To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) when he will establish an area planning taskforce; (ii) the make up of this taskforce; and (iii) whether the taskforce will be independent of the Department.

In the addendum paper deposited in the Assembly Library and accompanying my Statement to the Assembly of 21 October 2024, I set out my Department’s response to the recommendations made by the Panel for the Independent Review of Education. I referenced in that paper that the Department accepts, in principle, Recommendation 20 (the reconfiguration of the network of schools) and that an Area Planning Taskforce will be created.

In the context of the wider reform agenda that I set out in my statement, it will be important to determine what a Taskforce might meaningfully deliver to meet Area Planning work programmes and challenges prior to determining its membership. I would expect my officials to proceed on this basis, working initially through established area planning structures and fora and to bring a report to me in due course.

At this point I have not determined governance arrangements for the Taskforce or if it will act independent of, or within the Department.