AQW 6831/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 19/02/2024
Answered On Date: 28/02/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the implementation of the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework.

Answer:

Following guidance under the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy Scheme, my Department, in conjunction with Building Digital UK (BDUK), an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, carried out an Open Market Review to establish existing and planned coverage of broadband services locally, seeking responses from existing and prospective broadband infrastructure providers. My Department and BDUK also carried out a Public Review to validate the results of the Open Market Review. An outcome report of the Public Review was published in February 2024. My Department has also been engaging with BDUK on the development of documentation for an anticipated procurement under Project Gigabit, and has begun Pre-Procurement Market Engagement.

My officials continue to develop a business case and BDUK has confirmed that it will make available any necessary capital funding for Project Gigabit here, subject to the approval of a final business case, State aid / subsidy control assurance and value for money considerations.