AQW 9028/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 15/03/2024
Answered On Date: 27/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education when he will make provision through regulations for procedures to be followed when pooling resources, as part of The Children's Services Co Operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.

Answer:

Section 4 (2) of the Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (CSCA) provides for the sharing of resources and pooling of funds, while section 8 of the CSCA states that “The Department of Finance and Personnel may by regulations make provision for procedures to be followed by children's authorities when exercising the powers conferred by section 4(2)”

The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Finance produced guidance on the operation of the CSCA in November 2018 (updated in March 2022). The guidance includes advice on the sharing of resources and pooling of funds. It can be accessed at https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/guidance-childrens-services-co-operation-act-northern-ireland-2015