AQW 47440/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/05/2026
Answered On Date: 04/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) whether any assessment has been made of research from the National Literacy Trust and partners, showing that 41 per cent of primary schools in Northern Ireland do not have a library; and (ii) any plans his Department plans has to address this.

Answer:

The Department is aware of the 2022 research published by the National Literacy Trust which highlights variation in access to dedicated library spaces in primary schools. No specific departmental assessment of this independent research has been undertaken. Neither the Department nor the Education Authority holds a register of library provision in individual schools and therefore does not hold comprehensive data on this issue.

The Education Authority provides a statutory Education Library Service which supports schools through advice on library development, professional learning and access to resources, including book purchasing. Decisions on how best to provide access to books and support reading, including whether to maintain a dedicated library space, are matters for individual schools, having regard to their accommodation, resources and wider needs. The existing approach provides flexibility for schools to determine the most appropriate arrangements within their setting.