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I will pick up on Colin McGrath's question and your response to it in a bit more detail, Minister. When it is finally published, will the Priorities for Youth policy set out clearly the Department's policy on whether the community and voluntary sector is to be the primary delivery mechanism for youth services in…
I have questioned my officials on this because I would like to see things expedited, but a number of voluntary and community groups have indicated that they need to get this right and that they would rather go through the detailed work. That is why the time frame is slightly longer than I would like it to be. It is…
I heard from the Minister's response about a consultation process, but is there any indication about how long it will be before there is a launch date for the policy?
The point that Mr McGrath makes is one that I have heard repeatedly from a number of the community groups that I engage with. It is also one that I can speak to from my constituency point of view, where I see how the voluntary and community sector do excellent work on youth services. That is why I am very keen to make…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Inherent in the previous 'Priorities for Youth' document was the protection and enhancement of the role of those in the voluntary sector as the leaders in the delivery of youth work in our communities. I am not sure that the Education Authority actually delivered on that policy…
The Priorities for Youth policy review commenced in September 2023. My Department is taking a co-design approach to the review. The review includes children and young people, the Education Authority, which is the statutory provider of youth services, youth work practitioners, the voluntary and community sector and…
I know that the Member has pursued the issue very effectively and has raised it with me on a number of occasions and continues, rightly, to do so. On 9 May 2024, I met the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools along with other elected Members, departmental officials and representatives from Dean Maguirc College to…
I thank the Minister for his response. I should declare an interest as a former pupil, former teacher and a parent of two children who are at the school. Does the Minister have any indicative timeline for when the DP will commence and, indeed, conclude? The school was built in 1966 and is in urgent need of capital…
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), as the planning and managing authority for Catholic maintained schools, has indicated that it will seek to increase the admissions and enrolment numbers at Dean Maguirc College via the development proposal (DP) process under article 14 of the Education and Libraries…
Obviously, there are teams involved in what would be necessary to take forward particular works in the school. That is actively monitored by the Department and the Education Authority. Where there are commitments for work schemes to be completed by September, there will be effective monitoring of that. If it is not…
How will the Minister ensure that any physical works required to allow a pupil to access a new placement at that school in September 2025 will be completed before the start of the new academic year?
The good news is that the IDT has been appointed. As the group with the relevant expertise, it will take forward the works needed at St Brigid's, so that allows things to commence. There was a business case for the specialist provision of classrooms and associated accommodation at St Brigid's. That business case was…
Thank you for the update, Minister. As you are aware, the demand on the physical resources in the school is extremely challenging. For instance, when visiting the school, you see the likes of the 50-year-old toilets with no ventilation and in really bad condition; likewise, the poor condition of the changing…
Where there is a security incident, there should be a security policy in place where schools have a strategy setting out how to deal with a wide range of issues. Those can range from security of cash, personal property and personal safety to incidents of violence. The school's response to any incident should be led by…
Minister, understandably, those calls and emails caused a lot of stress and concern for parents. Does your Department feel, at the moment, that all our schools in Northern Ireland are adequately prepared for emergency situations, events or threats, and will you revisit the current protocols around that matter?
It is by way of an unavoidable minor works application, and that will be considered through the normal processes. Each school differs in what would need to be developed and tailored to its unique circumstances. Schools are well placed to know what is necessary by way of any capital investment in security-related…
I am grateful to the Minister for that information. He will be aware that there are a number of entrance points to schools, particularly secondary schools. In my constituency, there is at least one school that has several buildings. The Minister has indicated that funds may be available and that schools should apply.…
Where there is a need for any capital, that can be brought forward by way of an unavoidable minor works application. An application for funding for security measures that may need to be provided in a particular school would be considered. If a school feels that it needs some security infrastructure, I encourage it to…
Thank you, Minister. I apologise for missing the first part of your answer. Would your Department consider putting in place any capital funds, particularly for smaller rural schools? I should have declared an interest as a parent of children who were impacted on by the school closures. Two of my children go to a…
I thank the Member for her interest in the issue and for the question in light of the security threats that came through by email. The advice was that they were hoaxes, and schools were able to reopen. When it comes to communication, schools are well placed to advise parents of any circumstances that may require a…
I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome his condemnation of the security hoaxes and the steps that he is taking. I want to press the Minister on the issue of communication with parents and stakeholders in the event of any unfortunate security alerts in the future. What steps will he advise taking in such…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will group questions 3 and 8. I condemn the disruption caused by the recent school closures due to security concerns, and I welcome the speedy response from the PSNI. Our young people and staff should be able to attend school without concerns about their safety or security. The…
It is an issue on which differing views have been expressed, particularly by those in our schools who have to navigate what can be very difficult challenges. I moved to establish a working group and invited participants to be part of that so that we can look at what guidance can be provided. The outworkings of that…