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 those Members who tabled this very important motion and my colleague Robbie Butler for tabling what seems to be a simple but important amendment about the transition to post-education settings. Meeting special educational needs is complex and difficult, and, I have to say, it appears that parents almost give…
I thank the Minister for giving way. There is a lot of concern that children who were placed in specialist provision in mainstream schools, particularly in the new units that sprang up in large numbers last year in our preschool settings, were not able to access their full place, or they were not able to fulfil a full…
I thank the Minister for giving way. There was a piece of that that registered with me. We talk about complexity of need. Does the Minister agree that it may be that there is just a better understanding of the complexity of need and that, as opposed to thinking about the individuals and the changing profile of…
I thank the Members who tabled the motion — the Chairman of the Education Committee supported by his colleagues — who are all here and have been present throughout. It is a hugely important motion, and I am pleased that it has been brought to the Floor of the Assembly so early in the mandate. I thank all Members for…
Just three weeks: that is how long it took for the families of children with special educational needs and disabilities to protest outside the newly restored Assembly. Along with other Members, I was with Colin autism group today. I also stood alongside and in support of Unite the union members. I commend them both…
I am glad to see that the motion has been moved today. Issues with support and resources for special educational needs bring the highest volume of cases through my constituency offices. Prior to commencing my remarks, I acknowledge the sterling work being undertaken by so many schools across the North. In difficult…
I thank the Member for giving way. I really admire his passion for the subject, and I served on the Committee with him. Does the Member agree that, while funding is one avenue of concern, the under-use of the Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 has been a singular failure by most of the…
This is a critical and important issue, but nothing we have heard today is new. The reality is that, behind all the examples and numbers that have been given, there are families and children who are suffering in terrible situations. They are all unique. There is a wider problem that we need to look at. We have…
I thank the Member for his comments. They are very passionate, and I agree with his passion. As he said, we are failing those children. If we keep throwing the same money and more money at a system that is not delivering, we have to ask this question: is what we are spending our money on us spending it well?
Principal Deputy Speaker, everybody struggles with these titles. I think that we should go back to referring to Mr or Mrs Speaker. "The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members." This quote is used very often by many Members, including me, but it is attributed to Gandhi. It…
I thank the Member for giving way. I am loath to jump in here, because I think that you are making great headway, but I want to pay credit to you as the chair of the all-party group on learning disability and the former chair of the all-party group on disability. We have shared roles there. The Member mentioned that…
When we think about education and children with special educational needs, we need to bear equity in mind. To get equality for all pupils, we need to think about how we can encourage and increase the investment in the children who need more help in order to be treated equally. I support the Alliance motion and confirm…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, and I hope that I have got your title right this time. The mission statement of the Minister's Department states that all pupils should be "happy, learning and succeeding." That applies equally to all young people, including those who have special educational needs. For those…
I thank the Members who tabled this important motion. A battle a day is what every parent of a child with special educational needs goes through in order to get any support. Parents are exhausted from the daily challenges and need us to be their voice and deliver real change. Children with special educational needs…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Did I get that right? First of all, before I begin my speech, I pass on my condolences and those of my party to Cathy, who shared her personal story of loss. In speaking on this important motion, I thank my colleague and my party's education spokesperson, Nick Mathison, whose…
In the debate on ending violence against women and girls, I remarked how pleased I was to see the Assembly dealing with real issues that are affecting people across Northern Ireland. In that regard, I will begin my contribution by congratulating and thanking the Members who tabled such an important motion. I am going…
It is a privilege to be here for the first time, making my first speech, and it is important that I thank all those in South Down who placed their trust in me to represent them in the Chamber. I gave my word that I would work hard for the people of South Down and try to bring forward solutions to the issues that…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that flexibility, or agility, should be built into the system and into settings to respond to the ever-growing demand and need? I am thinking of Ardnashee School and College in my constituency, which has received an extremely welcome but very long-awaited new…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. I am rarely an angry person, but this is an issue that I am deeply unhappy about. I see it every day and every week in my constituency office, and it is heartbreaking. The dire need for more special educational needs support is an urgent and pressing matter that…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am proud to rise for the first time in the Chamber, and I am thankful to those who elected me to represent the great constituency of East Belfast. In the traditions of the Chamber, I will refer a little to my predecessor and my constituency before I move on to the scope of…
The beginning and end of this issue is that every child, irrespective of background or ability, is entitled to — has a human right to — an education. Unfortunately, all too often, we see that right not being upheld or being only partly upheld when children do not get the quality of education that they deserve. To…
I totally agree with the Member about the work of the previous Committee. It was vital. In fact, it helped resolve quite a lot of the issues. Since the collapse of these institutions, however, do you believe that the Education Authority has learnt any lessons about how children have been mistreated in special…
That will teach me, won't it? I was laughing at the Chair of the Education Committee for making a mistake, but I made mine on purpose. I was thinking about your comment about crazy biscuits, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, and about how I could be funny. I do not need to be funny, because this is a serious debate. We…