Debate contribution: REACH Programme
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Givan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 27 April 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- REACH Programme
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5508441
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The REACH programme, delivered by the Education Authority (EA) Youth Service, is a valued service. It uses youth work methodologies to support young people's emotional health and well-being, and it works directly with children and young people aged from six to 19. The programme is delivered on a regional basis and is available to all schools in Northern Ireland. It is funded by my Department as part of the emotional health and well-being in education framework. My Department commissioned an independent strategic review of the framework, and that is nearing completion. Interim findings suggest that the framework remains fit for purpose and aligned with wider strategies. Once the review is complete, I will consider its recommendations and findings. It is likely that the findings will inform a new action plan to replace the original implementation plan. The future of all projects will be considered in that context, along with the wider departmental budgetary process.
154 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: 0.02 (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).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- 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 | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.40 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | 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 |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.53 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.20 |
| Education structures, integration and community division | 0.14 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.13 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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