Paul Givan
Lagan Valley · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“The EA's enhanced support model has been out for consultation. The Member's party is the largest political grouping on the Education Authority, so his party supported the model's being consulted on.”
“Protections around strike action and action short of strike are firmly established in statute for all workers, including teachers. If the Member is referring to the Education Inspections Bill, let me be clear: nothing in that legislation removes or undermines that right.”
“The issue was covered at length at the Education Committee. The position is still not where it ought to be. When I came into office, the position that I inherited was much worse than it is today.”
“It is an area that I have had to navigate, as have many previous Education Ministers. Industrial relations is an area that needs ongoing work. I have outlined how we can address it, but I come back to saying that, when workload was undefined, trade unions struggled to specify the challenge.”
“That is not a fair characterisation. In fact, I was with Justin McCamphill, the leader of NASUWT, at the launch of the curriculum reform, at which he commended me for it and said that he thought that it was good. I have sat in many a meeting with trade union representatives during which they have said, "This is a good initiative.”
“That is exactly why there is a 16-week consultation period, rather than the normal 12 weeks or the minimum eight weeks; to allow the public and teaching profession to very much engage in that curriculum, which I commend to all Members.”
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“I trust that Mr Baker, or whoever winds, will apologise on behalf of Sinn Féin for the things that have been said by its Members to use children to pursue their vendetta around Israel, President Trump and the personal vitriol that they have towards me. That is shameless, and it is they who should reflect on being "tone-deaf" in this debate — I see that Mr Baker is smirking from the Back Benches. That is not what Members, those in the Public Gallery or the wider public want to listen to. I will not allow Sinn Féin to cause any more harm to children, so I will not allow interventions from those on its Benches. I will give way to Members outside of Sinn Féin, but, after the way that that party has disgracefully behaved in the debate, not to its Members.”
“Thank you. Mr Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to respond to the debate and set the record straight. I will follow in the same vein as the Chairman of the Education Committee, who set the right tone in holding me and the Minister of Health to account and in seeking genuine information. I will set the record straight on a number of points that have been raised, and, in due course, I will get to the questions that Mr Mathison raised. <BR /> <BR />It is, unfortunately, clear from today's debate that the agenda of some Members who have spoken is to exploit the issue for party political purposes. Mr Sheehan said that a mark of society is how it treats the most vulnerable. Then, shamelessly, Sinn Féin Members abused children with special educational needs for narrow party political advantage. They owe an apology.”
“The Members opposite talk about investigations, but there were investigations in which they were found guilty of crimes for which they went to prison”
“If there is any such report in existence, it should be published in full so that the public will be able to have full transparency and accountability in relation to any issues that are raised with Ministers. That is why, when the Commissioner for Standards carries out an investigation, it is then made publicly available. In my view, any other such investigation, if it relates to a Minister, should be published and people should be held to account. If the Members wish to provide specific details, I am happy to give a response to a question that goes beyond the generic. I repeat that I have only ever been vindicated as a result of investigations — vindicated. I take it that Members can read into that the fact that they were found to have absolutely no substance.”
“I refer to the same comment that I made to other Members in respect of the issues that are being raised. On no occasion has any complaint been upheld against me. Indeed, I have only ever been vindicated in the approach that I have taken in my role as Minister of Education.”
“Again, he is not giving specific details. If he wants to make a specific allegation that relates to a specific individual, he is welcome to do so. All Members are subject to investigations by the Assembly Commissioner for Standards. I have been investigated often. There has been only one incident, which related to decisions around "North/Southery". None of the rest were upheld against me. I can say to the Member that, if he is referring to any other investigations, no allegation against me has ever been upheld. Indeed, I have only ever been vindicated in the approach that I have taken in my Department.”
“The Member would need to elaborate on exactly what it is that he is referring to. If the Member wants to make a specific allegation about a specific issue, I will be able to respond to him. At the moment, however, he is making a vague allegation, as was Mr Baker. If he wants to provide specifics, I will give him a specific response.”
