Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
A response on that matter will issue to the Member today. I absolutely understand the dilemma that Tiny Tots is in. In that particular situation, however, it is not a legal obligation on the Department of Education to provide support for preschool provision in that respect. I suggest that the Member engage with the…
My question is on another Armagh education facility. Minister, I have written to you about Tiny Tots in Clady. After a health and safety inspection, its premises were deemed not fit for purpose. The neighbouring school, St Michael's, wants to accommodate the new premises. The GAA club has accommodated Tiny Tots for…
I thank the Member for that question. He has advocated for Tandragee Junior High School and other schools in his constituency, and I will meet him later in respect of Markethill High School, for which he has been an advocate of work and support. The fact that we are moving towards bringing the business case phase to a…
I thank the Minister for his response. Are there other ongoing works at the school, given the length of time for which the school will remain in its current premises?
A technical feasibility report has been completed by the integrated consultant team that has identified options and costs to provide suitable accommodation for Tandragee Junior High School. A review of the options identified in the report was completed by the Department’s technical advisers in September last year. A…
I thank the Member for that question. Obviously, a number of schools were announced that we were taking forward with regard to construction. Sorry, I just do not have the particular information to hand. Millennium Integrated Primary School is one where the construction contract has been entered into, and works are…
Will the Minister give an update on the schools that lost Fresh Start funding about 15 months ago when the Executive first returned? I declare an interest, as my child is a pupil at one of those schools. It would be helpful to have an update on what is happening.
I thank Mr Dunne for his question. He has advocated investment in that school and other schools in North Down. As part of the announcement to take forward the new build, officials identified a steady decline in pupil numbers that was more in line with a 17-class enrolment band rather than the 22-class school that had…
I thank the Minister for his commitment to that school and other schools in North Down. He visited the school with me last year. Can the Minister advise why there has been a revision to the technical design of the project for Bangor Central Integrated Primary School?
I understand that, in every new build, there could be implications for neighbouring schools. We have been carrying out significant investment in the North Down area. Crawfordsburn Primary School is another one for major construction works, which are due to commence next month. There are school enhancement programmes…
Thank you, Minister. I am absolutely delighted to receive that update, and I certainly look forward to work commencing on that much-needed new build. Does the Minister have any concerns that a brand new primary school in that area could have a negative impact on the enrolment numbers for nearby Bloomfield Primary…
On 23 May 2025, Ards and North Down Borough Council accepted proposals to treat amendments to facilitate the inclusion of enhanced learning support provision at the school as a non-material change to the existing planning permission. Therefore, it is anticipated that construction will commence in early 2026. However,…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Today is the start of Learning Disability Week, and I will provide an update on the review of education, skills and training provision for young people with special educational needs. Last year, my predecessor, Conor Murphy, advised the Assembly of his concerns over gaps…
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. During the last exchange, when I asked the Finance Minister a question, he turned it round and rhetorically directed it back at me. Surely that is not the process for a Minister who comes to the House to deliver a statement. He should be obliged to give a Member, no matter who…
The £50 million for Casement is really welcome. I welcome what the Minister said and the economic and community benefits for the wider area. The timeline is critical. We have 12 months until the planning permission lapses. Will you meet the Irish Government, the Shared Island Fund and the GAA in the coming months to…
Minister, you said that an extra £600 million would be made available. How much, if any, of that will be used to address and resolve the housing crisis, and, if there is money, what will those plans be?
The £50 million loan for Casement leaves a large shortfall. Does the Minister support a clawback clause for money from non-GAA events held at Casement?
Minister, in your statement, you were keen to stress that the settlement avoids a potential cliff edge in future funding restoration. However, we are mindful that your party and Alliance were happy to come here before that certainty was provided. Therefore, can ratepayers have confidence that, as Minister, you will…
I thank the Minister for his statement. There has been only one uplift in the additional security funding budget in the last decade. Does the Minister agree that that simply does not go far enough towards meeting the extra costs facing policing across Northern Ireland? Will he make a commitment to fund the PSNI…
I want to tease out the point raised by my colleague on FTC. As the Minister rightly outlined, there are a number of options in relation to FTC: either equity or repayment. Is the Minister saying that, despite the announcement last week by the UK Government, details have still not been provided as to whether the UK…
I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, you referred to the exclusion of the £229 million of agriculture funding. Can you explain to us why it is important to have agriculture excluded from the relative funding per head methodology?
Thank you very much, Minister, for your remarks. I notice the £559 million of debt relief from the 2024 restoration package. Does that realign the baseline for the Budget and the Estimates this year? It does not, Jayne? OK.
Will the Minister outline any representations that he has made to the UK Government in relation to their proposed punitive welfare reforms and policies? Has there been any ongoing engagement on that issue?