AQW 4074/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 04/10/2022
Answered On Date: 19/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education which recommendations from the Independent Review of Integrated Education (i) have been fully implemented; (ii) are in the process of being implemented; and (iii) have not been implemented by her Department.

Answer:

The Independent Review of Integrated Education report was published by Peter Weir, then Minister of Education, on 2 March 2017 for information purposes and without any endorsement in advance of considering the recommendations. When the Executive resumed in January 2020 Minister Weir considered the 39 recommendations contained in the report.

Recommendations 12, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 have been actioned or progressed as far as possible e.g. within the rules of Fresh Start capital funding.

Recommendation 22 is within the remit of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) to take forward. My Department funds NICIE to encourage and promote integrated education and to provide support to all integrated schools. Additionally, support services are provided for grant aided schools by the Education Authority. Grant Maintained Integrated Schools can avail of these should they wish to – an additional Common Funding Formula factor has been provided to them as a contribution to the costs of such services.

Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 33, 37 and 38 are being considered as part of the Terms of Reference of the Independent Review of Education given the fact that they relate primarily to statutory requirements, or wider Departmental policy, which is being considered through the work of the Independent Panel.

Recommendations 5, 18, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36 and 39 are not approved and will not be taken forward.