ireland Budget 2011–15, page 53
6. [http://www.delni.gov.uk/index/about-the-dept.htm DEL: About the Department] {{webarchive. link. (19 April 2008)
7. [http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/85-about-the-dept.htm About the Department of Education]
8. [http://www.bis.gov.uk/about BIS: About BIS]
9. [http://www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/ministers/ DWP: About DWP]
10. [http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=17216&ecategory=20662&language=EN Department of Education: Functions]
11. [https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Innovation-Research-Development/ Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment] {{webarchive. link. (15 March 2012)
12. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/northernireland/acts/acts2001/pdf/nia_20010015_en.pdf Department for Employment and Learning Act (Northern Ireland) 2001
13. Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2000
14. Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000
15. Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2001
16. Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2001
17. Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
18. Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
19. Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002
20. Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2007
21. "Independent Review of Economic Policy". Independent Review of Economic Policy (Northern Ireland).
22. (11 January 2012). "Justice 2012 – Stormont Castle proposals". Northern Ireland Executive.
23. (11 January 2012). "Ford says cutting Department for Employment and Learning could damage economy". Alliance Party of Northern Ireland.
24. (18 January 2012). "Justice 2012 – The Way Forward". Northern Ireland Executive.
25. Office suspended for 24 hours on 11 August 2001 and 22 September 2001