“Not for the first time, Mrs Guy is wrong.”
“That involvement falls well short of having:”
“Whilst the High Court concluded that the impugned legislation was in breach of the applicant's rights, the Court of Appeal found that there was no breach because of the existence of the unqualified statutory rights of the parent to have their child excused wholly or partly from attendance at religious education, collective worship or both in accordance with their request. <BR /> <BR />Following the Court of Appeal judgement, which largely found in favour of the Department, it was the applicants, not the Department, who applied to the Supreme Court. The Department was a respondent in the case. The Supreme Court hearing was held in May 2025. In advance of the hearing and based on the views of counsel, I agreed to a cross-appeal in respect of issues not adjudicated on by the Court of Appeal in Belfast.”
“The Member is right to highlight the inaccuracy in respect of the comments that Mrs Guy made around RE. She went on to make a number of other misinformed comments, but I will respond to those later in the week. <BR /> <BR />The characterisation, as the Member described it, is completely inaccurate. My Department did not push the case to the Supreme Court, and my personal level of involvement in the legal proceedings is minimal. The genesis of the RE judicial review was in November 2021, well before my time in office. The case that was taken by a child and their father was heard by the High Court, with the judgement handed down in July 2022. At the time, the then Minister of Education, Michelle McIlveen, instructed the Department to appeal that decision. That appeal was heard in October 2023, and the outcome was handed down in April 2024.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I have previously stated, the review represents a significant opportunity to ensure that the future RE core syllabus reflects the needs of learners now and into the future. I look forward to receiving the recommendations arising from the process in due course.”
“<BR /> <BR />The chair and vice chair will be supported by a drafting group comprising practising teachers of religious education from primary and post-primary schools, with a breadth of experience. There was significant interest in those roles, and I expect members to be formally appointed this week. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, my Department launched a call for evidence on 24 February, inviting views from the public to support the group of experts, teachers and school leaders taking forward the review. Over 1,000 responses have been received to the call, which closed on 20 March. That represents a vital component of the process and will complement wider engagement as the drafting group develops proposals for a revised syllabus.”
“That is something that we have taken forward as a result of the UK Supreme Court judgement. The review of the syllabus is now firmly under way. As Members will be aware, I have agreed the terms of reference for the review and have appointed Professor Noel Purdy as chair and Mrs Joyce Logue as vice chair. The chair and vice chair have commenced a significant programme of engagement with key stakeholders, ensuring that the review is informed by a range of perspectives, with those early engagements shaping the work ahead. <BR /> <BR />In line with the terms of reference, I have established a Church consultative group to provide theological expertise and advice to the drafting group. The group comprises representatives from the four main Churches, and it has held its first meeting.”
“The EA will work closely with the school principal. It has engaged with the school to outline the works that it needs to complete to go through the process in order for the necessary business cases and so on to be completed. Then, the necessary funding needs to be made available for that. <BR /> <BR />I will make the point that I made earlier during Question Time. Many schools require significant investment, and the only way that we will be able to deliver that investment is for my Department to receive the appropriate allocation that it needs. The failure to provide funding to Education over many years is now being acutely felt in schools, not just in Rosetta but across the school estate. The estate is decaying and crumbling, and it requires significant financial investment for that to be put right.”
“I have visited the school in my role as Education Minister, and I am aware of the issues. I have sought assurances from the Education Authority that it is giving it the priority that it merits and that it is working through the processes so that the relevant stages are completed and works can be carried out. I say to the Member's constituent — Lucy — that I very much want to see the school getting the proper facilities that it deserves. Interim arrangements have been put in place with the church hall, and the EA is working through a process to try to reach a resolution.”
“I agree with the Member. As a father of three girls, I absolutely believe that women's rights ought to be upheld in workplaces and that there should not be any practices in any sector, but certainly not in the area that I am responsible for, that discriminate against women in the workplace.”
