Department for Employment and Learning facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Department for Employment and Learning

An Roinn Fostaíochta agus Foghlama; Ulster Scots: Depairtment for Employ an Learnin
Department overview
Formed	December 1999 (as Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment)
Preceding Department	Department of Economic Development & Department of Education
Dissolved	6 May 2016
Superseding agency	Department for the Economy Department for Communities
Jurisdiction	Northern Ireland
Headquarters	Adelaide House, 39–49 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FD
Employees	2,111 (September 2011)
Annual budget	£787.3 million (current) & £41.2 million (capital) for 2011–12
Website	www.delni.gov.uk

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) was a special government department in Northern Ireland. It was part of the Northern Ireland Executive, which is like the government for Northern Ireland.

DEL's main job was to help people get skills and find work. It also supported the economy of Northern Ireland. A minister was in charge of the department.

At first, it had a longer name: the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (DHFETE). This was between 1999 and 2001.

In 2016, DEL was closed down. Its responsibilities were moved to two new departments: the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities. This happened after an agreement called the Fresh Start Agreement in 2015. The change was made to make the Northern Ireland government smaller.

What Was the Department for Employment and Learning?

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) was a government body in Northern Ireland. It worked to improve education and job opportunities. Its goal was to help people get ready for work. It also aimed to support the economy.

What Did DEL Do?

DEL had several important jobs. It helped people find jobs and learn new skills.

Its main responsibilities included:

• Further education: This is education after high school, like college courses.
• Higher education: This means university degrees and advanced studies.
• Skills and training: Helping people learn new skills for different jobs.
• Employment rights: Making sure workers knew their rights and responsibilities.

DEL also ran 'job centres' and 'jobs and benefits offices'. These places helped people in Northern Ireland find job openings.

Other government departments handled different parts of education. For example, the Department of Education looked after schools.

DEL worked with similar departments in other governments:

• In the United Kingdom Government, it worked with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It also worked with the Department for Work and Pensions.
• In the Irish Government, it worked with the Department of Education. It also worked with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

How DEL Was Created

The Department for Employment and Learning was created as part of a big change in Northern Ireland. This change was called devolution. Devolution meant that Northern Ireland would have its own government. This government would make laws for Northern Ireland.

The Start of Devolution

This process began after the Belfast Agreement in 1998. People in Northern Ireland voted for this agreement. Then, the Northern Ireland Act 1998 was passed. This law set up the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive. These are like the parliament and government for Northern Ireland.

DEL was one of five new departments created in December 1999. These departments were set up to handle different areas of life in Northern Ireland.

Why the Name Changed

When it first started, the department was called the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment. This was a very long name! Its initials were DHFETE. People thought this sounded like "Defeat." So, on 20 July 2001, the name was changed to the Department for Employment and Learning.

Times of Suspension

Sometimes, the Northern Ireland government was paused. This meant that the local ministers could not make decisions. During these times, the department was managed by ministers from the Northern Ireland Office. This was called "direct rule."

The government was paused during these times:

• From February to May 2000.
• Briefly in August 2001.
• Briefly in September 2001.
• For a longer time, from October 2002 to May 2007.

Since May 2007, the Northern Ireland government has been working without pauses.

Plans to Close DEL

In 2009, a review suggested that Northern Ireland should have just one department for economic policy. This would mean closing DEL.

Then, in January 2012, the leaders of Northern Ireland announced their plan to close DEL. They wanted to share its jobs between the Department of Education and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Some political parties, like the Alliance Party, did not agree with this plan. They thought it was unfair. However, the plan was approved. DEL continued to operate until May 2016, when its functions were officially moved.

Ministers for Employment and Learning

The minister was the person in charge of the Department for Employment and Learning. They were responsible for leading the department's work.

Here are the people who served as Minister for Employment and Learning:

	Minister	IMage	Party	Took office	Left office
	Sean Farren		SDLP	29 November 1999	11 February 2000
Office suspended
	Sean Farren		SDLP	30 May 2000	13 December 2001
	Carmel Hanna		SDLP	14 December 2001	14 October 2002
Office suspended
	Sir Reg Empey		UUP	14 May 2007	27 October 2010
	Danny Kennedy		UUP	27 October 2010	4 May 2011
	Stephen Farry		Alliance	16 May 2011	30 March 2016

Direct Rule Ministers

When the Northern Ireland government was suspended, ministers from the Northern Ireland Office took over responsibility for DEL. These were:

• Adam Ingram (in 2000)
• Jane Kennedy (from 2002 to 2004)
• Barry Gardiner (from 2004 to 2005)
• Angela Smith (from 2005 to 2006)
• Maria Eagle (from 2006 to 2007)

See also

• Committee for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland Assembly)
• List of government ministers in Northern Ireland

Images for kids

• 

  Placeholder image for ministers without official portraits.

• 

  Official portrait of Sir Reg Empey.

• 

  Portrait of Danny Kennedy.

• 

  Portrait of Stephen Farry.