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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“It should be noted that the court's findings related specifically to the circumstances of the pupil involved and to delivery at the applicant's school. <BR /> <BR />It is essential to be clear about what the court determined and, equally, what it did not. The court did not strike down the legislation that governs RE and collective worship. That legal framework remains firmly and intentionally in place. Schools therefore must lawfully continue to teach RE and provide collective worship. The judgment does, however, identify areas of concern in which action is now required.”
“As Members will be aware, religious education and collective worship are legally compulsory in all publicly funded schools in Northern Ireland except nursery schools. The JR87 case examined whether, in one school, the teaching of RE and the arrangements for collective worship complied with the rights guaranteed under article 2 of protocol No 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, read alongside article 9, as incorporated through the Human Rights Act 1998. The Supreme Court upheld the original case judge's declaration that, in that case, the pupil's rights had been breached and the current core syllabus did not in itself ensure that religious education was delivered in a manner that was objective, critical and pluralistic.”
“On 19 November 2025, the United Kingdom Supreme Court delivered its judgement in the case of JR87 concerning religious education and collective worship in a Northern Ireland school. On 24 November 2025, I gave the Assembly my commitment that I would return at the earliest opportunity to set out my response. Today, I honour that commitment.”
“<BR /> <BR />In my view, an "unreasonable and excessive personal attack" can be the case only where it breaches the law around either harassment or criminal intent. That test has not been passed. It is being voted on because of the subjective opinions of the commissioner and the political views of Members. The commissioner's office has been politically weaponised by those with political grievances, who do not agree with what Mr Gaston said. We are now subject to the derision of democracies internationally for seeking to stifle free speech. Even when we do not like what Members say, we should still protect their right to say it.”
“I agree. We in the Assembly could — not that I encourage this — defame any individual in society because we have parliamentary privilege. We could also do it in a Committee because we have parliamentary privilege, yet, even though we have protected privilege as elected Members, we could be subject to an investigation. We have that protection because of the democratic status that we have. Yes, we should be responsible and should exercise that privilege responsibly. We have legal protection, but not towards members of a Committee, and there lies the disconnect between the way in which the commissioner has approached those issues in the Committee and the protected privilege that we have.”
“It is a draconian and disproportionate approach. I give way.”
“Timothy Gaston said what he said publicly, and he can be held to account at the next election, as I can for the decisions that I have made and for the way in which I speak. It is not about the subjective opinion of a commissioner or the subjective views of Members. We can all take offence at what other Members say and how they say it.”
“The Alliance Party, though, will happily, in the Chamber, tell a Member who had to move house on multiple occasions under threat to, "Grow up" — and that is acceptable. The Alliance Party will say to the Member beside me, "You're a liar", yet it gets offended and generates a complaint with the Standards and Privileges Committee. The public will look on and make a judgement on the double standards. <BR /> <BR />This is a draconian punishment, because it interferes with the fundamental democratic wishes of the people of Northern Ireland, who elected Timothy Gaston and everybody else in this House. I do not agree with a lot of the different views that Members have, but that is the democratic wish.”
“<BR /> <BR />I look at the Chair of the Standards and Privileges Committee: the same Member, only last week, accused the Communities Minister of being "sectarian". Is that appropriate language from a Member? I do not expect Gordon Lyons to put in a complaint. In fairness to Sinn Féin members, when I appear before the Education Committee, we have far more robust exchanges, both ways, than the exchange that this complaint is about. The Chair of the Education Committee has facilitated those exchanges. I have never put in a complaint; my officials have never put in a complaint; and, indeed, Sinn Féin members have never put in a complaint. I find that Sinn Féin will usually engage in robust debate without generating complaints.”