“Any requests that come into a school for flexible arrangements are considered by the board of governors in the first instance, and I know that, where those can be accommodated, schools often accommodate such requests.”
“What I can say to the Member's remarks is that if any allegations of that nature were made, I would expect them to be thoroughly investigated. I am confident that in any such investigation, no such allegation, disgraceful as it would be to have made it in the first instance, would be substantiated or upheld.”
“I can confirm that no such allegations have been made against me in my Department.”
“There is a financial challenge facing the entirety of the Department of Education when it comes to meeting the needs within not just youth services but special educational needs provision and the wider issues around routine maintenance. What the Department of Education needs is a significant increase in its allocation. That is why, as part of the Budget process, I have made the case that there needs to be hundreds of millions of pounds more put into education. The best way for all services to get additional funding will be for the Alliance Party to support me at the Executive to provide increased funding to the Department of Education, which will then benefit our constituents.”
“I addressed that question when Mr McGrath raised the importance of the youth sector. I shared his sentiment about the importance of the youth sector, particularly having witnessed it not just in my constituency but in many others. The remarks there were quite clear, namely that there was an opportunity for the EA, if it wished, to provide additional funding when it comes to youth services and not regard the earmark process as a cap on the amount of funding that should be provided to those youth services.”
“That panel determined that Northern Ireland has too many non-viable small schools and too many small sixth forms. To tackle that problem, which has educational and financial dimensions, the panel stated that we needed a new approach to area planning. Therefore, my Department set out its proposals for a five-year education budget strategy. Consultation on the strategy closes on 3 April. The strategy includes proposals that would restructure the schools estate. The details of how that will be taken forward are yet to be determined, and in any future work that my Department undertakes in that area, the SSP and rural issues will be key considerations.”
“I accepted the independent review of education panel's recommendation 20, which was to "Reconfigure the network of schools", in principle.”
“Part of the broader policy proposals for a more sustainable education sector is that a commission would look at the sustainability of schools. The Member makes a really strong argument about the importance of small rural schools to those communities.”
“I understand the Member's point; indeed, I will be in his constituency on Wednesday, I think, with Jemma Dolan and my colleague Deborah Erskine. We will visit schools in Belleek, which is a very remote area. During that visit, I will be in one of those schools. I share the views that the Member expressed around how strategically important some rural schools can be. That is why that is reflected in the sustainable schools policy criteria. We need to ensure that our schools are sustainable. Unfortunately, over the next 10 years, we will live with a significant reduction in population, and that will have a ripple effect on school enrolment. It is better to manage that process than to have to react in a way that I do not think would be planned. No decisions have been taken in respect of that.”
“Children in rural areas have the same right as their urban counterparts to access high-quality education, and the needs of children, as opposed to institutions, must always be to the fore. Ideally, I want to see all communities with vibrant, sustainable education provision that provides the best educational opportunities for all our children and young people.”
“I am aware of the important role that schools, including those in rural areas, play in their communities. The sustainable schools policy (SSP) recognises the needs of rural communities, and that is reflected in a lower enrolment threshold for rural primary schools; an accessibility criterion that provides guidance on home-to-school travel times; and a "Strong links with the Community" criterion that recognises the central place that a school has for many communities. <BR /> <BR />The aim of the SSP is to ensure that all children, no matter where they live, receive a high-quality education that meets their needs and enables them to achieve their full potential in strong schools that are educationally and financially sustainable.”
“I am always happy to take on board Members' comments about being more effective. The Member clearly has not engaged with schools about the challenges that there are with cardboard boxes. When it comes to smartphones and "off" buttons, I regularly encourage the Alliance Party Members to hit their "off" button and stop engaging in some of the activities that I have witnessed on their Twitter feeds. You do not need to have a cardboard box or a pouch in order to do that. If you were all to find the "off" button, you would do us all a favour.”
