AQW 49316/22-27


Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley


Tabled Date: 22/06/2026
Answered On Date: 29/06/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the (i) dates of; (ii) attendees at; and (iii) key topics covered in, each of the meetings of the Joint Health and Education Oversight Group, in the last two years.


Answer:
This answer includes detail for the whole calendar year of 2024.
i) Since 2024, the Joint Health and Education Oversight Group met on the following dates: 9 May 2024, 4 July 2024; 5 September 2024; 24 September 2024; 6 February 2025; 9 December 2025; 26 January 2026; 9 March 2026; 29 April 2026; and 26 May 2026.
ii) Attendance at each meeting comprised officials from the Department of Education (DE), Department of Health (DoH), the Education Authority (EA), Public Health Agency (PHA) and other partner organisations, depending on the subject matter under consideration.
In line with established practice and departmental obligations under data protection legislation the names of officials below Grade 5 (or equivalent) have not been disclosed. Where attendees below that grade were present, they have been identified by the organisations to which they belong.
iii) The key topics covered in each meeting are set out in the table below.
Meeting 
Date 
Attendees 
Key Topics 
1
9 May 2024
Senior officials:
Janis Scallon (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Brendan Whittle (DoH – SPPG)
Dale Hanna – EA
Cynthia Currie – EA
Officials:
DE, EA, DoH, PHA – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Update on reform programmes
Workplan and priorities, including data
2 
4 July 2024 
Senior officials:
Janis Scallon (DE)
Peter Hutchinson (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Eilis McDaniel (DoH) Brendan Whittle (DoH – SPPG)
Officials:
DE, DoH, EA, PHA – names below Grade 5 withheld
DE RAISE programme
Summer workplan
Allied Health Professional provision
Occupational Therapist role advert
Health/Education Working Together
3 
5 Sept 2024 
Senior officials:
Paul Brush (DE)
Janis Scallon (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Eilis McDaniel (DoH)
Cynthia Currie (EA)
Officials:
DE, EA, DoH, PHA – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Review of Terms of Reference
SEN End to End Review and Transformation Plan
4 
24 Sept 2024 
Not recorded 
Local Integrated Teams
Data sharing
Policy development
SEN reform 
5 
6 Feb 2025 
Senior officials:
Janis Scallon (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Dale Hanna (EA)
Cynthia Currie (EA)
Gillian Cuthbert (EA)
Officials:
DE, DoH, PHA – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Data Agenda
Medical/healthcare needs in Special Schools
Therapeutic needs
Specialist equipment guidance Children’s Services Reform: Early Intervention
Health/ Education Local Impact Teams and RISE
Joint attendance at Education Committee
SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan
6 
9 Dec 2025 
Senior officials:
Deirdre Ward (DE)
Janis Scallon (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Tomas Adell (EA)
Officials:
DE, DoH, DoH (SPPG), PHA – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Review of Terms of Reference
PHA Review of Complex Medical Needs (Special Schools)
Health requirements to support children with SEN
Communications 
7 
26 Jan 2026 
Senior officials:
Deirdre Ward (DE)
Claire McClelland (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Craig Donnachie (EA)
Clar McKenna (EA)
Officials:
DE, DoH, DoH (SPPG), PHA – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Review of Terms of Reference
PHA Review of Complex Medical Needs (Special Schools) PHA Therapeutic Review
SEN Reform – Health engagement
8 
9 Mar 2026 
Senior officials:
Deirdre Ward (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Craig Donnachie (EA)
Officials:
DE, DoH, DoH (SPPG), PHA, EA – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Review of Terms of Reference
Managing Complex Healthcare Needs in Special Schools: Project Plan
Nursing interim measure
Forward planning 
9 
29 Apr 2026 
Senior officials:
Deirdre Ward (DE)
Craig Donnachie (EA)
Officials:
DE, DoH, DoH (SPPG), PHA – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Summer Schemes update
Interim proposal for nursing
Managing Complex Healthcare Needs in Special Schools update
SEN Reform presentation and discussion
Communications 
10 
26 May 2026 
Senior officials:
Deirdre Ward (DE)
Mark McGuicken (DoH)
Craig Donnachie (EA)
Paul McKillen (NISRA)
Officials:
DE, DoH, DoH (SPPG), PHA, NISRA, Better Communications – names below Grade 5 withheld 
Balanced System presentation and discussion
NISRA Data Office Presentation
Summer Schemes Update
Interim Proposal for Nursing
Managing Complex Healthcare Needs in Special Schools
update
Communications