“I allowed them to put forward their views, even when I fundamentally disagreed with those views and the way in which they presented them. I did not see it as my job to stifle members' ability to ask questions that I did not agree with. That has not been the case in that particular Committee. <BR /> <BR />I look at the comments — "Take a step back ... Breathe" — and I hear Sinn Féin saying that they are unacceptable. Those people have actually stopped people breathing and glorified terrorists who killed people, yet they are so offended that somebody had the temerity to tell a Committee Chair to "Breathe". The public will look on with disdain at the way in which Sinn Féin is putting forward its opinion.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Chair of the Standards and Privileges Committee, I read many a report about the conduct of Members, some of which were never publicised, that, I have to say, made for very interesting reading. The approach taken by the Committee in this report, however, sets a new low that will tie up Committees with spurious allegations and investigations that will come to the Assembly and that we will then have to debate. It sets a precedent that the Assembly should reject. <BR /> <BR />I do not want to get into the tit for tat that took place in the Committee and the way in which that Chair conducts her Committee. I took a very different approach when I was a Committee Chair. I allowed members to speak freely.”
“I was Chair of the Standards and Privileges Committee once upon a time. Having been in the Assembly for 16 years, I have been the subject of many complaints from members of the public and others, which the commissioner investigated and subsequently dismissed. Those included a complaint from witnesses who appeared before the Justice Committee when I was its Chair. I note that Mr Gaston has complained that the commissioner who ruled on this matter did not deem it necessary to carry out an investigation, yet previous commissioners investigated me when I was Chair of the Justice Committee, so there is a question for the Standards and Privileges Committee to address about consistency of approach.”
“It is. I have been assured that the official start date is the same as it was when we started the construction process. There will always be a degree of movement, but I have been told that, as of today, it is still on target to meet the official completion date.”
“It is progressing well. I intend to be in Omagh in a number of weeks' time, when I will visit the site again. I was there for the official sod-cutting. It is an iconic development of five schools and 4,000 pupils from across our community coming together on one site. I was pleased that the Executive supported my recommendation to take the project forward. It will be transformational for the Omagh community.”
“I assure the Member that I certainly have sympathy with the sentiment that he has expressed. I am happy to look at the issue, and, if there is an anomaly or if unfair treatment has somehow taken place, I will certainly consider changing that.”
“I am more than happy to look at that example, if the Member wants to correspond with me about the nursery that he named. I will look into it. If a school or a nursery setting has stepped forward to offer specialist provision that has been conditional on receiving additional finance, that should be provided. I am happy to look into the matter for the Member.”
“Yes. In the past, when there have been specific issues and the information has got into the wider public discourse, Members have brought me examples of those settings. I will happily engage with the Education Authority to address those matters. Ultimately, that is an operational decision and not one over which I have ministerial discretion, but I am happy to facilitate any dialogue that is necessary between the EA and those providers.”
“I suspect that that issue will crystallise further as allocations are made using the pupil allocation number that many will be aware of. The EA manages that process carefully to ensure that there is no overprovision, because there is obviously a cost if places are funded but not utilised. That is an ongoing process. If there is sufficient demand, EA will look at making provision available by allocating additional numbers to providers. However, at the early stages of the process, the demand needs to crystallise. We will then engage with that information and make further capacity available, if that is necessary, to meet the need.”
“I am happy to do that. The question for the Member is this: does he want to listen to the evidence, which is documented and which the principals identified, or will his agnostic position be a brake and an obstacle to the legislation's progress through the Executive to the Assembly, where members of the Committee, of which he is one, can interrogate it and go through the scrutiny process before reaching a decision by voting on it? That is the challenge. We have had the discussion for months in the Executive. We have not been able to progress towards legislation. I trust that the agnostic position will no longer be an impediment that blocks it from coming to the appropriate scrutiny of the Committee and, ultimately, to the Assembly for a vote.”
“Let me acknowledge in good faith that the Member has said he is agnostic on the issue. I hope to move his position from agnostic to one of positive advancement. The evidence is very much there: it is well documented in the consultation exercise. Do not take my word for it if you struggle to believe it; take the word of the principals who provided their response as part of the consultation exercise. There certainly is evidence around academic attainment in controlled schools, particularly those in working-class areas. When you contrast that to attainment in Catholic-maintained schools, you find that those Catholic-maintained schools outperform controlled schools, despite their having a very similar demographic. I am happy to furnish the Member with more empirical evidence that sustains that argument.”