“That is why I changed the policy in the Department to have a prohibition on smartphones in our schools. That is why I approved the smartphones pilot in nine of our schools; a pilot that the Alliance Party called a waste of money. Tell that to the children in those schools who have benefited. When I visited, they told me that it has made a positive impact in reducing the bullying behaviour that had been taking place. Tell them that it is a waste of money. Shame on the Alliance Party for scoring points on an issue related to those types of behaviours in our schools. Instead of doing that, I encourage Members to get behind the policy, and we should seek much greater effectiveness of it in our schools. That will go a long way to minimising that form of bullying, which often takes place.”
“I agree with the comments that the Member has just made. I assure him that, following the introduction of the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act, the Department supported the establishment of an implementation team in the Education Authority in September 2022. That team was created and provides practical support to schools, educational settings, young people and parents, helping them to understand and meet the requirements of the Act and to embed cultures that eradicate bullying-type behaviour in schools. <BR /> <BR />We ought to do all that we can to address bullying. The Member highlighted the evolving nature of some of that bullying, particularly given the greater accessibility to smartphone devices and what can occur by way of messaging, WhatsApp groups, TikTok and so on.”
“<BR /> <BR />The available evidence base includes information from the termly reports provided by the EA's addressing bullying team; questions on bullying-type behaviour that were included in the school omnibus survey for the first time in 2024; work by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) to help to inform understanding of the implementation and impact of the Act; and learner questionnaire responses to provide further insights into pupils' perceptions of safety and anti-bullying efforts. I considered that the emerging evidence from those data sources on the implementation and impact of the Act was broadly very positive, while recognising that more can always be done.”
“<BR /> <BR />While a formal evaluation of the Act has not been conducted, officials have progressed work to improve access to reliable, region-wide data with a view to confirming the extent to which the Act is being implemented across schools; supporting a deeper understanding of the frequency, methods and motivations associated with bullying-type behaviours; assessing the impact of the Act and of the EA's addressing bullying in schools implementation team's work; and informing future policy and practice for both the Department and the EA.”
“I recognise the importance of evaluating the implementation and impact of the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act 2016. While the Act does not require schools to share the data that they are required to record on bullying-type behaviour with the Department, significant work over the past two years has focused on addressing existing data gaps to support meaningful ongoing evaluation of the implementation and impact of the Act.”
“but be aware that, in making the case for other settings, where there is movement, that can also have a negative impact in particular settings. I certainly commend Mr Frew for his work in North Antrim.”
“It has been able to be retained as a result of the work in which Mr Frew engaged. I say this to Mr Gaston: yes, make the case for other settings —”
“When it comes to PANs, the EA follows a process, and I know from my constituency that the experience last year was not satisfactory. Significant adjustments had to be made, not least in the Moira area of my constituency. We were able to do that. Where there are particular examples, I am happy for Members to raise them with me, and we can engage with the EA. However, I will also say this to the Member: increasing the allocation in some settings could lead to a reduction in other settings. My colleague Mr Frew made a strong case to me about the increase needed to the numbers at the nursery school adjacent to Kirkinriola Primary School. Having looked at the evidence on applications, we were able to move its allocation from seven, which would have meant that it would no longer function, to eight.”
“I believe that it has improved the way in which the process has been carried out, but I am aware that a number of pupils and parents have been in contact with me today and will also have contacted colleagues in the Assembly. I will seek to provide more information to them on specific, case-by-case examples.”
“I can assure the Member that the EA's processes will continue to review preschool provision levels in all areas, including rural areas. The Member makes a compelling argument about the importance of preschool provision, particularly in rural settings. Where additional funded places are required, the EA will adjust allocations to those settings accordingly. <BR /> <BR />Last year, I asked the EA to review its admissions and PAN processes to bring about improvement and to provide better transparency for settings and parents. The report on the review is available on the EA website. That was done in response to concerns that were raised as a result of last year's process.”
