Michelle Guy
Lagan Valley · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“It can be seen from those quotes that the issue impacts on girls in a real and practical way. If they feel too uncomfortable to be in school, it is impacting on their access to education. If they hold back in PE or while playing at break or lunch, what does that say to them about how we value exercise and sport?”
“Essentially, he was saying that we had to draw the line somewhere, and the automatic right of girls to be allowed to wear trousers is where that line has been drawn. <BR /> <BR />Some will play down the issue and say that it is relevant in only a small number of schools.”
“When I explain what the legislation would do, the reaction from people is almost always the same. They ask, "Are you seriously saying that, in 2026, girls can't wear trousers in school?". The answer is that they do not have that right.”
“The Assembly should support the Bill. I again ask the Minister to save us time by simply updating the statutory uniform guidelines. I find the DUP position of enabling the Bill to progress to Committee Stage while its Minister is against it to be quite bizarre.”
“<BR /> <BR />I question why that basic request from girls and young women is being denied or is deemed to be unimportant. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that some people — mainly men — still want to control what women wear.”
“I take the Member's point. Ultimately, however, the person who could make the change is the Minister, and he has decided not to. Saying that schools have a choice or that they have autonomy does not absolve the Minister from his ultimately having responsibility to be able to make that change.”
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“While we may not know the full extent of what that transformation could mean for our young people's mental health, education and quality of life, the evidence that we have about how the current versions of the technologies — specifically social media — are being used and designed requires us to act now. I am careful to say "current" versions, because there are good things that can come from those technologies, and those can be built on. Knowledge is gained, friendships are found and learning is supported. <BR /> <BR />A 2024 House of Commons Select Committee on Education report on the impacts of screen time noted:”
“I thank the signatories to the motion. The first iPhone was launched in 2007, while Facebook was founded in 2004 and TikTok in 2016. In less than 20 years, we are experiencing a new reality. Children's lives look completely different from what they were prior to that rapid change. New technologies and platforms are now so deeply embedded in our children's lives that it is hard to remember a time without them. That is evidenced by the fact that Ofcom has reported that 24% of five- to seven-year-olds now own a smartphone and that social media use among that age group continues to grow. <BR /> <BR />Now is the time to be honest.”
“Thank you, Minister. What will be the impact if the policy proposals outlined in the consultation are not proceeded with?”
“Can the Minister provide more detail on the work of local PCSPs in addressing rural crime?”
“It is spelt "D-E-I-S". I am probably pronouncing it incorrectly.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. When engaging with your counterparts in the South on tackling educational disadvantage, have you visited any of the DEIS schools in order to bring back learning from that model to Northern Ireland?”
“Thank you, First Minister, for the response. The issue of smartphone access and digital devices and the associated impact of social media is a real concern in our communities. Does the First Minister recognise the frustration of many that the Executive Office refuses to take the lead on developing online safety strategies and policies in Northern Ireland?”
“His expression of faith is one that resonated with me, and he restored confidence in the institution of the Catholic Church for many Catholics. <BR /> <BR />God bless Pope Francis. Thank you for your service, for yours truly was a heart for service. May he rest in peace.”
“In a world leaning towards so-called strongman-style leaders who gain power by exploiting and preying on the vulnerable and marginalised, Pope Francis prayed for them. He did more than that: he used the power of the papacy to advocate for them. Human suffering and injustice moved him. In his first pastoral visit outside Rome, he visited migrants fleeing Libya, where he denounced the globalisation of indifference. He advocated for peace, challenged the rise in antisemitism and could not be silent on the cruelty in Gaza and the continued, sustained bombing of people there. He spoke with clarity on the reality of climate change and, in keeping with his devotion to the poor, highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on the poorest people in our communities.”
“He famously reached out to the LGBT community when he said, "Who am I to judge?".”
