Department for the Economy Board minutes 2025 - 25 June 2025

Philip Wales presented NISRA’s new Corporate Plan for 2025-29 which launched on 25^th February.

• The plan reflects the challenges and opportunities which are confronting official statistics providers internationally. These include the growing availability of new sources of administrative data which can provide key insights alongside survey-based statistics; development of new software which makes the interrogation of large-scale datasets faster and more cost-effective; growing demand for detailed performance metrics which allow leadership to address the impact of decisions on different groups more quickly and; growing need for linked, large-scale datasets which can address policy problems across departmental boundaries.
• Recommendations from the Covid Inquiry provide particular impetus for this work – highlighting how important it is for government to be able to use its data assets safely, securely and quickly in an emergency situation.
• Good analysis, data and research help to identify improvements in the planning and delivery of public services. In the context of financial pressures, it is critical that we use the intelligence they can provide to find cost limiting, service improving options.
• Key messages are Scope – NISRA’s statistical functions are important, but there is a wider information eco-system which they want to develop and support to meet departmental objectives; Data – they need to embed a stronger data sharing and linkage culture to deliver joined-up solutions to joined up challenges; Registration Services – need to build on a strong base to meet the evolving needs of customers; Research – to achieve their policy ambitions, - they need the best available research, delivered with and through partners; Partnership – to support policy makers, NISRA is seeking to build on existing cross-government partnerships to ensure they have the data and evidence they need.
• There was a discussion regarding DfE’s needs which involved trade flows data, productivity metrics, Invest NI data, good questions from policy makers, AI is an emerging landscape, data sharing, making sure we are sure footed on benchmarking, where are we truly underperforming, where should we be targeting energy and resources and electricity prices/ renewables.

(Name redacted) and Professor Ana Manzano from the University of Leeds presented on the process involved in the development of the DfE Monitoring & Evaluation Strategy, which sets out our commitment to embed a culture of monitoring and evaluation across the Department. The Strategy was published on 11^th June.

• Analytical Services Division, in collaboration with Professor Manzano, has developed our first ever DfE Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy. Professor Manzano’s support has been funded through the UKRI Policy Fellowship programme, which partners academics with government to take forward specific policy research.
• The publication of this Strategy marks an important step in ensuring that we achieve our vision “to foster continuous learning and building evidence to support effective, value for money policymaking that drives economic growth and improves lives”.
• The Strategy provides a long-term, adaptable framework for strengthening evaluation practice and ensuring that we drive forward effective delivery of the Economic Vision. It also sets out delivery actions aimed at improving DfE evaluation resources and expertise.

Ian Snowden presented

• 25/26 DfE Business Plan published 6^th June.
• 24/25 DfE Business Plan progress published.
• Research on US tariffs published. Potential impact on some businesses. Grace period runs out 8^th July.
• Green Skills action plan published. We have been inundated with offers of support from private sector colleagues.
• Special educational needs post school proposals published 16^th June.
• Insolvency bill introduced to Assembly this month. AP: Paper on DfE legislative programme to be prepared for future board meeting.
• Studio Ulster facility open.
• A new CEO Laura McCorry has been appointed to Tourism NI and will take up the new role in September.
• Ongoing issues with audit and accounts due to late input from a Partner.
• PAC report on Skills – draft response with DoF.
• First draft of Energy Strategy audit report has been received.
• A5 judgement received on Monday. Section 52 of the Climate Change Act refers.

Sharon Hetherington presented

• RDEL funding for 25/26 has increased by £17.2m due to Protocol/ Windsor framework funding.
• We expect a reasonable outcome from June Monitoring.
• The only in year risk relates to the size of the capital over commitment, but this may be mitigated by CDEL slippage due to the A5 judgment.
• A draft note on the Spending Review is with the DoF Minister. The commissioning note, as drafted, does not currently require Departments to model savings. It will hopefully launch soon with a tight turnaround.
• There is likely will be an October/ Autumn Monitoring Round.
• A Strategic Income Review will launch over summer.
• The Audit Office have requested information on student loans and we hope to send all the information today.
• Presbyterian Mutual Society has now been liquidated.

City Deals

• Issues around certain projects and June Monitoring should address some of these. Discussion is needed regarding several of them.
• Governance arrangements are difficult.

Invest NI Review

• Invest NI published performance results this week.
• 2 out of 3 of the Leadership Team are in post.
• Moving in the right direction.

Enhanced Investment Zone

• Paper noted.

Contracts Register

• It was commented that some of the information regarding Skills & Education is inaccurate. The most recent update has been released this week which may address that.

Major Projects

• A full update will be provided for the August Board meeting.

Risk Appetite

• The next stage for the Board will be to consider the Risk Management Framework.

ARAC Annual Report 2024/25

• This signals the reliance on Internal Audit.
• The net conclusion is that necessary assurance is provided to the Accounting Officer.

Health & Safety Report

• Over the last year there have been a very small number of minor incidents.
• The compliance rate on the Fire Safety mandatory training lags behind other training courses and will be addressed.

People Priorities

• This has been a tough 5 years with opportunities in the next 5 including with Integr8 and the new People Strategy.
• Following the results of the G7 competition the next one to be advertised is EO2 followed by DPs.
• There was a discussion on the static position with vacancies and the undeclared with recognition the department could not afford to fill 1400 posts.

Employment Bill

• Consultation last year. Solid progress is being made. There are challenges with resource. There was some discussion around potential business views of some of the individual policy proposals and comparisons of the proposals to practice here and elsewhere – while recognising that policy decisions were ultimately for the Minister.

Quality Assurance within Higher Education in NI

• A quality framework is being put in place.

Integr8 Programme Update

• This is on track with positive signs that it is progressing reasonably well. There will be further updates.