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 Member for giving way. This is a hugely important issue, as he has rightly pointed out. It is a challenge for all our offices. This is a crisis. Does the Member agree that, although, every year, we hear about the challenges facing those children in schools, particularly those who cannot get a place, the…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Moved. I am still learning the processes. I beg to move Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Take 2. I am now able to say that I am delighted to move the motion. I am sure that we all agree that the need to invest in and transform our special educational needs and…
Go raibh míle maith agaibh to every Member who spoke. I recorded that there were something like 19 contributions to the debate, including my winding-up speech. I was delighted to see a collegiate approach and the contributions that everybody made, which were sincere, honest and very credible. I pay tribute to both the…
I thank all Members for their thoughtful contributions to the debate on the important matter of the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls. The purpose of our amendment is to highlight the need for the Executive Office and other Departments to prioritise funding for the delivery of programmes…
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle; I thank you for your latitude in extending the debate, given the significance of the issue and the fact that so many Members wanted to contribute. I am really grateful for that, and I am really grateful for the collegial approach that everybody took and the tone that was…
I thank the Member for her question. I am more than happy to visit some of the centres that she mentioned. There is an inadequacy in some of our estate, and it requires capital investment. I have already witnessed that first-hand in some of the schools that I have visited. We have excellent schools, and we have…
Having witnessed the commitment of staff who work with young people who have challenges in settings that are not always fit for purpose, I encourage the Minister to pay those centres a visit at his earliest opportunity. Further to that, I ask the Minister for his assessment of the EOTAS provision.
The Member raises the important issue of the capital requirements that are needed, whether that be for an EOTAS centre or for other aspects of the education system. My bid is a very ambitious one because of the capital needs that exist.
Yes. I will meet the Minister for the Economy. We have already discussed the need for that collaboration. We will set about having that meeting and see what more we can do in that area.
We heard earlier from the Minister for the Economy about the need for collaborative working and the overlap, and you have referenced that in some of your answers. Will you consider working collaboratively and commit to a joint action plan with the Economy Minister on the issue of careers advice in schools?
Yes. I do not know how much advice and guidance young people will get to become politicians. I did not need advice or guidance on that when I was at school, because I always wanted to do it. The Member makes an important point, however, about getting the right careers advice. It is not always about pursuing academic…
The Member will have heard the response that I provided to Mr Baker in respect of the report that I await on that matter. Obviously, where budget is available, the Department will be able to do much more. That scheme ended last year. The annual contribution towards it was approximately £20 million a year. In…
We have already heard about holiday hunger from the Member for West Belfast. What other steps will the Department take to try to alleviate holiday hunger?
Collaboration with Executive colleagues takes place in a number of areas. I can think of the skills agenda. There is a framework in place with the Department for the Economy, for example, because of the overlap between the age of 16 and moving into the ages of 17, 18 and 19, which requires collaboration. Importantly,…
That may be for the Department of Education or the Department for Communities, so we can follow up that invitation and make sure that an appropriate meeting can be set up for the Member.
Minister, in highlighting the excellent work that our community and voluntary organisations provide, will you commit to joining me in my constituency of East Belfast to meet the Ledley Hall Youth and Boxing Club and other providers to hear at first hand about the impactful work that they are carrying out?
The point that the Member raises about the most effective use of public resources is worthy of consideration. The voluntary sector provides excellent support to our children and young people, and I want to see it supported. It faced significant reductions in its budget when Stormont was not up and running. Subject,…
The bid that I will put forward will certainly challenge Executive colleagues to match that ambition. It also puts into stark focus why my party leader, at the time of the discussions with the Government, said that the financial package was not enough. Other parties said, "Get the Executive back up and running". Our…