“He was someone who embodied and validated for me something that I have said many times, which is that sincere people of faith are the very best people. Those people do not tell you how you should behave but rather show by their lived example their faith and values. Pope Francis offered a kind of leadership that is desperately needed in the world today. He was humble and authentic, showed strength through compassion and was embracing. In the Church that Pope Francis led, everyone was welcome. During his address on World Youth Day in 2023, he said of the Church:”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the time that you have given to allow Members the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Pope. It is much appreciated. <BR /> <BR />The first thing that I want to do, on behalf of myself and my colleague David Honeyford, is to express our sincere condolences to anybody in Lagan Valley and across Northern Ireland who is feeling the impact of that loss and is grieving for the Pope. You have been sincerely in our thoughts. I hope that the way in which Pope Francis's papacy has been remembered and honoured across the world and, indeed, in the Chamber will be a comfort to you. <BR /> <BR />I was raised and educated in the Catholic faith, but my admiration for Pope Francis is not based on deference.”
“Members have been afforded a platform, tonight, to speak on behalf of the families; to tell their stories; to ask that the Minister gives clear direction and timelines to the South Eastern Trust and every trust for delivery for these families; and to ask that, going forward, all carers are treated with the level of respect, dignity and professionalism that is befitting of the pressures that they are living with as they care for their cherished loved ones.”
“Indeed, some families have built up £10,000 to £12,000 in direct payments instead of respite, where there are no suitable services to spend it on. I also had one family reach out to say that they had found someone to accept direct payments for overnight support in the home, but their request for additional direct payments to cover that was yet to be assessed and was initially dismissed. Such examples really jar, because the problem of sourcing and employing resource — to compensate for system failures — has been pushed back to the families, only for them to be presented with a "Computer says no" response. <BR /> <BR />I can say with certainty that the Minister feels the same level of compassion and concern in his dealings with these families as other Members and I do. However, the difference between us is that he has the power to act.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention. I absolutely echo her words. That exact concern has been expressed to me: parents have raised that same issue of getting access to a social worker and, even if they do, getting the help that they need. I thank the Member for that; I appreciate it. <BR /> <BR />In the Minister's funding announcement in October, he, rightly, identified workforce as a key barrier to progress — one that needs to be tackled head-on, with improved pay and terms and conditions to attract people to the roles. Connected to workforce is the fact that, increasingly, our special schools are providing de facto respite for children, as there is no other outlet available to give parents a break. Staff in those settings are doing all that they can, but they are ill-equipped to deal with such complex needs.”
“That is currently 81 in the South Eastern Trust, but some families are aware that they are not counted in the figure because their request has been categorised as "parental request" rather than "assessed need". If the orientation is child-centred, it is in no one's best interests to underestimate the true level of need.”
“In conversations with families, they have told how raising concerns is met with the threat of their children being moved out of jurisdiction, and some have told how they have been accused of abandoning their child simply for asking for help. Others have told of being patronised or having their child placed on the child protection register, which implies that they, as a parent, are a risk to their child when, in fact, they have been hospitalised following an assault by their child. <BR /> <BR />Some of the parents have expressed some cautious optimism that people are saying the right things now, but they have been let down many times already and remain scarred as a result of the toxic culture. One outworking of that culture is a likely under-representation of the number of families on the edge of care.”
“The question that many are asking is why the response to the crisis is not regional in nature, such is the level of crisis, and most families could not care less about trust boundaries and are willing to travel to access support. The sense among families is that trusts continue to have a silo mentality and that firm direction needs to come from the Department that trusts must collaborate better and be solutions-focused, with the interests of the children and their families at the centre of resource planning. <BR /> <BR />In the meantime, families have told me of their fear of admitting how bad things have become, in case that is weaponised.”
“The latest position that I have been given from the South Eastern Trust is that 83 children with disabilities, whom we know of, are waiting on a residential short break and that many who have been promised one have had short breaks cancelled at short notice. It remains the position that Lindsay House is unavailable for respite and that Redwood will not open until September, leaving families with the prospect of a summer without support. Families have also asked about capacity at Greenhill, specifically about an additional chalet that they were told will not now go forward. They were offered no explanation for that. <BR /> <BR />Even if all those facilities were opened and staffed tomorrow, it would be doubtful that the capacity that they offer would meet demand.”
“However, not all the £2 million was spent, and what was spent was invested in increasing some therapeutic services and early intervention rather than addressing the current and acute needs. As one person explained, parental classes or early intervention measures are no use to a teenager with profound needs deemed to be on the edge of care. They need respite, and watching limited money that was meant to support them be spent on other things was exasperating and compounded their sense that their children, as one mother put it, are the forgotten children. <BR /> <BR />Minister, when you made your announcement, you created an expectation of improvement in a matter of months.”
