AQW 28864/22-27


Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley


Tabled Date: 17/06/2025
Answered On Date: 26/06/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any actions (i) the Education Authority; and (ii) his Department are taking following the recent racially-motivated violent disorder.


Answer:
The Education Authority (EA) activated its Major Emergency Plan arrangements in response to the impact of Civil Disorder on education settings and youth provision. This has provided a coordinated response across all required directorates.
Throughout this period of unrest, the EA has engaged with the schools in the Ballymena area and wider school community. The EA has fully participated in the multi-agency coordination structures led by the PSNI to represent schools and youth provision.
The EA has supported schools through direct engagement, holding joint Principal engagement meetings and the ongoing provision of information and guidance. This process has been led through the Intercultural Education Service (IES) and Education Welfare Service providing support for Newcomer families to access support and supporting schools with safeguarding and welfare concerns.
The EA Youth Services have been embedded within local communities to provide a place of shelter and youth diversionary activities.
The EA Pupil Emotional Health and Wellbeing Services provided schools with wellbeing resources and information to support children and young people impacted by these events. They also contacted school directly as required to provide advice and support.
The IES is providing advice, guidance and support to families and schools around effective responses to disorder and disruption including assisting families with referrals to family support, free interpreting and relocation to other schools, if requested.
In conjunction with the IES, my officials continue to liaise with schools in the local area to offer support to those impacted by the unrest due to Roma children and other Newcomer children being either absent from school or worried about their safety in attending school.