AQW 6579/10

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 30/04/2010
Answered On Date: 25/05/2010
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether (i) an Equality Impact Assessment; and (ii) a cost-benefit analysis was undertaken on the decision to reduce the community relations funding by 70%.

Answer:

(i) Caithfear mo chinneadh ar an bhuiséad um chaidreamh pobail a shocrú ag £1.1m sa bhliain 2010/11 a mheas laistigh de chomhthéacs an bhuiséid níos leithne oideachais agus laistigh de mo phleananna ar pholasaí um Chaidreamh Pobail, Comhionannas agus Ilchineálacht a thabhairt isteach.

(i) My decision to set the community relations budget at £1.1m in 2010/11 must be viewed within the context of the wider education budget and my plans to introduce a new Community Relations, Equality and Diversity policy.

In 2010/11 funding for education has been increased by 1.9% to just over £1.9billion, but faced with meeting efficiencies required by the Executive, it has been a difficult budget involving difficult decisions. In agreeing the 2010/11 education budget, my priority has been to protect frontline services and to ensure the needs of those most disadvantaged continue to be at the forefront.

I have had to balance a range of education priorities against the need to achieve efficiencies but in recognition of the continued need for good relations I have sought to retain a funding stream and have made provision of £1.1m for 2010/11.

I am looking to the Boards to ensure as far as possible that any reductions do not impact on core services for children and youth, particularly marginalised young people living at interface areas.

With this in mind, funding which I have made available for youth services is largely unchanged and I remain committed to the youth service and its role as an important part of the education system, one which helps all young people, in particular those who feel socially excluded, to develop their potential to the full.

I am committed to encompassing a wider approach to improving relations between communities by educating children and young people to develop self-respect and respect for others, where equality and inclusion are the cornerstones of an education system which enables every learner to fulfil his or her potential.

I am investing over £200m in other policies which contribute to this wider approach, such as Supporting Newcomer Pupils and SEN and I have also made available an additional £90 per primary pupil – an increase of 3.1% compared to last year.

I am, therefore, confident that the delivery of services to young people will not be adversely affected by my decisions in relation to the education budget for 2010/11.

(ii) I can confirm that Equality and Human Rights Screening was undertaken before any decision was taken to reduce the community relations budget. A cost benefit analysis was not completed.

(iii) While I have not had specific discussions with OFMDFM regarding the reduction of the community relations budget, I am working closely with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) in the development of the programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.

The Department of Education has developed a new Community Relations, Equality and Diversity policy which will focus on the wider concepts of diversity as well as those issues affecting the two main traditions. We live in a society today that is significantly more diverse than it was 20 years ago when the original Community Relations policy was developed. The original policy focused primarily upon bringing young people from our two main communities together, but in this new era of sharing, community relations must evolve in line with other educational developments and recognise the need for more meaningful engagement by supporting and encouraging mutual understanding and tolerance, promoting equality, working to eliminate discrimination and facilitating the recognition of, and respect for, cultural diversity. The new policy will enshrine equality and good relations as core principles, which the Department will seek to embed within the curriculum, and fully addresses Section 75 of the NI Act 1998. OFMDFM officials have been briefed in relation to the level of funding I have made available in support of the new policy.

It is for each individual Department to determine how to make best use of the funding available to ensure that all statutory obligations can be met. I have had to balance a range of education priorities against the need to achieve efficiencies while ensuring that all frontline services remain unaffected.

(iv) I fully support the current Programme for Government and have endeavoured to meet all of my commitments in relation to a shared and better future for all. I am also working closely with the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister on the programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration which is being developed.

We are in a new era of sharing and community relations work in schools must evolve in line with other developments and encompass a wider approach to contribute to addressing good relations. It is my assessment that the range of policies which I am bringing forward will make a significant contribution to developing a shared and better future for all.