“<BR /> <BR />That concern is not without reasonable foundation, because it is the case that money allocated in the previous financial year for children's services did go unspent. The catalyst for that investment announcement was the BBC documentary 'I Am Not Okay', which provided a shocking insight into the experience and daily challenges of four mums as they care for their much-loved autistic sons who have extremely complex and challenging behaviours. Your response to the public outcry was to announce a welcome commitment of £2 million in emergency funding for respite care, followed by a commitment of £13 million annually to expand services. The families featured in the programme, and others in similar situations, felt relieved that, with that investment, something was going to change.”
“One family told of their relief to now have respite on a monthly basis restored but were quick to highlight very elderly carers, including one in their 80s who has gone for a year with no break. However, such is their lack of trust in the system, they expressed concern that the help that they are now receiving could be withdrawn or reduced suddenly. Their specific concern is that the boost in adult provision is only being sustained by slippage in restoring services for children with complex needs. How is that possible? Minister, I hope that you can provide an assurance today that a feared trade-off between adult and children's services will not materialise and there will be no rollback of restored services in Lagan Valley or the South Eastern Trust.”
“That is welcome, but the level of mistrust that exists will only be overcome by delivery, not warm words. <BR /> <BR />Starting with my constituency, Minister, I know that you visited Lagan Valley in relation to adult services back in January at the invitation of my colleague David Honeyford. Preceding that, respite services were stood up again at the Hillhall facility in November. The families benefiting from that are grateful, but what is amazing about this community of families is their deep empathy and willingness to support each other. Each of those carers has a unique understanding of the pressure that other families are under, and they have been keen to speak to me as passionately about the needs of others as for themselves.”
“Others have spoken of a get-it-spent culture that creates wastage and focuses energy on quick-win-style solutions aimed at making the numbers look good rather than meaningful interventions that will make a real difference. A lack of strategic thinking and a failure by trusts to work collaboratively in a focused way to solve the acute and specific issues of overnight respite completes the picture. <BR /> <BR />Families recognise that most staff are doing their best — in fact, many go above and beyond in really challenging circumstances — so they are very much looking up the chain for accountability, action and, importantly, leadership. Minister, families recognise that you have personally met them and organisations supporting them recently and have made commitments in relation to pressing for a culture shift in the trust.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will speak on behalf of families in Lagan Valley and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area who are desperate for respite services. Not only are those families being failed by our system but they are being traumatised by it. I have been privileged to speak to many families who have been impacted on by this. They love their family members dearly, they are experts in caring for them and they are simply asking for some support. When describing their experiences, families have expressed to me feeling threatened, manipulated and misled by their interactions with the South Eastern Trust.”
“I am delighted to congratulate Harmony Hill Primary School in Lisburn on celebrating its 60th anniversary. I pay tribute to the leadership team of Mrs Johnston and Mr Henry for the work that they do and to all the staff in that absolutely wonderful school, which is the heart of its community. I also acknowledge an amazing concert that the school held last week in the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn to celebrate the anniversary. It was an absolutely amazing night. There are so many talented kids in that school. Well done to all of them and to all the staff who made the event happen. I send congratulations to them again on their 60th anniversary and best wishes for the rest of the celebrations that they have planned.”
“In fact, the DUP, like Sinn Féin, was happy to collapse this place, meaning that legislation such as this could not progress. Therefore, we will continue to vote for good governance and making an impact for families.”
“We will scrutinise the legislation in good faith, with every intention of expediting our work as quickly as possible. Nodding through a Bill, when genuine concerns have been raised about its effectiveness within the Committee and externally by stakeholders, would be poor governance. <BR /> <BR />Of course, I will not stand in the way of speeding up this process. I want it done as quickly as possible, but only as long as there are commitments that proper scrutiny can be ensured, and I have not been provided with that assurance. Maybe Sinn Féin and the DUP can give that assurance. <BR /> <BR />It is worth repeating that the DUP has held the Education portfolio for 10 years. The issue of unaffordable school uniforms is not a new one, yet it has not done anything about it over that time.”
