To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he is taking to improve standards for toilets in schools, so pupils with conditions such as Crohn's disease and Colitis have better access to clean, private and accessible facilities.

The Education Authority (EA) is continuously recording and reviewing the condition of the toilet facilities across the estate via their condition surveying programme, whereby issues of an immediate health and safety concern are reported to the Maintenance Helpdesk for remedial action as response maintenance.

Unfortunately, due to the constrained capital budget position, there has not been a planned programme of toilet refurbishment works. However, critical health and safety issues will be progressed.

Should a school have a concern about the toilets being used by pupils with conditions such as Crohn’s disease and colitis, they should submit an Unavoidable Minor Works Application to either the EA, for controlled schools, or to the Department’s Estate Operations Team for non-controlled schools.