Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

Assembly Proceedings

The Speaker confirmed that the sitting had been convened following receipt of a valid notice (Appendix 1). The notice was signed by not less than 30 Members, in accordance with Standing Order 11.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion: Cancellation of Summer Schemes in Special Schools

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses grave concern that the Education Authority has announced the cancellation of summer schemes in special schools in 2026 due to concerns about healthcare provision for participating children; recognises that these schemes provide a lifeline for many families and that their cancellation will have devastating consequences for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents; condemns the failure of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education to secure adequate nursing provision for the summer schemes when the gaps in nursing services in special schools have been apparent for a number of years; notes that a vital service is being threatened for children with special needs despite the Department of Health and the Department of Education accounting for a significant majority of the Executive’s budget; and calls on the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education to urgently work together to secure the funding and nursing provision needed to save summer scheme provision in special schools in 2026.

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Mr Nick Mathison
Mrs Michelle Guy
Miss Nuala McAllister

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘That this Assembly’ and insert:

‘notes the decision to reinstate summer schemes in special schools in 2026 following their initial cancellation by the Education Authority; recognises that these schemes provide a lifeline for many families and that their cancellation would have had devastating consequences for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents; expresses frustration at the unnecessary uncertainty and distress caused by the initial decision and the manner in which it unfolded; further notes the ongoing concerns regarding healthcare provision for participating children and the longstanding gaps in nursing services in special schools; notes that a vital service for children with special needs was placed at risk, despite the Department of Health and the Department of Education accounting for a significant majority of the Executive’s budget; and calls on the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health to provide a full explanation of how this situation arose, to ensure that it is never repeated, and to work urgently and collaboratively to secure funding and nursing provision for summer schemes in special schools going forward.’

Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Danny Baker

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘their parents;’ and insert:

‘welcomes the intervention of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education in resolving this issue; notes that the Minister of Education’s Executive paper on capital funding for special educational needs has not been put on the Executive agenda some six months after initially being tabled; further notes that the issue of special educational needs is an Executive priority in the Programme for Government 2024-2027; and calls on the Minister of Finance to provide adequate funding to the Department of Health and Department of Education to ensure that children with special needs can be properly supported throughout the year.’

Mr Peter Martin
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Robbie Butler

Amendment 3:

Proposed:

After ‘budget;’ insert:

‘further notes that all Executive parties have representatives on the board of the Education Authority and were made aware of the risks to summer schemes in special schools on previous occasions;’

Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Matthew O’Toole

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, amendment 1 was made (Division).

As amendment 1 was made, the question was not put on amendment 2.

As amendment 1 was made, the question was not put on amendment 3.

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

4. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 2.14pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
31 March 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

31 March 2026 – Division

Amendment: Cancellation of Summer Schemes in Special Schools

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘That this Assembly’ and insert:

‘notes the decision to reinstate summer schemes in special schools in 2026 following their initial cancellation by the Education Authority; recognises that these schemes provide a lifeline for many families and that their cancellation would have had devastating consequences for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents; expresses frustration at the unnecessary uncertainty and distress caused by the initial decision and the manner in which it unfolded; further notes the ongoing concerns regarding healthcare provision for participating children and the longstanding gaps in nursing services in special schools; notes that a vital service for children with special needs was placed at risk, despite the Department of Health and the Department of Education accounting for a significant majority of the Executive’s budget; and calls on the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health to provide a full explanation of how this situation arose, to ensure that it is never repeated, and to work urgently and collaboratively to secure funding and nursing provision for summer schemes in special schools going forward.’

Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Danny Baker

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 40
Noes: 28

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gaston, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Miss Dolan, Ms Finnegan.

NOES

Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Brett, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Brownlee, Mr Chambers.

Amendment 1 was made.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

 
Northern Ireland Assembly

Notice of an Earlier Meeting Under Standing Order 11

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly give notice to the Speaker, under Standing Order 11, that the Assembly should meet to debate the following motion:

Cancellation of Summer Schemes in Special Schools

That this Assembly expresses grave concern that the Education Authority has announced the cancellation of summer schemes in special schools in 2026 due to concerns about healthcare provision for participating children; recognises that these schemes provide a lifeline for many families and that their cancellation will have devastating consequences for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents; condemns the failure of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education to secure adequate nursing provision for the summer schemes when the gaps in nursing services in special schools have been apparent for a number of years; notes that a vital service is being threatened for children with special needs despite the Department of Health and the Department of Education accounting for a significant majority of the Executive’s budget; and calls on the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education to urgently work together to secure the funding and nursing provision needed to save summer scheme provision in special schools in 2026.

 
Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 25 March 2026 to 31 March 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/53 The Education (Pupil Reporting) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Education)

SR 2026/65 The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Communities)

SR 2026/66 The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Health)

SR 2026/68 The Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Communities)

Draft SR 2026/XXXX The Climate Change (Just Transition Commission) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

For Information Only

SR 2026/62 The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2026/63 The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Miscarriage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2026/64 The Pensions Increase (Review) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)

SR 2026/67 The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2026/69 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2026/70 The Licensing (City of Derry Airport) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Communities)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

Memorandum Not Seeking Consent: Armed Forces Bill 2026 (Department of Justice)

6. Assembly Reports

Inquiry into Regulation (EU) 2026/405 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2026 on detergents and surfactants, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 (NIA 157/22-27) (Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee)

Report on the Adult Protection Bill (NIA 127/22-27) (Committee for Health)
Report on the Justice Bill (NIA 160/22-27) (Committee for Justice)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Mischaracterisation and Misunderstanding of TransformED, Curriculum, Assessment and Qualifications Reform (Minister of Education)

Treasury Funding Available 2026-29/30 (Minister of Finance)

Safer Journeys to School: Consultation on overtaking and passing buses (Minister for Infrastructure)

Laying in the Assembly the draft Regulations to establish the Just Transition Commission and consideration of advice received from the Climate Change Committee (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Call for Publication of a Northern Ireland Civil Service HR Review (Minister of Education)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Statement for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Department of Finance)

Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland Annual Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Department for Communities)

Evaluation of Programmes Addressing Educational Disadvantage (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 2024-25 (Department of Health)

Assessing the Quality of Education in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Certification Officer for Northern Ireland Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (Department for the Economy)

9. Publications Presented to 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 31 March 2026

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills