AQW 24534/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 18/03/2025
Answered On Date: 24/03/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the implementation of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Answer:

The Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act 2022 came into effect on 12th May 2024. It ensures that all teachers should be allowed to enjoy the same legislative provisions as other workers here, by being included in fair employment monitoring processes.

In December 2024, The Fair Employment (Monitoring) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 came into operation. These transitional arrangements aligned reporting processes for schools, for fair employment monitoring purposes.

The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (FETO) places responsibility for fair employment monitoring on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The Commission will continue to monitor the employment returns from the education sector, including the information relating to teachers.