Minister's Answer 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

Minister's Answer 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

Minister's Answer The procurement policy note (PPN) 01/21 on social value in procurement was revised in February 2025 following reviews by the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) and key stakeholders, including the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors, Departments and centres of procurement expertise (COPEs). The reviews identified the policy as having made a real difference to how contractors incorporate social value into their business models. However, they also

Minister's Answer Yes, it will include a review of section 167 of the 2008 Act. I am sure that everyone in the House knows that section of the Act. The review will provide certainty for institutions that are not established under the law of Northern Ireland but operate here for charitable purposes.

Minister's Answer Biosecurity is the first line of defence to protect livestock and business. Good biosecurity reduces the risk of the introduction and spread of disease. It is about taking all the efforts to reduce the risk of contact between disease-causing organisms and agents and susceptible animals, both from outside and inside the farm. First, farmers can take measures such as minimising purchases and, where purchases are necessary, doing so from low-risk disease source

Minister's Answer My officials have confirmed that the cladding to the sea wall along the Belfast Road, Carrickfergus is not a structural issue and at present, due to other high priority work, my Department has no plans to replace it. While there are many areas that would benefit from investment, due to limited budget resources, maintenance work is taken forward through the prioritisation of that deemed most in need for intervention.

Minister's Answer The Department provides gritting salt under existing agreements with a number of councils, for the removal of snow and ice from town centre footways and pedestrian areas. These agreements are activated during prolonged periods of severe weather. Priority is given to the provision of salt for the treatment of the gritted road network, after which the Department makes salt available to local Councils for the treatment of town centre footways and pedestrian are

I attended the launch of the All-Party Group on Suicide Prevention Inquiry at Stormont yesterday With 290 suicide deaths registered in NI in 2024, this cross-departmental Inquiry is a vital step towards stronger, more joined-up prevention.Evidence to the Inquiry is now open: https://s.surveyplanet.com/yogdrupj

If we are serious about improving delivery at Executive level, then we have to be clear about both the causes of failure and the limits of what so far the private member or perhaps more accurately party motions alone can achieve. I was elected to this Assembly to be a legislator to improve the lives of my constituents by changing and improving our laws, yet in this mandate so far precious little has been achieved. Alliance is in the Executive not to defend its shortcomings, b

If an European External Action Service (EEAS) office was to open in Belfast, surely it can only be a good thing. Due to our unique position in the EU and indeed the world, with our dual market access, having an EEAS office in Belfast would help not only constituents and EU citizens resident here, but also businesses in Northern Ireland. An EEAS Office would well placed to help consumers with queries, but also businesses operating from and in NI allowing the EU to see and feel