Latest releases
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30 releases
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Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says he will vote against the Education Minister's amendments to the Holiday Meal Payments Bill at Further Consideration Stage and back the Education Committee's amendments, so payments are never below a school dinner's cost.
Social security and welfare Education Original release: Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry (opens in a new tab)
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No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the School Uniforms Bill’s latest Assembly stage provides an opportunity to guarantee every pupil the automatic right to wear trousers, urging school uniform policy to be brought into the 21st century.
Education Disability and equality Original release: No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform
SDLP MLA Hunter welcomes the Assembly's backing for reform of special educational needs (SEN) provision for young people after age 19, as announced in a party release dated 19 May 2026.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Hunter welcomes Assembly backing for post-19 SEN reform (opens in a new tab)
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Cuireann Sheehan fáilte roimh an dul chun cinn ar Bhille um Ghaelscolaíocht
Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast Sheehan welcomes the Irish Medium Education workforce bill passing its second stage in the Assembly. He says it will require the Department of Education to plan for the sector's staffing needs, and accuses the DUP and others of trying to obstruct progress.
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Bill to support Irish-medium education passes first stage – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says his Irish Medium Education Bill has passed its first stage in the Assembly. He says Irish-medium schools struggle to recruit teachers, SEN and early years staff, and calls for the Department of Education to plan the Irish-medium workforce with evidence, targets and…
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Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes cross-party support on the Education Committee for a proposal giving girls a clear right to wear trousers in school. She says the DUP Education Minister missed a chance to modernise school uniform policy and pledges to work with others to deliver it.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy welcomes the Education Committee's decision to take forward a single-issue bill allowing girls to choose trousers as part of school uniform. She says the Education Minister could have made the change through his uniform guidance and urges him to update the guidelines…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll’s Motion of No Confidence Gains Further Momentum
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says his no confidence motion against Education Minister Paul Givan has gathered the 30 signatures needed, with support from Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance, and will be debated at Stormont on 10 November. He calls for Givan to resign over his stance on Israel.
Education Original release: Carroll’s Motion of No Confidence Gains Further Momentum (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes final stage of School Uniforms Bill
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill passing its Final Stage, saying it will take effect for the 2026/2027 school year. He says schools must now follow Departmental guidelines and the Department can enforce them.
Education Original release: Givan welcomes final stage of School Uniforms Bill (opens in a new tab)
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DUP Leader announces new appointments
The DUP says its leader Gavin Robinson MP has made new Assembly appointments: Joanne Bunting MLA becomes Junior Minister, Peter Martin MLA chairs the Infrastructure committee, and Paul Frew MLA chairs Justice, while thanking Pam Cameron for her Junior Minister service.
Other Original release: DUP Leader announces new appointments (opens in a new tab)
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This Is only the Beginning: Education Minister updates the Assembly…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan hailed early progress on TransformED, his education reform strategy launched in March 2025, in an Assembly update listing initiatives such as a £31million Teacher Professional Learning Fund, a CPD Academy and curriculum reviews, with further reforms…
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Sinn Féin will continue working to cut cost of school uniforms – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes progress on the Assembly's school uniform affordability bill after the Education Committee finished scrutiny. He calls for an end to single-supplier contracts, limits on branded items and enforceable guidance to stop families being overcharged.
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Guy to lead cross-party Assembly group on online safety for children
Alliance Education Spokesperson Michelle Guy announces the creation of a cross‑party Assembly group, in partnership with the NSPCC, to improve online safety for children and young people in Northern Ireland, with a launch event planned for September and a call for input from families, experts and‑‑‑
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Education Minister attends Education World Forum in London
The DUP reports that Education Minister Paul Givan attended the Education World Forum in London, where he gave a keynote on Northern Ireland's approach to building an inclusive education system and met counterparts and the City of London Academies Trust.
Education Original release: Education Minister attends Education World Forum in London (opens in a new tab)
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Every young person deserves same opportunity to thrive, says Donnelly, welcoming passing of Caleb's Causing motion
Alliance Larne Lough Councillor Maeve Donnelly welcomes the council's passing of her motion backing Caleb's Cause and Alma White, which calls for better post-19 SEN provision. It urges the Economy, Health and Education Ministers to consider legislation for post-19 Education Health and Care plans.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Every young person deserves same opportunity to thrive, says Donnelly, welcoming passing of Caleb's Causing motion (opens in a new tab)
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‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech
Disability and equality Education Original release: ‘I am committed to the struggle for equality for everyone’ – Finnegan makes inaugural Assembly speech (opens in a new tab)
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We must work together to cut childcare costs for workers and families – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says she has been appointed chair of the All-Party Group on Early Education and Childcare, succeeding Nicola Brogan, and will press for families and providers to be heard. She welcomes the Executive's childcare subsidy scheme but calls for a full childcare strategy and…
Education Economy and employment Original release: We must work together to cut childcare costs for workers and families – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin marks one year anniversary with refreshed ministerial team – O’Neill
Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill announces a refreshed ministerial team marking one year since the Executive's restoration, with Caoimhe Archibald taking the economy portfolio and John O'Dowd moving to finance from Infrastructure, replaced by Liz Kimmins.
Other Economy and employment Original release: Sinn Féin marks one year anniversary with refreshed ministerial team – O’Neill (opens in a new tab)
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Key EU social programmes must be protected – Kathleen Funchion MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion says the EU Parliament's Regional Development Committee unanimously backed her opinion urging that the European Social Fund Plus be safeguarded within the next EU budget. She also says the committee supported openness to including the North in future funding and her…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Key EU social programmes must be protected – Kathleen Funchion MEP (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland hosts UK Education Ministers’ Council meeting
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan says Northern Ireland hosted the fifth UK Education Ministers' Council meeting at Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn, focused on teacher professional learning and recruitment and retention. He highlights input from Initial Teacher Education institutions…