AQO 1531/22-27

Mr David Honeyford
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 30/01/2025
Answered On Date: 12/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to outline the impact of changes to the licensing scheme for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Gaisce - The President's Award on local schools and youth settings.

Answer:

The Duke of Edinburgh Northern Ireland office has notified the Education Authority (EA), that local schools and some voluntary youth organisations are not permitted to operate under the terms of the current Education Authority Operating Centre Licence.

Settings affected have been invited to become a ‘Directly Licensed Centre.’ These settings have been assured that funding will come directly from the Duke of Edinburgh Northern Ireland office for the initial license fee and any other associated costs to ensure that a transition to a Directly Licensed Centre is initially cost neutral.

Forty-nine settings received notification that they could no longer remain under the current Education Authority Operating Centre Licence of which twenty-nine have progressed to become a Directly Licenced Centre or moved to another suitable Operating Authority.

For settings which have not yet progressed to a Directly Licenced Centre licence Duke of Edinburgh Northern Ireland have amended their online system to ensure that young people can continue their Award programme. To allow expeditions suitable licensing agreements are expected to be in place before the end of this summer.

If any setting decides not to continue, young people will be supported to find an alternative centre.