To ask the Minister of Education to detail any reason departmental Circular 2026/03 does not detail his Department's duties arising from the Integrated Education Act.

The purpose of Circular 2026/03 is to advise schools on the processes involved in applying for a Temporary Variation (TV); it does not list every relevant legal duty on my Department. TV policy recognises Integrated education, irrespective of management type, as a distinct school sector. As a result, additional places at Integrated schools are normally approved, unless a suitable place is available for the children concerned at another Integrated school. In doing so, my Department meets its statutory duties under the Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.