Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Adjournment Debate

The Speaker informed Members that he had been informed that Mr Colin McGrath was unable to be in the Chamber to speak to the Adjournment Debate on the Development of St Patrick’s Day in Downpatrick, and that he would seek to reschedule it through the Business Committee.

3. Members’ Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:

Mr Gerry Kelly
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Justin McNulty
Mrs Linda Dillon
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Ms Claire Sugden
Mr Gareth Wilson
Mr Timothy Gaston
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin

4. Ministerial Statements

4.1 Response to the Independent Review of Teacher Workload Report

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding a Response to the Independent Review of Teacher Workload Report, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

4.2 North South Ministerial Council Education Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Education Sectoral Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Second Stage: Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill (NIA Bill 32/22-27)

The Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, moved the Second Stage of the Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill (NIA Bill 32/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.58pm and resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

7.1 Second Stage: Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill (NIA Bill 32/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill (NIA Bill 32/22-27) passed Second Stage.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7.2 Final Stage: Sign Language Bill (NIA Bill 10/22-27)

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, moved that the Final Stage of the Sign Language Bill (NIA Bill 10/22-27) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Sign Language Bill (NIA Bill 10/22-27) passed Final Stage .

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business

8.1 Motion: Tackling Barriers to Accessing an NHS Dentist

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses alarm that the percentage of the population not registered with a National Health Service (NHS) dentist in Northern Ireland has increased significantly over the last ten years, with only 50 per cent of adults now registered; is concerned that in the last year alone, patient registrations have declined by over 17 per cent; highlights that the number of NHS dental treatment claims are down over 33 per cent on pre-pandemic levels; believes these trends pose a grave threat to access to vital services as well as oral health outcomes more generally; notes, in particular, the practice of registrations lapsing due to non-attendance and the challenges this presents for individuals in need of urgent and preventative dental care; recognises that underfunding, coupled with rising practice operating costs, has contributed to a dental payment model which is no longer viable and the most rapid shrinkage of NHS dentistry anywhere in the United Kingdom across all Trust areas; further recognises the need to improve access to affordable dental care for both registered and unregistered patients; regrets that the Cost of Service Review of General Dental Services has still not been published by the Department of Health; and calls on the Minister of Health to accelerate the development of an action plan for the reform of these services, including expediting dental payment reform and specific measures to address barriers to accessing dental care in all communities.

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Alan Robinson

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘Minister of Health’ and insert:

‘to develop a new Oral Health Strategy to reform these services, address workforce challenges, expedite dental payment reform and introduce specific measures to address barriers to accessing dental care in all communities.’

Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Danny Donnelly

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was agreed.

The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8.2 Motion: Support for Special Educational Needs Coordinators

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the crucial role of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) in supporting children and ensuring they can access the support they require to thrive in education; acknowledges that the majority of SENCOs are also teachers and many currently do not have the time within contracted hours to deliver both roles; expresses concern at the excessive and increasing workload SENCOs are facing and the subsequent impact this is having on their mental health and work-life balance; further recognises the need to provide timely and meaningful interventions, to alleviate pressures being felt by the SENCO workforce and ensure we do not lose valuable practitioners; further acknowledges that ongoing reforms, such as the introduction of the SEND Local IMPACT Teams and proposed changes to classroom support are, at times, placing even further pressure on SENCOs and must be adequately resourced and implemented with a child-centred approach; calls on the Minister of Education to undertake a review of the workload of SENCOs, which includes clear recommendations, including considering the viability of ensuring the role, where appropriate, could be exclusively non-teaching; and further calls on the Minster to outline how feedback from SENCOs is currently shaping the implementation of special educational needs reforms.

Mr Nick Mathison
Mrs Michelle Guy

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘ongoing reforms’ and insert:
‘are placing even further pressure on SENCOs and have been heavily criticised by key stakeholders due to concerns around legal compliance, lack of capacity within schools and support services, and the risk of worsening outcomes for children with SEND; and calls on the Minister of Education to pause the implementation of these reforms to allow sufficient time to properly assess whether there is a requirement to significantly alter the current trajectory to ensure that reforms comply with the law, and are effective and deliverable.’

Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Colin McGrath

Debate ensued.

Amendment not moved.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.52pm.

Mr Edwin Poots

The Speaker

28 April 2026

Northern Ireland Assembly

Proxy Voting Notifications

In line with Standing Order 27A, Miss Nicola Brogan arranged for her vote to be exercised by a proxy (Mrs Sinéad Ennis) during the period 11 November 2025 to 10 August 2026.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 28 April 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on Homelessness and the Supporting People Programme (NIA 161/22-27) (Committee for Communities)

Report on Engagement with Local Government on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy (NIA 162/22-27) (Committee for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Year Three Review: A Review of the Effectiveness of Part 1 of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 – Year Three Review (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.
Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 28 April 2026

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills 

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills