To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 31242/22-27 and AQW 31243/22-27, whether he will consider recurrent funding for summer schemes in special schools to provide certainty to schools and parents.

As previously outlined in my response to the previous two questions to which this question is pursuant, I, along with my Executive colleagues, anticipate a significant resource overcommitment next year and beyond. Given where the Executive is in the future years’ budget cycle (i.e. Education does not have an opening 2026-27 budget), I cannot currently commit to any recurrent funding at this time.

Instead, once an opening 2026-27 Education Budget has been agreed by the Executive, I will consider funding for summer schemes in special schools alongside the many other and significant funding pressures my Department will face next year.