AQW 31847/22-27

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Alliance Party
Upper Bann

Tabled Date: 23/09/2025
Answered On Date: 01/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, given reported concerns from parents of St Francis' Primary School, Lurgan regarding the removal of their School Crossing Patrol, to detail any plans he has to review the policy on School Crossing Patrols to ensure it is fit for purpose and to protect children's safety.

Answer:

My department is responsible for the Home to School Transport Policy and the Education Authority (EA) for the delivery of school transport which includes the operation and management of the School Crossing Patrol (SCP) Scheme.

The EA determines if a location warrants a new or a replacement SCP based on processes laid out in its School Crossing Patrol Scheme guidance, which is available online: School Crossing Patrols (SCPs) | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk) . The EA has advised me that it is currently engaged with an Independent Road Safety Engineer to review aspects of the processes outlined in the EA SCP Scheme.