“At the most fundamental level, I want assurances that, once the Bill's provisions come into force, parents will see prices becoming more affordable. That will be the very clear test of success or failure. It remains to be seen whether the Bill as it stands will have that effect. That is why proper Committee scrutiny of the Bill is essential, and that includes giving young people and families the time to give their views and be heard by the Committee. We need time to take evidence from stakeholders and to engage with departmental officials. We need time to consider the cost cap mechanism and which legal requirements will ensure that it is enforceable. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has been clear that the extension is not a target, but instead provides a window that will allow it time to carry out proper scrutiny.”
“As a Committee, we are obliged to ensure that we consider the Bill's provisions and their effects as fully as possible and set aside sufficient time to do so. My priority, and that of my colleague Mr Mathison, is to get this right for families. I am genuinely concerned that a condensed Committee Stage will result in our letting them down. <BR /> <BR />I will add a few words in my capacity as an Alliance MLA. The Alliance Party supports and has long campaigned for legislation to make school uniforms more affordable. It is essential that we get the legislation right so that we ensure that families feel the difference in their pockets. That is where my focus is; not on press releases or optics, but on delivering effective legislation for families.”
“The Committee Stage provides the first opportunity for stakeholders from across the public, private and voluntary sectors, not to mention parents and schoolchildren, to take the time and space to consider the Bill as introduced and bring their perspective to the Committee. <BR /> <BR />The Bill addresses matters that are significant and long-standing for parents and children across Northern Ireland. The Committee supports the general principles of the Bill and welcomed its introduction. We are committed, however, to the Bill being delivered right, rather than fast, and being given due consideration by the Assembly throughout the legislative process. The Committee Stage is the sole stage of the legislative process that is not in the hands of the Minister.”
“Thank you for the intervention. It is reasonable for you to say that. You are correct that there did not seem to be an appetite for that, so today's outcome is peculiar to say the least. You were, however, consistent and raised objections. Others did not, but have since changed their mind for some reason. They can explain that. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear that 3 December is a limit, not a target. We can extend this stage only once, so it is a hard limit. The Committee took advice and considered a timeline that included all the phases of a good Committee Stage, Assembly recesses and other relevant factors, many of which are outside of our control.”
“I support the Committee's motion for an extension of the Committee Stage to 3 December. I emphasise that it is a Committee motion, not an Alliance motion: it was agreed unanimously by the Committee. The Chair offered the Committee two opportunities to divide and no member took him up on that offer. Let me be clear that 3 December is a limit, not a target. We can extend the Committee Stage only once, so that is a hard limit. The Committee —.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker: we will try this again.”
“Following the Deputy Chair's unexpected U-turn on the motion, I will be making the winding-up speech on the Committee motion, which is to extend the Committee Stage until 3 December. I emphasise that this is a Committee motion, not an Alliance Party motion.”
“How will the Minister ensure that any physical works required to allow a pupil to access a new placement at that school in September 2025 will be completed before the start of the new academic year?”
“I hope that the EA will outline clearly what changes have been made.”
“Because of the confusion, schools were, naturally, contacted by worried parents and had to pull together updates quickly. Since Thursday, the EA has confirmed that the issue was with its IT system. I thank the staff who answered calls and tried to reassure and advise parents. Families, however, need to know that lessons have been learned and that it will not happen again. Telling parents which school their child is going to is one of the absolute basics for the EA. We need to have confidence that it will not happen again. <BR /> <BR />Today, the EA portal is due to open for parents to accept preschool places and for some parents to begin the second round of applications for a place. I hope that the process goes smoothly. Being a parent is difficult enough without having additional anxiety.”
“It may seem like a small issue, but, for the parents, children and schools impacted on, it is not. It caused additional anxiety for parents who received an email and even more anxiety for those who did not. Those who got a place for their child were left questioning whether that place was confirmed or whether the email was a mistake. For those who did not get the place that they wanted or any place at all for their child, it caused additional confusion on their next steps. Of course, those who got no update were left in the dark, wondering why they had not heard from the EA and what that meant for their child.”
“Last Thursday, some parents woke up to admission emails from the Education Authority (EA) regarding preschool and P1 places for their children. Those emails came as a surprise, given that parents had been told by the EA to expect that announcement on 9 April.”
