AQW 36993/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 08/12/2025
Answered On Date: 19/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the rationale for requiring Ministerial sign off for Education Authority communications in relation to emergency school closures.

Answer:

Following Storm Amy, I commissioned a review of the emergency school closure processes across Counties Antrim, Londonderry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.

I approved the report and its recommendations and subsequently, issued a written Ministerial Statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly, summarising the key findings and confirming that the recommendations have been accepted and will be implemented.

The report identified several issues relating to communications with schools and recommended that future messaging from the Education Authority should be agreed with the Department.

I advised the Assembly that an Education Civil Contingencies Protocol was being developed. This protocol will clearly define the respective roles and responsibilities of the Department and the Education Authority and establish a robust communications framework. This communications framework will help ensure consistency and clarity of messaging in relation to emergency school closures.