Analysis in progress: 97,639 of 97,778 records assessed (99.9%). Totals and rankings will change until it finishes. Progress details
All of Mr Paul Givan’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
1,274 records match, page 14 of 51.
The Education Authority has developed a model for providing increased support for schools. It includes flexibility to give autonomy to schools. All political parties are represented on the EA, but I have noted some commentary from Sinn Féin Members about the model. They should check with their colleagues on the EA to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: SEND Reform Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: SEND Reform
The announcement was made only this morning, and a White Paper was published in the past number of hours. There has therefore not yet been an opportunity for me to examine its contents in full. Like Northern Ireland and most other jurisdictions, England is experiencing similar challenges, with rising levels of need,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: SEND Reform Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: SEND Reform
Without knowing the specific detail — the Member has articulated the case well — there may be an opportunity when it comes to the allocation of places to the early years setting through the subsequent preferences that are expressed. I do not know enough to be able to give the Member that assurance now, but I will…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Kirkinriola Early Years Playgroup Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Kirkinriola Early Years Playgroup
I have been to Kirkinriola. My colleague Mr Frew had me visit the school, and I was very impressed with the provision that is there. I was able to view the early years setting that is located right beside the school. I am happy to look into the issue that the Member has raised. I was not aware of it. The Education…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Kirkinriola Early Years Playgroup Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Kirkinriola Early Years Playgroup
Ultimately, we want children to be placed in a school in their locality that best meets their needs. Undoubtedly, some schools go above and beyond to make provision available, but all schools can do more to provide support for children and young people in their own community. Schools need to be given assurances and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Autism: School Placements Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Autism: School Placements
I have met and engaged with the Autism Reviewer. On the Member's specific point about children being in the most suitable school, that is a real challenge. Increasingly, we are looking to mainstream settings as the norm when it comes to placements, but we need to make sure that the appropriate support is in place for…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Autism: School Placements Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Autism: School Placements
I hope that we will be able to move forward shortly on the issue. It is likely that there will be revised guidance, which will have to go out for public consultation. That will be an opportunity for people to see the new guidance that will be in place on practices in our schools. I have listened to the voices of…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Schools: Restrictive Practices Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Schools: Restrictive Practices
It is an important issue. I have met parents who are advocating for change in that area. There has been protracted engagement with my officials and the various interests around that, including the teaching trade unions. There is a difference of opinion as to the best way forward from those in the teaching unions when…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Schools: Restrictive Practices Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Schools: Restrictive Practices
I am happy to meet anyone who can make the delivery of public services more efficient. In my constituency, Lagan Valley Rural Transport provides a hugely important service to our constituents. It is something that I very much encourage, and I support people to engage in that. Operationally, the delivery of transport…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: SEN Transport Provision Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: SEN Transport Provision
A piece of work has been carried out by the Education Authority to ensure that taxi provision is as efficient as possible, given the taxpayers' contribution towards that. That has yielded approximately £1 million this year. Obviously, we want to continue identifying the most effective way to transport our young…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: SEN Transport Provision Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: SEN Transport Provision
A new absence code was introduced at the start of the 2025-26 academic year to capture the number of half days that are lost as a result of emotionally based school non-attendance. Unverified management information from September 2025 to December 2025 suggests that 0·09% of total half days of absence at primary level…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Schools: Emotionally Based Non-attendance Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Schools: Emotionally Based Non-attendance
We would always like to do more when it comes to providing financial support to people. A clear need was identified by principals whom I met, as they were not able to fill vacancies in key subject areas. I engaged with the initial teaching education establishments, which recognised that there had been a shortfall in…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: PGCE/BEd Students: Financial Support Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: PGCE/BEd Students: Financial Support
My Department has no plans to extend financial support for student teachers at local higher education institutions beyond the provisions of the pilot initial teacher education (ITE) bursary scheme, which will commence in September 2026. The Department recognises that students who are not eligible for bursaries may be…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: PGCE/BEd Students: Financial Support Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: PGCE/BEd Students: Financial Support
All those issues relate to the five-year sustainable financial strategy, which is out for consultation. I have made it clear that there are aspects of it that I do not want to take forward, but we also have to prepare for what the Department of Education might receive. Members can see what was proposed in the draft…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rural Schools Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rural Schools
Everything that takes place when it comes to transformation should be done on the basis of the needs and best interests of the child. That has to be the driver, not financial considerations: it has to be what is in the best interests of the child. I have very much been struck by the number of principals and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rural Schools Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rural Schools
At present, the sustainable schools policy recognises the needs of rural communities. That is reflected in the lower enrolment threshold for rural primary schools, an accessibility criterion that provides guidance on home-to-school travel times and a "Strong links with the Community" criterion, which recognises the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rural Schools Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rural Schools
I understand and share the sentiment that the Member has just articulated about the importance of rural schools to the community. I can certainly point to that in my constituency. I have benefited from visiting many of those rural schools. "Twinning", as it is often referred to, is where you have a very small…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rural Schools Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rural Schools
My Department has set out its proposals for a five-year Education budget strategy, which has been brought forward in the context of an exceptionally challenging Budget position. Consultation on the strategy closes on 3 April 2026. The strategy identifies a number of key areas where reforms could reduce costs over the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rural Schools Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rural Schools
The independent review of education outlined that suboptimal arrangements exist when it comes to managing authorities. That review also said that work should be done towards having a single authority, and I very much aspire to that. However, every member involved in the independent review of education has said in…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority
The consultation evidence is from school principals, over half of whom are from the controlled sector. They are crying out for it. This is not Paul Givan and the DUP saying, "We need better support, a managing authority and equality with our counterparts in the Catholic maintained sector"; it is the school principals…
Decided on a second assessment.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority
I thank the Member for the question. Time will tell whether those in the Chamber and elsewhere will face down the stark reality of the evidence and be motivated by other issues, in which case I would be gravely concerned about the basis of their opposition. I have outlined the clear evidence to back up the need for a…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority
Last month, I returned to Executive colleagues with an updated paper seeking agreement to legislate to establish a managing authority for controlled schools. I did so following the clear mandate that I received from my Department's public consultation on proposals to improve management arrangements for the controlled…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Controlled Schools: Managing Authority
The Member has engaged with me on the scheme; it is something that she has supported. She is right to raise the point about how we can see accountability from childcare providers. The fear is that the subsidy is not being passed on to parents. We have documentary evidence there has been a benefit, but there is a…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy
As I have indicated, there have been rising costs right across our economy, and childcare providers are feeling them no less than any other sector. They have to be able to pay their staff an appropriate wage if people are to be attracted into the sector. The draft strategy recognises that we must support the sector.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy
That is exactly why the DUP prioritised the issue at the previous election. We made a manifesto commitment, because we know the challenges that many people right across Northern Ireland are facing as a result of the cost of childcare. It is a barrier to entering or re-entering the workforce, particularly for women.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Early Learning and Childcare Strategy
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