Latest releases
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41 releases
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STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children!
Aontú calls on the Education Minister, the Department of Education and the Education Authority to halt proposed education cuts, including a further £20 million in reductions, and to reverse changes to SEN transport and school meal charges. The party also urges restoring school programme funding…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority further £20 million education cuts announcement Original release: STOP THE CUTS: Don’t Balance the Books on the Backs of our Children! (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister announces three post-primary school projects to…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces that three post-primary school works projects, paused due to budget constraints, will move forward to planning and design. The schools are Belfast High School, Ballyclare High School and St Brigid's College, Londonderry, with capital investment…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Three post-primary school capital projects advance to planning and design Original release: Education Minister announces three post-primary school projects to… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement
SDLP North Belfast Councillor Carl Whyte welcomes Department of Education money for a major expansion at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, saying the new facilities will transform the learning environment and urging the Minister to prevent further delays.
Education Local government Issue: Funding announced for Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School extension Original release: Whyte welcomes funding for North Belfast school enhancement (opens in a new tab)
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Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes the strongly positive response to a survey by the Education Committee on a plan guaranteeing all pupils the right to wear trousers, with about 98% in favour. She says the School Uniform Bill was a missed opportunity and calls for it to pass before next year's…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee survey on pupils' right to wear trousers Original release: Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison calls for urgent clarity on EA Home to School Transport provision
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA urges the Education Minister to give schools and parents swift certainty on EA home-to-school transport and to protect pupils. He questions the EA's request that taxi drivers cut rates by 10% and asks for the evidence…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: EA request for taxi drivers to cut rates by 10% Original release: Mathison calls for urgent clarity on EA Home to School Transport provision (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools
Green Party councillor Flynn welcomes the Supreme Court judgment on compulsory religious worship in Northern Ireland schools, urging the Executive to act quickly to overhaul the education framework so pupils from all backgrounds, including non-religious families, feel respected.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 20 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has re-submitted amendments to the School Uniforms Bill to reduce family costs, proposing limits on branded items, generic alternatives, girls' right to wear trousers, support for children with additional needs, and uniform banks and swap schemes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments re-submitted in the Assembly Original release: Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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‘DUP has squandered the opportunity to cut uniform costs’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the DUP has missed an opportunity to cut school uniform costs after key amendments to the School Uniforms Bill were not accepted. He says the proposals included limiting branded items, allowing generic alternatives, and supporting uniform banks.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments omitted Original release: ‘DUP has squandered the opportunity to cut uniform costs’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister marks start of construction at new Crawfordsburn…
Education Minister Paul Givan marks the start of construction on a £7.3 million Department of Education project to build a new school on the existing Crawfordsburn Primary School site, with completion due in March 2027.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Crawfordsburn Primary School new build construction start Original release: Education Minister marks start of construction at new Crawfordsburn… (opens in a new tab)
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TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston calls for urgent scrutiny of the Irish medium sector after Assembly answer figures showed just 20 newcomer pupils in Irish medium primary schools and none in post-primary. He says the sector should take its fair share of newcomer children.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly answer on newcomer pupil enrolment in Irish medium schools Original release: TUV Challenges Irish Medium Sector on Lack of Newcomer Intake (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister cuts first sod on new £45m school for Abbey…
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan marks the start of a £45m Department of Education project to build a new school at Abbey Community College on the Three Mile Water site, due for completion in November 2027.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Abbey Community College new school construction start Original release: Education Minister cuts first sod on new £45m school for Abbey… (opens in a new tab)
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‘No child should be priced out of a school because of the cost of a uniform’ – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says the School Uniforms Bill offers a chance to modernise uniform policy, and calls for proposals covering affordability, accessibility for children with special educational needs, and allowing girls to wear trousers.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill Education Committee sitting Original release: ‘No child should be priced out of a school because of the cost of a uniform’ – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister marks construction work on new £38m school for…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan marks the start of construction on a £38 million new school building for Strangford Integrated College in Carrowdore, funded by the Department of Education under the Fresh Start capital programme.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Strangford Integrated College new school building construction start Original release: Education Minister marks construction work on new £38m school for… (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan welcomes funding for ‘life-saving’ defibrillators in schools
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the announcement that 600 schools will receive defibrillators, saying they will protect students, staff and the wider community. He calls for an emphasis on training and awareness and says the party will work to make the rollout quick and efficient.
Education Health Issue: Education Minister announcement on defibrillators for every school Original release: Sheehan welcomes funding for ‘life-saving’ defibrillators in schools (opens in a new tab)
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A Life-Saving Investment: Defibrillators to be provided to all…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces over £700,000 to fund and roll out defibrillators to around 600 schools across Northern Ireland, with all to be installed before the end of the academic year. The release cites a survey finding fewer than half of schools have one on site.
Education Health Issue: Defibrillator funding rollout for Northern Ireland schools Original release: A Life-Saving Investment: Defibrillators to be provided to all… (opens in a new tab)
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Providing defibrillators to schools will save lives: Martin
DUP MLA Peter Martin welcomes the Education Minister's announcement that defibrillators will be funded and rolled out to every school in Northern Ireland, noting over 600 schools still need them and that maintenance and replacement will also be funded.
Education Health Issue: Education Minister announcement on defibrillators for every school Original release: Providing defibrillators to schools will save lives: Martin (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches new Community of Lifesavers App
Education Minister Paul Givan, of the DUP, launches a free app to help young people learn CPR and defibrillator skills, funded by his department and developed by CCEA with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. He urges schools to download it.
Education Health Issue: Community of Lifesavers App launch Original release: Givan launches new Community of Lifesavers App (opens in a new tab)
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Mason calls for action on costs of transport for schools
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says rising school transport costs, including bus hire hikes, are forcing schools to cut services and leaving children unable to attend activities such as swimming. She says she challenged the Education Authority and will follow up for an explanation and resolution.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rising school bus hire costs and Education Authority transport communication breakdown Original release: Mason calls for action on costs of transport for schools (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Minister and Department to invest properly in accommodation, specialist teacher training and resources for Irish-Medium schools, some of which have been in temporary accommodation for over twenty-five years.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister must support Irish-Medium education – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Grief education and bereavement support in schools needed for student mental health, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says change is needed in how schools handle bereavement support and grief education, after sponsoring a Marie Curie child grief event at Parliament Buildings. He backs Marie Curie's push to add grief education to the Northern Ireland curriculum.
Education Health Issue: Marie Curie Children's Grief Awareness Week event at Parliament Buildings Original release: Grief education and bereavement support in schools needed for student mental health, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)