To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of classroom assistants currently working without an Access NI check.

The Education Authority (EA) is the employing authority for the majority of classroom assistants working in schools in Northern Ireland. The EA has advised that as of 29 January 2025, 909 classroom assistants are still awaiting the outcome of Access Northern Ireland checks.

While all classroom assistants are required to complete an Access Northern Ireland check, in the case of a short-term temporary hire or emergency cover appointment it is not always possible to finalise the Access Northern Ireland check prior to engagement. In such situations, the school principal is required to complete a risk assessment and take all necessary steps to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. This includes arranging for staff awaiting the outcome of an Access Northern Ireland check to be supervised at all times by someone who is vetted to work in regulated activity.

In addition, the EA has processes in place to follow-up and confirm that checks that were not able to be completed prior to engagement have subsequently been completed.