“Any parent can choose to deregister their child and then engage in homeschooling. Ultimately, it is important that those who choose to do so are given the appropriate support for that homeschooling to be effective. We need be able to assure ourselves that it is effective and that the child is getting the necessary support. That should be able to take place without legislation's being in place.”
“I am not aware that I will be introducing legislation on homeschooling.”
“Therefore, I intend to strengthen the EA's powers to force that conversation and then work proactively to find solutions so that we can address those issues in local areas.”
“We have engaged with a number of organisations, not least the National Association of Head Teachers. We have facilitated engagement with principals. We continue to identify specific localities where there is a need, and we seek to engage with school principals there, but, ultimately, not enough schools are making themselves available. Whatever their concerns may be, they need to work with the EA to identify the challenges. I intend to strengthen the Education Authority's provision so that schools have to engage with it. We cannot have only 26% of schools meeting the current need. We need many more schools to do that. Some may have legitimate reasons why they are not able to, but it is not acceptable just to say, "No, we will not engage".”
“I do agree with that. That is why I outlined what a 10-year capital programme for special educational needs provision would look like, not least in establishing new schools but in enhancing provision in mainstream settings. Where children are able to avail themselves of their local school that will inevitably reduce the requirement for long-distance transport and the associated costs. The EA has looked at the current provision through its contracts with taxi drivers. It has identified means by which it has been able to reduce the costs by almost £1 million. I understand that, for some taxi firms, that reduction in payment is a challenge. However, my responsibility and that of the EA is to transport children and young people to their school setting at the best possible cost.”
“That is obviously a discussion that many people who are opposed to the test do not want to engage in, as a point of principle. However, there should be space for that conversation to take place. <BR /> <BR />I will have more to say about academic selection in response to the motion tomorrow.”
“It is not that I am happy for the test to continue. I recognise that there is an inability to reach consensus on what would replace it and that that matter is open to debate. <BR /> <BR />The law allows for schools to select based on academic selection. That has facilitated schools to develop the test, which is currently done through the Schools' Entrance Assessment Group. In the past, two examinations took place. It is welcome that that has been reduced to one test, which you take in order to gain access to whichever school you seek to apply to, irrespective of its sector. <BR /> <BR />There are other questions that Members could discuss: sitting the test in an environment that you are not used to, rather than in the primary school that you have been going to for many years, adds to the stress of the occasion.”
“I sense that the Member wants to get into the debate that we are going to have tomorrow on that issue. I will be able to say more on it then. <BR /> <BR />Tomorrow, it will be two years since I took up office. I could have spent time focusing on trying to reach a consensus on what we do for the transfer from P7 to year 8, and I do not believe that we would have reached a consensus on it. The sectors and the wider public cannot reach a consensus, and, therefore, I decided that my focus would be on improving every school so that every child can get the best possible support, irrespective of the sector their school is in and whether they pass the transfer test and gain access to a school based upon their score. My focus is on driving school improvement everywhere.”
“The delay certainly has not been on my part. The submission came to me only very recently, and I intend to make progress on it so that we can have the regulations introduced. The Committee will then have the opportunity to look at them in more detail. It is important that we make sure that the regulations are effective and, ultimately, achieve better support for children with special educational needs, which is what we all want them to achieve. There certainly has been not been any delay on my part, and I will seek to expedite the regulations as soon as possible.”
“As the SEN reform agenda progresses, all relevant legislation will be considered to ensure that it continues to support the best outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs.”
“Taking into account the various dependencies across other Departments, it has been agreed that provisions within the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 and the SEN regulations will commence on 1 September 2026. Schools continue to receive targeted training from EA to prepare them for the new duties that the SEND Act and the regulations place on them. Since 2021, my Department has allocated £92·5 million directly to schools in recognition of the new statutory duties that are being introduced and the additional work that they may bring. <BR /> <BR />The new SEN regulations are in close alignment with the changes that are being delivered through my SEN reform agenda delivery plan.”
