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.
I thank the Minister for his answer and for his commitment. Will he provide a time frame for that work? More broadly, a number of schools are in the same predicament. How can the Department work better so that an increase in school numbers is reflected in any future planning for those schools?
I thank the Member for his question. I have been to Ardnashee. The work that is taking place in the Member's constituency is hugely impressive. We looked at the capital needs of special schools, and it was announced that Ardnashee would be developed in order to extend the site, because, as soon as the school opened,…
It does not require me to ask for that. The management side has already asked for that. Management side offered to go to the Labour Relations Agency for mediation, if that would be helpful. Management side is making every effort. It is available and has said that it is available. There is no inhibitor for that. The…
Thank you, Minister. You said that work should continue, and I agree. If the unions are willing to come to the table now, as they have indicated, will you ask or encourage management side to also get around the table as soon as possible so that we can get this over the line to the benefit of everyone?
I thank the Member for the question. There was a period of intense negotiations during January and, as the financial circumstances for my Department were crystallising and work was taking place to identify the resource that we would need, I was pleased that those negotiations concluded with management side being able…
I will continue to engage. I assure Members that work is ongoing between my Department and the Department of Health on this issue. I have asked for that to be looked at, and officials are engaging on it. I know that the Member's colleagues have had an interest in this. They have met me and can testify to the ongoing…
I thank the Minister for that. It is positive. He referenced the health trusts and the ongoing review. Will he commit to engaging with principals and parents of such schools as Knockevin to ensure that any changes in provision reflect the views of those who are most affected by the withdrawal of nurses from special…
We held a meeting with a number of principals about the pressures that Knockevin and other schools face around allied health professionals and nurses. I have every sympathy with and support for the principal of Knockevin. These schools need to be supported with appropriate healthcare because they are dealing with very…
Minister, you will be aware that the Good Friday Agreement states that we have to facilitate and encourage the growth of the Irish language. In your term, in this mandate, on a scale of one to 10, how well would you say that you are serving the Irish-medium sector and the Irish language?
I thank the Member for her question. Colleagues will know that I receive a huge number of invitations, and I just cannot be everywhere all at the one time. However, I seek to make myself available. Most Members in the Chamber, if they look at it fairly, will say that I do that and attend as many settings and take up…
I absolutely understand the representations that the Member has received; I have also received them. It is recognition of what we are able to do as an Executive with the resource that is available. I would love to bring more in, but that comes with a cost implication. Some of the settings, as we develop the programme,…
I thank the Minister for that information. Minister — I have written to you about this — we have been contacted by preschool principals who feel that they are now at a disadvantage and are in competition with preschools in the same area that can offer more hours. How do you plan to support them in the short term,…
The 2024-25 package of measures for parents and providers that I announced to the Assembly on 23 May continues to be successfully implemented, including a major expansion of preschool education provision. I announced at that time my intention that an additional 100 preschool settings and 2,000 places would transition…
That takes me into the territory of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report on underinvestment in our school estate, the need for much higher levels of investment and the bids that I make, which are for much greater sums than I receive. I agree in general that there needs to be much better investment in the…
I thank the Member for that. As with everything, whilst I believe that departmental officials, the Education Authority and others responded very well — I went to meet the staff in EA to convey my appreciation — lessons on communications can always be learned. That Sunday evening, nearly 300 principals were invited and…
Will the Minister and his Department, along with EA, carry out formal feedback sessions with school and educational setting leaders to hear what further support and communications, they feel, are needed before and after major incidents such as storm Éowyn?
I thank the Member for that question. The Minister of Finance allocated some funding to Departments to help to mitigate the costs. Obviously, the Department of Education and other Departments are already under acute financial pressure. My Department received a £3 million allocation towards the storm damage on the…
The impact, as I outlined, was detrimental to the schools that had to close, but we were able to have the vast majority open, and, by the end of that week, all schools were open. Schools were also seeking, where they could, to carry out some remote learning. It also highlights the need for contingency arrangements to…
With the Speaker's permission, I will answer questions 4 and 10 together. I begin by expressing my sincere thanks to the staff in all our schools, in the Education Authority and in NIE and to members of our community who worked extremely hard, sometimes in very challenging conditions, to protect our schools estate…
Special educational needs was an issue that was consulted on in the draft Programme for Government, and I am confident that it will be in the document when it is agreed. That recognises the collective approach that the Executive are taking to deal with those issues. Of course, it needs to be followed through with…
Minister, supporting children with special educational needs was a priority in the draft Programme for Government, yet children continue to wait nearly three times the statutory limit for an assessment. Will you outline when your Department expects to deliver an assessment for every child within the statutory 26…