“It is about open, inclusive learning environments that embrace, through governance structures and a deliberate ethos, those from different backgrounds, be they cultural, faith, socio-economic or SEN. It is not about erasing or disparaging the ethos of other schools but about mindfully and deliberately finding ways to include and respect them in a sustainable school model. It offers an opportunity for us, and we should take it.”
“With the troubled past that we have, the cost to us as a society of keeping our kids apart through the school system rather than moving towards an integrated model is, frankly, really sad. Despite the Integrated Education Act having been passed three years ago with clear duties to encourage, facilitate and support integrated education, today it is still very much a grassroots movement. <BR /> <BR />The Committee recently had a really positive and myth-busting session on integrated education. Integrated education was described not as a sector but as a bridge between the system that we have now and a sustainable system capable not only of delivering great education but of building reconciliation. Integrated education, as stated expressly in the Act, is about more than religious mixing between Protestants and Catholics.”
“That is an abdication of responsibility that does not serve our learners. The pertinent question, which I do not have time to address today, is this: who does the situation serve? <BR /> <BR />The independent review of education offered us solutions that are intended to be implemented as a holistic approach, not as an à la carte menu: reconfigure the network of schools, simplify management and prioritise investment. The independent review of education also did modelling that suggested the potential to create 177 new or reconfigured jointly managed community schools and sixth forms with expanded numbers of learners from different communities attending the same school and learning together. That last point, learning together, is absolutely relevant to a discussion about the cost of division in relation to education.”
“Imagine our entire education system as an old building: beautiful and full of character, tradition and memories that have been formed over many years but structurally unsound. When an engineer says that the building is not fit for purpose, a responsible owner listens. It really matters when that building — that system — is spending your money. Is it acceptable at all to decide to redecorate rather than invest in structural improvements? No, it is not, but the current keyholder of our education system is doing just that. He is launching new report after new report with which we could literally paper the walls, creating more, not less, bureaucracy and actively stifling the expansion of integrated education while asking for more public money without showing any appetite to transform our education system.”
“I make the following point crystal clear: in Northern Ireland, we have fabulous schools staffed by incredible and dedicated individuals. It is the system in which those schools operate that must evolve and change, if it is to meet the needs of our children and young people. The evidence is clear: our education system is on a collision course with a financial and demographic reality that it must reorientate to address. <BR /> <BR />Last October, the Education Committee received a written briefing from officials that forecast a funding gap of over £1 billion by 2027-28. Data published this month by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) suggests that there will be more pensioners than schoolchildren in Northern Ireland by 2030.”
“The Minister's recently published SEN reform agenda and delivery plan is costed at £570 million, but £27 million has been allocated to it. To address our school estate, £100 million of capital investment on top of the current capital budget is needed. Those are ridiculous figures that are made all the more ridiculous when they are set in the context of an education system that has, in a nutshell, too many sectors, too much bureaucracy, too many schools and declining pupil numbers.”
“I am pleased to speak on the motion, which, for me, is less about the cost of division and more about the opportunities in a united community. Nowhere better illustrates the possibilities than our education system. The challenges in education are huge, and we could spend the circa £800 million that the motion references in a heartbeat, but here are just three of the big-ticket items for which we could use that money. <BR /> <BR />The first is a comprehensive early years and childcare strategy that is capable of tackling educational inequalities through early interventions and the expansion of the NI childcare subsidy scheme to include more families. Previously, the Minister cited an unsubstantiated figure of around £400 million for that, but, to give some context, the allocation for childcare in 2025-26 is just £50 million.”
“Minister, thank you for that answer. Do you have the budget that you need to deliver on your corporate plan?”
“The Education Minister must urgently outline what is happening with the statutory guidance following the 2023 consultation and restore confidence following the RCN's withdrawal from the working group.”
“Since the news was reported in the media, I have heard from Deirdre, Harry's mum. She is massively frustrated at the Department's lack of engagement with families who have campaigned for years for changes in the law on restrictive practices in schools. The RCN's move has left them feeling deeply concerned. On Friday, I met representatives of a special school, and, indeed, the bulk of our conversation also focused on that issue and the urgent need for clarity from the Department. <BR /> <BR />We must see the repeal of article 4 of the Education Order 1998 and a rights-compliant, child-focused policy to end the use of seclusion in schools and to ensure that there is appropriate recording and monitoring of the use of restraint, in line with its place as an intervention of last resort and with support and training for staff.”