“I am pleased to advise that the new special educational needs (SEN) regulations 2026 have been finalised. Following my consideration, they will shortly be issued to the Education Committee for scrutiny, in advance of their laying at the Northern Ireland Assembly, as they are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. Officials from the Department of Education and the Education Authority are scheduled to brief the Education Committee jointly on the new SEN regulations on 25 February.”
“Both cases, however, have incurred significant legal costs, and that is expenditure that my Department could be using better.”
“To date, the cost of the judicial reviews (JRs) of the RAISE programme is £91,719·75, but not all costs in that case have yet been incurred. The case is also now subject to an appeal. It was also funded through legal aid that came out the Department of Justice's Legal Services Agency's budget. <BR /> <BR />I say this to Members and to the wider public: those policy decisions were found to be rational and legal. People may not always agree with them, but, ultimately, that is what democracy is about, unless a Minister is found to have acted illegally. In this case, that is not what happened. There will be an election in 14 months. The public will have their say then, and I will be held to account for the decisions that I have taken.”
“I appreciate that not everyone will agree with my decisions, but they were found to be entirely rational and legal. The challenge has already cost the taxpayer money from my Department and from the Legal Services Agency (LSA), because the challenge was legally aided. Costs continue to accrue, as do those for the challenges to the RAISE programme, which, again, my Department has successfully defended. That case has cost my Department almost £100,000 out of its budget that should have been spent in our schools.”
“I referred to the issue last week in response to other Members. People are entitled to have recourse to the courts to challenge decisions, but, when they submit those challenges, they need to be clear about what they are trying to achieve and why. That case is now subject to an appeal, but the Department comprehensively won it. We will wait to see how the appeal goes, but this is what Mr Justice McAlinden said in his judgement on the integrated school challenges:”
“I am unable to disclose the precise costs incurred at this stage, as not all costs have been invoiced yet and the matter is now subject to an appeal. I can, however, confirm that, to date, the Department has incurred costs of £26,715, inclusive of VAT, for counsel fees arising from the successful defence of the judicial review proceedings relating to two development proposals (DPs): DP 727 for Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College, and DP 728 for Rathmore Primary School. Appeals have been lodged in both cases and are due to be heard in March. Costs will therefore increase further.”
“There was once a movement that called for civil rights because of discrimination: we wait to see how those people will respond to the controlled sector's call for it to be heard and treated equally.”
“The Member is right: indeed, many controlled schools are more integrated than those that have the integrated name on their school building. A diversity exists in the controlled sector that has not been reflected properly, even when it comes to Fresh Start funding, when a considerable amount was allocated to integrated schools. Shared education is an area that I actively promote and support. I agree entirely with the Member that we have great diversity in the controlled sector. Those who do not see that need to engage. They will soon recognise that. <BR /> <BR />We hear arguments from others about why they want the controlled sector to be treated as second-class citizens.”
“You should support them and listen to the advice of the school principals in your constituency, who are crying out for this support. They have been failed. We will wait to see how Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party treat controlled schools. At the moment, the signs are that they want to continue their acts of discrimination towards them. As Education Minister, I support all schools, and I will champion the rights of the controlled sector for equality.”
“The Member points to the independent review of education, which references the creation of a single authority, but leaves out the recommendations. Each member of the panel said that this would be a necessary step towards the creation of a single education authority. Those independent members recognise that the controlled sector is treated in a suboptimal fashion. They support the creation of the managing authority for controlled schools, and they say that it will create an opportunity to move towards a single authority. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right: there is the integrated sector, the Irish-medium sector and other sectors, and having a single authority, if that could be achieved, is something that we should all aspire to. What we should not do, however, is keep down the only sector that does not have its own management authority.”
