Order Paper

1. Prayers

2. Members’ Statements

3. Executive Committee Business

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

Minister for the Economy

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

Minister for Communities

4.   Question Time

4.1 Finance

5. Private Members’ Business

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

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

6. Adjournment

• Development of St Patrick’s Day in Downpatrick

Mr Colin McGrath