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.
I have said this before, but the inference drawn that somehow other school sectors do not provide an integrated form of education is not right and is disrespectful to those schools. I was at a school in Upper Bann with my colleague Diane Dodds. There are over 21 newcomers in that school environment. I was at another…
I am happy to provide precise detail to that question, but what I say to Members is this: I have visited schools from various sectors, and, although some may not have "integrated" officially in their title, there are controlled schools that are more integrated than some that are officially designated as being…
There has been significant spend over the past five years, amounting to £92·7 million. That represents approximately 22% of all major works expenditure across the schools' estate in that period, and I am sure that the Member will agree that, with only 8% of pupils attending an integrated school, that highlights the…
I have been successful in identifying £150 million for the Strule campus in Omagh. The Member may wish to take the issue up with Mr McCrossan, who has advocated very well for his constituency to ensure that six new schools are developed in that area as part of a shared educational programme. I was also successful in…
Education in Northern Ireland is based on the key and guiding principle, established in our law, that children are educated, as far as possible, in accordance with the wishes of their parents. Diversity and choice are a strength, not a weakness, of our education system. Every child, every school and every sector is…
In compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make the following statement on the meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in education sector format that was held on Wednesday 22 May 2024. The meeting took place in the Department of Education's Marlborough Street offices in…
I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the debate. Due to the increasing demand for specialist education provision, the situation for September of this year remains challenging across Northern Ireland, so I thank Cathy Mason for bringing forward the Adjournment debate and the Members who have made a…
It is unusual to have Members rise to campaign against schools. That usually does not happen. There is a process in place for the full business case assessment for Strule, and the Executive have allocated £20 million in this financial year to take forward the project. Strule offers an opportunity for the Executive and…
Millennium Integrated is one school that the Treasury should have funded, because of the very reason that has been outlined, namely its advanced stage of readiness. The Department is looking at a number of schools that are at a point at which we could enter into contract, and officials will come to me with their…
Special education has been a priority in the capital programme, and, given what I announced today, it will continue to be so. We then need to look at where schemes are ready to go or where schools can enter into contract. I have asked the Department to look at what schools are available to receive capital provision…
That issue has been raised with me, and I have been asked what support there is for young people when they finish school. Our special schools go from ages three to 19, and other Departments have a responsibility for those young people after they leave the education system. There are organisations that provide support.…
Like all Members, I want a situation where, for schools that have been announced as recipients of funding from major capital and school enhancement programmes, the feasibility, business case and design process is carried out efficiently so that we can get to the point at which more schools are ready to go into…
I will happily look into the individual case and write to the Member. In the Department, design work for a significant number of major capital programmes is being carried out. Over 70 school enhancement programmes are also in place, and working through the resource that is needed to take them forward is challenging. I…
A scoping exercise has already commenced on the issues for the controlled sector that I want to be addressed. The independent review's recommendation that a specific directorate be created in the Education Authority was a short-term measure, with a view to moving towards a proper management authority. I have asked for…
Hopefully, nobody wants to take my head just yet. The Member raises an important point about the controlled sector. Members are familiar with the Catholic maintained sector, the integrated sector and the Irish-medium sector and with the responsibilities of the various managing authorities that those sectors have. The…
I caution the Member on presenting the information as though, somehow, capital punishment is taking place in our schools. It is not, and it does not. There are issues when it comes to restraint. I am aware of them, as a governor of a school where pupils were engaged in violent activity and teachers had to step in to…
The Member and others have been raising issues on this. I have asked officials to engage with me on it to ensure that we get it absolutely right. It is not that I necessarily have a position, without going into detail, on it. It is just that I want to ensure that due consideration is given before we reach a final…
I am happy to keep the Member and the House updated. I agree that we need to take forward the pay and grading review so that we have the appropriate workforce in place. This is slightly different from the pay disputes that were taking place in the Civil Service and in the teaching profession — they had not had a pay…
Following the Executive meeting, I immediately communicated to the trade unions my willingness to engage in this process. I have appointed a deputy permanent secretary, Ronnie Armour, to lead on this for me. The Education Authority is the employer in this respect, and it therefore has a role. Executive colleagues and…
Development proposal (DP) 717, which proposed that "St Eugene’s Primary School, Tircur will transform to Controlled Integrated Status with effect from 1 September 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter" was published by the EA on behalf of the school's board of governors on 14 September last year. The statutory…
I do. I would share in those comments. I have witnessed in my constituency and as Minister the invaluable work that they carry out. I felt that it was important to find a way through the Executive Budget paper with the Finance Minister so that we can continue to make progress on getting a resolution. We very much want…
Members will have heard from the Budget announcement last week that the funding available to the Executive did not allow for an allocation to be made in respect of the pay and grading review for support staff. I know that that news will have been extremely disappointing for the dedicated individuals who were relying…