“If it was the other way round and there was a dedicated managing authority only for controlled schools and the Catholic maintained sector did not have that, the Members opposite and others in the Chamber would be demanding equality. Yet, here we have excuses being presented as to why they should not have it. <BR /> <BR />The test is for others. The test is for the First Minister for all. The controlled schools have asked for a meeting with the First Minister, and we will see whether Sinn Féin actually supports equality. This is its opportunity to demonstrate, so we will wait to see if it passes the test.”
“The Member is wrong, because there is already expenditure when it comes to controlled schools. We have the Controlled Schools' Support Council (CSSC). That would no longer be necessary because it would have a managing authority and, therefore, we would roll that into the new body. Furthermore, it would create a more efficient and effective managing authority for controlled schools, which, ultimately, would save the taxpayer money. The Member presents a red herring on the issue. <BR /> <BR />The challenge for Sinn Féin and for other parties in the Assembly is this: do you believe in equality or not? In its response, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools — I encourage the Members opposite and others to read it — stated that it believed that it should be created because it was an equality issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />That is a powerful mandate for action, and I call on my Executive colleagues to agree to the introduction of the necessary legislation in order to respond with clear intent to the overwhelming call for action from school leaders and key stakeholders, which include CCMS. This is not about elevating one sector above another. A dedicated body is a step towards ensuring that support for controlled schools is equitable, and it is one part of my wider commitment to high-quality support for all schools.”
“A large number of respondents commented that the EA is overstretched and conflicted by its dual role and expressed a desire for a dedicated body to represent controlled schools to promote their ethos and challenge misconceptions around the sector. Respondents also strongly emphasised the need for leadership support for principals and governors. Three quarters of respondents supported the immediate step of establishing the controlled schools unit in EA, and 94% agreed with the proposal to establish a new body that would provide a managing authority for the controlled sector that mirrors the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary question. In respect of the evidence, the task force extensively consulted a range of stakeholders. They expressed a need for clearer sectoral vision, proactive leadership and improved support for school improvement focused on raising outcomes for learners. The feedback received through my Department's recent public consultation echoes the findings of the independent panel and the task force. Ninety-one per cent of respondents agreed that there was a need for improved support for controlled schools. Further themes in the commentary highlighted the need for improved advocacy and equity with other sectors.”
“My Department recently completed a public consultation on that proposal, attracting 744 responses, including from almost half of all controlled school principals in Northern Ireland. There was overwhelming support for the proposed change: 91% of respondents agreed that support for controlled schools must improve, and 84% backed the creation of a new, dedicated organisation. Such a response provides a strong mandate for change and commands prompt action. I intend to present my proposal again, bolstered by the unequivocal consultation findings, to the Executive for agreement, with the intention of beginning work on the necessary primary legislation.”
“I am delighted to confirm that work is progressing positively to address the independent review of education's findings that the complex management arrangements were, in particular, suboptimal for the controlled school sector. Later this week, the Education Authority will officially launch the new controlled schools unit. The immediate establishment of that dedicated unit marks the completion of the first interim phase of two recommendations made by the task force that I commissioned to make recommendations for improvement. The second phase involves the establishment of a new organisation with statutory powers to provide the full remit of a managing authority for controlled schools.”
“The options explored in the report were the refurbishment and extension of existing school buildings as well as a new-build school option on each of the school sites. The education advisory branch concluded its review of the report on 6 November, and a business case is being prepared by departmental economists. I assure the Member that, once the business case has been approved, the preferred option will be progressed to the design stage.”
“I thank the Member for her question and her ongoing advocacy for Carrickfergus Academy. It was one of 28 major capital works that were announced in March 2022. However, it was subsequently put on hold due to budget pressures. The project was restarted in February 2024. I moved it forward, along with a number of other schools, as part of the first tranche. Edmond Shipway was appointed as the integrated consultant team in March of last year. The technical feasibility report, which explored options for the provision of suitable accommodation and outside space for a school with an approved enrolment of 1,250 pupils and five specialist provision classes was submitted to the Department for consideration on 18 July last year.”