AQW 42218/22-27

Mr Andrew McMurray
Alliance Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 10/03/2026
Answered On Date: 13/03/2026
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any consideration given to updating Circular 1993/31 regarding Teachers' Leave of Absence Exceeding Three Working Days, to allow teachers to take paid leave to attend mandatory Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service training, as an on-call firefighter.

Answer:

Teachers’ Pay and Conditions of Service are negotiated and agreed through the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) which is made up of employing authorities, employer representatives, representatives of the five main teaching unions as well as Departmental representatives.

There is no proposal to provide paid leave for teachers who are also part-time fire fighters to attend mandatory Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service training.

I am fully supportive of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service but my first priority is the education of pupils in schools.