To ask the Minister of Education whether the UK Government's financial settlement, published on 13 February 2024, will have any impact on previous funding commitments arising from the Fresh Start Agreement for shared and integrated education.

Mr Givan

Funding of £150 million that was previously earmarked for Fresh Start projects has been placed in the UK Government's financial settlement for the Executive. In addition, construction costs for the Fresh Start projects have risen considerably in recent years. The remaining Fresh Start funding is, therefore, sufficient to cover only those projects that are currently in construction contract. In order to give clarity to the remaining Fresh Start projects that are not yet in contract, I will say that they will now be delivered in my Department's conventional major works programme and will continue to advance in design and planning. I hope that that will provide reassurance to the schools on the immediate way forward. I have written to the Secretary of State to set out the strategic importance of the programme for Northern Ireland, and to seek additional capital funding for those projects.

Mr Givan

I am not sure where the Member has been. I highlighted on day 1 in office that the budget allocations for my Department were a real cause for concern. Long in advance of devolution even being restored, it was flagged that the way in which the UK Government were treating the Fresh Start money would create difficulties for us. This is not new. I say to the Member that, when it came to the restoration of the institutions and the financial package for getting back to Stormont, his leader stated:

Clearly, the leader of the Member's party was wrong when it came to the financial package. We outlined that the financial package was nowhere near sufficient, yet the Alliance Party and others said, "Get back in. Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth". I am clear, and my actions are clear: I have moved those schools into the conventional programme — rather than pausing and cancelling them — not because I have let them down, but because the Secretary of State and the UK Government have let them down. Those schools have moved into the conventional programme, they will continue to be advanced, and I am making the case to the Secretary of State for the funding to be provided. I hope that the Member's party and leader will join me in my efforts to try to support those projects rather than play cheap party politics over them.

Some Members

Hear, hear.

Mrs Dillon

Minister, I understand the extreme pressure that your budget is under, but can you give a commitment that the business case for the non-teaching staff pay and grading review will be with the Finance Department as soon as possible?

Mr Givan

The Member raises the important issue of support staff. It is vital that that business case is finalised. The Department of Finance continues to look at aspects of it. Issues with the business case have been raised by the Education Authority, the Department of Education and the Department of Finance. I have made it clear that I want it to be prioritised so that we can complete the business case. That will allow the Finance Minister to take an informed view, which could feed into the next financial year. I am seeking to progress that, because it is important that the pay and grading review comes to successful conclusion and that we can resolve the issues.

Mr Frew

Minister, the MP for North Antrim, Ian Paisley, and I have spoken to you of late about how important the Ballycastle shared education campus is to the local area. Can you provide an update on that vital project, which was part of the Fresh Start Agreement?

Mr Givan

I can. The announcement was made at the tail end of last week, and I know that, over the weekend, the Member of Parliament for North Antrim expressed his concern about the proposals for Ballycastle. I can assure the Member and, indeed, the Member of Parliament for North Antrim that Ballycastle shared education campus is proceeding. Let me provide an update for Members. There are nine projects that are contractually committed and that the Treasury has said that it will support: Ulidia Integrated College; New-Bridge Integrated College; Shimna Integrated College; Phoenix Integrated Primary School; Mill Strand Integrated School; Parkhall Integrated College; Rowandale Integrated Primary School; Strangford Integrated College; and the Ballycastle shared education campus. Those school projects amount to around £266 million, which is contractually committed to by the Treasury. Those will proceed. My action is to make sure that the other schools that are not able to proceed are advanced by their being moved into my Department's conventional major capital programme.

Mr Butler

Can the Minister give an update on the impact that the funding cuts will have on the new-build project for Fort Hill Integrated College in his constituency of Lagan Valley?

Mr Givan

That is one of the schools that will continue to advance in the planning phase because, rather than being cancelled as a result of the UK Government and the Secretary of State's position, I have moved it into the conventional major capital programme. However, it is not one of the schools that was contractually committed to. A number of those schools are at different stages, but, because of the action that I have taken, they will continue to advance. That, however, will be subject to the necessary capital becoming available. When they are ready for construction, it will be for the Department of Education and the wider Executive to ensure that the necessary capital is available for those schools and all the others to be taken forward.

Ms Hunter

I am mindful that, nearly a decade ago, that funding was promised for shared and integrated education. However, the money has been removed with little thought for schools, teachers and pupils. Exactly when did you, as Minister, and other Ministers become aware that that money was being reallocated?

Mr Givan

It was part of the £3·3 billion financial package that the UK Government presented. The capital funding that was still outstanding from Fresh Start for shared and integrated education and shared housing schemes was included in the totality of that package. The ring-fencing that was there for Fresh Start is no longer there. Just to give the House some more figures, it was in 2018 that the totality of all those projects was announced, and it came to £483 million. As of today, that figure sits at £925 million because of the rising costs of inflation in the construction industry. That shows the necessary increase in the quantum of funding. So far, £266 million for those schools has been committed, and some have been completed. If it is beneficial to Members, I am happy to place in the Library the correspondence that I have entered into with the Secretary of State, in which I make it very clear that, if the UK Government are serious, as I am, about shared and integrated education, the announcement that they made in 2018 is no longer fit for purpose and that they need to provide to the Executive the funding that was originally envisaged under Fresh Start. I will continue to make that case, and I hope that others will join me in making it.