Debate contribution: Integrated Education: Demand
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Givan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 January 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Integrated Education: Demand
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5311374
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for the question. The 2024 life and times survey finding that 55% of adults would prefer an integrated school is a valuable indicator of public appetite for integrated education. While such attitudinal evidence is important, appetite is not the same as demonstrated admissions demand. Parental choices will continue to be shaped by proximity, transport, capacity and the quality of provision available in each locality. My statutory duty is to encourage, facilitate and support integrated education. That is why, following consultation, I have published Vision 2030, which is our strengthened strategy and action plan that includes clear targets, measurable benchmarks and commitments to transparency. The Department is drawing together multiple evidence sources to build a more accurate picture of demand at a local level. That work is already identifying areas where unmet demand may exist. Where evidence demonstrates a sustainable case for change and statutory criteria are met, I will support new provision and school transformation. I have instructed officials to work closely with the Education Authority and the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) to ensure that communities with emerging or unmet demand are engaged early and that credible proposals for increased integrated provision are developed. That approach will also consider practical barriers such as oversubscription, localised shortfalls in places and geographic access. I will ensure that decisions are evidence-led and balanced and that we continue to deliver high-quality education for every child.
238 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.05 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.90).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Education structures, integration and community division.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.90 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.05 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Education structures, integration and community division | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:13 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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