AQW 51831/22-27
Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford
Tabled Date: 14/09/2026
Answered On Date: 16/09/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the average length of time it takes for a decision on a Request for Involvement to be made.
Answer:
The Education Authority has advised that processing time starts as soon as a Request for Involvement (RFI) is submitted by a Special Educational Needs Coordinator. A completeness check of the RFI is the first stage of the process followed by Moderation Panel. The performance indicator for the completeness check is within two working days from RFI submission. The completeness check is an administrative function to ensure all relevant information has been provided. The performance indicator for the Moderation Panel is five working days after the completeness check and the Moderation Panel occurs weekly. Data for 2025-26 are set out in the tables below: Completeness check Month | Completeness checks complete | Within 2 Working Days | % within 2 working days | September | 662 | 650 | 98% | October | 952 | 940 | 99% | November | 1220 | 1171 | 96% | December | 1173 | 1132 | 97% | January | 924 | 907 | 98% | February | 911 | 902 | 99% | March | 1090 | 1068 | 98% | April | 1092 | 798 | 73% | May | 933 | 922 | 99% | June | 725 | 720 | 99% | Average | | | 95.6% |
RFI Moderation Month | Assigned to Moderation Panel | Within 5 Working Days | % within 5 working days | September | 568 | 516 | 91% | October | 761 | 761 | 93% | November | 1008 | 1008 | 92% | December | 1045 | 955 | 91% | January | 803 | 729 | 91% | February | 775 | 698 | 90% | March | 958 | 850 | 89% | April | 971 | 673 | 69% | May | 828 | 753 | 91% | June | 677 | 614 | 91% | Average | | | 88.8% |
April performance is lower than expected due to staff leave; however, contingency plans are now in place.
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