“Where necessary, PANs will be adjusted to ensure that sufficient provision remains available. In each of the past 12 years, at least 99·8% of children whose parents stayed with the process to the end received an offer of a funded place in a setting of their preference. It is, however, important to remember that it is not possible, nor is it the aim of the programme, to accommodate every child in their parents' first-preference setting. Parents are encouraged to consider all preschool provision in their area, to list a number of preferences and to stay with the process to the end to maximise the opportunity for their child to be offered a funded preschool place.”
“The Education Authority is responsible for managing the preschool admissions process and ensuring that sufficient places are available to accommodate all target-age children whose parents want a place. In doing so, the EA takes account of all provision across statutory and non-statutory settings. My Department plays no role in that process. The EA wrote to settings on 4 November 2025 to notify them of their provisional pupil allocation number (PAN) for the 2026-27 academic year and explained that those allocations may be subject to change. <BR /> <BR />The 2026-27 preschool admissions process is ongoing, and parents, I know, will have been advised of the outcome of stage-1 applications today. The EA has advised that the level of demand for provision in all areas will continue to be monitored.”
“Rather than regarding the previous policy of earmarked funding as a cap, the EA will be able to increase funding if it feels that that is where the priority lies.”
“The EA is the decision maker on the criteria for the assessment of applications. The Department will continue to set the overarching policy and framework, but operational decisions sit entirely with the EA and do not come to the Department. The EA takes the decisions on applications, and it is therefore appropriate that it also take the decisions on the level of funding that will be allocated to youth services. In the past, the earmarked funding was often looked at as being a limit that would be spent on youth services. The EA will have the opportunity, if it decides to do so, to put more money into youth services. I certainly do not anticipate that it will put less money into youth services.”
“I agree with the Member about the importance of youth work. I see it in my constituency. I have witnessed the increase of the community sector's ability to deliver that provision, rather than the statutory sector doing it. The community sector has made a significant contribution to outcomes in the constituency.”
“That will be dissolved and merged into the managing authority, so a further body will not be created. There will be an efficiency. The controlled sector unit that has been established in the EA is giving much clearer purpose to the current functions that ought to be discharged by the EA, but all of the evidence shows it to be inadequate. Therefore, as that work is consolidated in that controlled sector unit, it will be able to be transitioned seamlessly towards the creation of the managing authority that the legislation will be able to take forward. I have no doubt that, in due course, the Member will be able to provide the relevant scrutiny as it appears before his Committee.”
“I am glad that the Member raises that point, because he allows me to re-emphasise the evidence that I have just provided in response to the two questions. I trust that the Member listened to those responses. If he does not want to listen to me, I hope that he listens to the over 90% endorsement from the consultation. I hope that he listens to the overwhelming endorsement from school principals in his constituency and the constituencies of other Members, who are actively supportive of and campaigning for this, or is the Alliance Party ignoring the demands from the principals of the controlled schools in its Members' constituencies? That is the suggestion that, I infer, the Member is making. The evidence is there. <BR /> <BR />A controlled sector support council advocacy group already exists.”
“The integrated sector has the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) — the body that represents its views. Interestingly, the majority of integrated schools are controlled integrated schools. We also have Irish-medium schools that fall within the controlled sector. Therefore, the proposition that the Member makes — that controlled schools are somehow exclusive and do not incorporate other aspects of our education sector — is false, given that the sector is inclusive of the integrated and Irish-medium sectors.”
“The panel members viewed the establishment of a managing authority not as an end point but as an essential interim measure on the path to a single, system-wide managing authority.”
“The panel was of the view that the establishment of a single managing authority to manage all schools, apart from the voluntary grant-aided sector, is the ultimate goal for which we should aim. However, it acknowledged that that would require agreement among numerous stakeholders and would likely take some time. The panel regarded the need to improve support for controlled schools as very urgent. Panel members considered that 'Investing in a Better Future' — the independent review of education report — strongly aligned with the establishment of a managing authority for controlled schools as a crucial stepping stone towards a broader, single managing authority for education.”
“All members of the independent review of education panel were supportive of the proposal.”