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Mr Paul Givan: Assembly records
All of Mr Paul Givan’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I have spoken before about the Fresh Start moneys. I proactively engaged with the Secretary of State, who, unfortunately, did not provide a positive response around that. What I, as Minister, was able to do was move all the schemes into my conventional capital programme, with the exception of Strule, given the quantum…
South Antrim is of particular interest to the Member. He asks about prioritisation. Major capital funding has been available to meet inescapable pressures only. That is for the Department to continue to meet contractual obligations where construction has commenced, and to continue to honour the integrated consulting…
I appreciate the correction on Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh. Hopefully, that pronunciation was better. I am more than happy to follow up with a detailed written response to the Member on the capacity issue in the specific school that he mentioned.
The largest programme of work in the area — in fact, anywhere in Northern Ireland — is the Strule Shared Education Campus Omagh. With an estimated capital value in the region of £400 million, the campus will provide a state-of-the-art shared centre of learning. It will bring together six schools from across the Omagh…
Obviously, when building a new school, for example, we have, in the past, looked at the school's enrolment. That has not included the number of children who attend who have a statement of educational need. That does not make sense to me. You are building a new school, but children with additional needs are regarded as…
One of the steps that was taken before I came into office was to have a dedicated senior employee within the EA to proactively manage that. Also, the Department has a steering group, which is headed up at very senior level, so that we can identify how many places are needed and proactively seek to place children. That…
It is an interesting question. Some of the schools that I have visited have indicated to me a willingness to provide additional capacity for children that they could accommodate. I have had to proactively connect the EA to those schools. We have been appealing for schools to come forward. Some schools have come…
The Member raises the question of getting the appropriate place. There have been occasions when a placement has been accepted in the school, and then it transpires that that is not working out to the benefit of the child, family or guardians responsible. Then, you need to look at trying to make changes. That presents…
I am concerned about the level of sick leave in this area, and a number of factors lead to delays around educational statements, including access to psychologists and the lack of availability of workforce in the area. That is why a considerable SEN review is taking place, in which there are multiple work streams. No…
Children with a statement of special educational needs (SEN) follow a different process for securing a school placement from the general admissions process, one that seeks to ensure that their needs as outlined in their statement are met. Each child is individually placed. Children are referred for a SEN statement and…
The Member raises an important point. We want to have major capital developments, but we also want to have enhanced programmes. There is also maintenance that needs to be carried out in our school estate. There is a range of areas to which I want to see capital funding allocated, but there is a limited capital budget,…
The Member is aware of how advanced the project is. We have not entered into a formal contract with a company to build, but it is at a late stage and is shovel-ready, subject to capital funding becoming available. I cannot commit to funding something until I know what my funding envelope will be. That is part of the…
Gaelscoil Uí Néill is fully designed, with planning approval, and an integrated supply team is in contract. Subject to the availability of additional capital budget, the project is therefore ready to move on-site. Unfortunately, as I referred to in my statement to the Assembly on 12 February, substantial additional…
I certainly echo the Member's remarks on the excellence provided by the school. I will not share the language of "criminally" underfunded. There is underfunding, certainly, in the sector, and, when it comes to support for children who require additional needs provision, I will prioritise that and have done as part of…
Special schools are funded directly through the Education Authority block grant, with all staffing costs, including sickness and maternity absence, school rates and maintenance costs being met directly by the Education Authority. However, my officials have been working closely with St Gerard's School and Support…
I am happy to look at the broader issue that the Member has raised around autism training across the sector. It is an important issue for people to be aware of. I have no problem in saying to the Member that it should be considered.
The Member raises an important point. It relates to education, so, while the formal assessment is not carried out by the EA or my Department, the issue links in with the Department of Health and it is important that we work together on it. I assure the Member that we do. Particularly for children in the Irish-medium…
The Education Authority does not conduct the formal assessments of autism and/or ADHD. Assessments for autism or ADHD are conducted only by a specific group of healthcare professionals, for example paediatricians or child psychologists. Therefore, the issue is a matter ultimately for the Department of Health.
If the Assembly wants to pay for school enhancement projects as part of its visitation programme, that will be welcome. I doubt that it would go too far, mind you. The Member raises an important issue around capital funding. On day 1 of this Assembly, I made a ministerial statement on the need for increased…
Under current legislation, voluntary contributions are a matter for boards of governors of schools. While the collection of voluntary contributions is permissible, any request for that needs to make it clear that there is no obligation to contribute, and any registered pupil at the school should be treated no…
Obviously, there are various means by which funding can be raised, as I referenced in my original response to the Member. General funding is administered through the common funding formula, and, again, that is touched on in the independent review of education. That review, which was in place, has not been taken…
While I fully recognise the educational value inherent in children visiting Parliament Buildings with their schools, unfortunately, neither my Department nor the Education Authority (EA), as the funding authority for schools, provide specific additional schools funding for travel or lodgings for extracurricular…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion and engage on what is a very important issue. At the outset, I recognise the pressure on families, especially those with school-age children, from the rising cost of living and, in particular, increasing food costs.…
I beg to move The two statutory rules make amendments to the lump sum payment scheme under the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979, which is known as the 1979 scheme. The regulations will increase the amount of the lump sum payments made via the 1979 scheme. There is no…
The draft Period Products (Department of Education Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024. That the draft Period Products (Department of Education Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.