All of Mr Pat Sheehan’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any amount spent on addressing the schools maintenance backlog, in each Assembly constituency, in the financial years (i) 2024-2025; and (ii) 2025-2026.
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 47812/22-27, to detail (i) all external experts, advisers and members of the (a) TransformED Curriculum Taskforce; (b) Strategic Review of Curriculum; and (c) Independent Review of Assessment; and (ii) whether they received any (a) payment; or (b) reimbursement, from…
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 47812/22-27, whether the values provided for each Direct Award Contract include all associated expenditure, including (i) travel; (ii) accommodation; (iii) subsistence; and (iv) any other expenses.
To ask the Minister of Education whether he has recommended or requested the appointment or promotion of any departmental civil servant during his time in office.
To ask the Minister of Education whether he has (i) personally implemented; (ii) directed the implementation of, any changes to his engagement with departmental officials arising from the Civil Service HR Review referenced in his Written Ministerial Statement on 27 March 2026.
To ask the Minister of Education whether he has been advised of any (i) organisational learning; (ii) governance changes; and (iii) Human Resources policy changes arising from the Civil Service HR Review referenced in his Written Ministerial Statement on 27 March 2026.
My intervention is on the back of the Member's interaction with Mr Brooks. Can the Member think of any rational explanation for why any school should have autonomy to determine and control what clothes a girl wears to school?
The last point that you made reminded me of one of the witnesses — a young girl — who came to the Committee. During the winter, she wore her own overcoat, but she had to take it off 100 yards from the school gate because she was not allowed to wear it into the school. Come rain, hail, snow or whatever, she had to take…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does she agree that the Minister's School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill was poor legislation and a missed opportunity? We have the issue of all pupils being allowed to wear trousers, but there were also issues that the Committee would like to have dealt with to ensure…
To ask the Minister of Education to detail , for the most recent date for which information is available (i) the number of specialist provision in mainstream schools classes; and (ii) the number of pupils enrolled, broken down by (a) the percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals at the host mainstream school,…
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of new specialist provision in mainstream schools classes have, as of 29 June 2026, been confirmed to open during the 2026-2027 academic year, including (i) the name of the host mainstream school; (ii) its sectoral designation; and (iii) the percentage of pupils…
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of new specialist provision in mainstream schools (SPiMS) classes opened during the 2025-2026 academic year, including (i) the number of pupils enrolled in those new classes; and (ii) the percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals at each mainstream school…
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) whether the review of school behaviour being undertaken will examine the effectiveness of restorative practice and other early intervention approaches alongside sanctions and disciplinary measures; and (ii) whether he will publish any evidence base informing the review.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any discussions he has had with the Minister of Health and the Minister for Communities regarding cross-departmental measures to address the underlying causes of poor behaviour in schools, in advance of commissioning the recently announced review of behaviour in schools.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) whether the behavioural experts review of behaviour policies of schools has been asked to make recommendations regarding additional investment in (a) behaviour support services; (b) educational psychology; (c) school counselling; (iv) and special educational needs…
To ask the Minister of Education whether the review of school behaviour being undertaken will examine the relationship between pupil behaviour and (i) unmet special educational needs; (ii) mental health difficulties; (iii) poverty; (iv) trauma; and (v) adverse childhood experiences.
To ask the Minister of Education whether he will publish the terms of reference for the review of school behaviour being undertaken by the new behaviour tsar, including (i) any issues to be examined; and (ii) the expected timescale for completion.
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any measures his Department is considering to reduce the accessibility and attractiveness of vaping products to children and young people.
To ask the Minister of Health whether any assessment has been made by his Department of the effectiveness of current penalties for retailers found to have sold vaping products to persons under the age of 18.
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any discussions he has had with local councils in relation to the enforcement of legislation relating to the sale of vaping products to children and young people.