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 welcome the Minister's statement. Alliance welcomes the specific work of InterTradeIreland on energy innovation and technology towards decarbonisation. If we can solve that crisis, we can open up a different world of opportunities here, as we all acknowledge. The Minister spoke a minute ago about resource. Is the…
I thank the Minister for his statement. The statement rightly recognises the importance and opportunity of advanced manufacturing. The Minister will be aware that, as a result of the city deal project, Northern Ireland will have a new advanced manufacturing site on the edge of my constituency, and of yours, Mr Deputy…
That was not a subject of discussion at the meeting that we had in Armagh under the North/South arrangements. Nonetheless, the Member is correct that geothermal energy can play an important part in our journey towards net zero. We need to explore all alternatives to using fossil fuels to heat properties. I understand…
In the context of InterTradeIreland's research and, indeed, the COP conference that is taking place, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recently indicated that there is an excellent and largely untapped geothermal resource in Ireland, especially in the North. Given the urgent need to make progress on…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker, in response to a question from me, the deputy First Minister claimed that the prison buildings at the Maze were listed at the request of the then Secretary of State. Will you require the deputy First Minister to correct the record to reflect the fact that the request for listing the…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarismCriteria met: Controversy escalation.
Contingency measures have been put in place. When we started, significant progress was made by creating 1,400 places, which ensured that placements were being provided. In September, October and November, we have been completing the final numbers for school settings that need additional capital. Where we still have…
I am always struck by the fact that, when I visit a school, whether it be a primary school or a post-primary school, the student council will come to meet me and talk about how its members have had to make speeches in order to get votes. I seek to gather advice from them on how I can use that approach myself. Schools…
Following on from that, I wish to ask about encouraging young people to participate in the democratic process, which is what participatory budgeting is all about. What support does the Department give to school councils or pupils to engage in their school's democratic processes?
I have been in a number of schools in which that example of financial management has been used to help young people understand money and how to use it. That has been of benefit to them and to the school. It is unlikely that I will be able provide direct funding for that, given the budget pressures that we are under.…
Let me say as a starting point that resolutions are non-binding, so a motion that is agreed by the Assembly does not carry any legal status. The amendment to the motion sought reassurances from me, as Minister, that what had been done was correct. I am quite capable of providing the evidence to any Member who wishes…
I think that it did. Throughout the debate, Members made the point that they are for a change to the eligibility criteria. Can the Minister therefore confirm that no changes will be made to the criteria?
We will continue to monitor that. The impact that it may have on some families could cause them to reconsider their use of private schools and to consider whether they need to access education in the public setting, the cost of which will be borne by the taxpayer. I cannot be precise about the numbers associated with…
That is an issue of concern that I have expressed opposition to and engaged with Treasury on. HMRC has confirmed that there are 14 independent schools and 11 grammar schools in Northern Ireland that will fall within the scope of the VAT changes owing to the Government's policy.
I have met many parents and constituents about the very same issue that the Member has raised. I have always tried to accommodate all the requests for meetings that come in to me. The figures are the evidence of that. I think I may have met more individuals and groups than any other Minister in the Executive. I would…
I thank the Minister for the answer. I understand the cost implications and challenges that this presents. I have written to your office to request a meeting with you and a group of parents. Quite a proportion in my area, but a small number when you consider the number of people accessing transport across the North,…
It is an issue with the operation of the policy that many Members have raised. Any one particular change will have a repercussive effect and cannot be taken forward in isolation. I will look at the home-to-school transport issue, not least because there are ways in which we could provide better support to young people…
The Member will be pleased to know that over 400 of his constituents are registered for the scheme and benefiting from it. Again, it is worth highlighting that those 418 children in North Belfast are an element of the now over 13,000 people in hardworking families who are benefiting directly. We have also been able to…
I am delighted that Currie Primary School in my North Belfast constituency will be one of those moving to full-time provision. Can the Minister give any further updates on how his work impacts on residents right across North Belfast?
We touched on this issue during listed questions. The preschool setting is one of the areas of the childcare strategy funded by the Executive, and we aim to deliver 2,200 full-time places in September. So far, the two tranches have comprised 77 preschool settings, and that allows us to move forward with those places.…
Tomorrow morning at Methodist College, I will launch the new CPR training app. In conjunction with training, we need to look at the physical device. That is why I commissioned a survey of all schools, to which we have had over 600 responses. Half of the schools that were surveyed do not have such devices on-site. It…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, you touched on defibrillators, which are lifesaving pieces of equipment throughout our community. What can you do to ensure that more defibrillators are rolled out across the schools estate?
I thank the Member for his question, which is a very important one. CPR is dealt with in the curriculum, but we need to give greater focus to it. Teaching of CPR and awareness of defibrillators have been mandatory elements of the school curriculum at Key Stage 3 since 2022. To support schools in meeting that…