To ask the Minister of Education to detail any plans his Department has to address any inconsistencies in allergy safeguards across schools.

For the 2025-26 financial planning cycle, the Education Authority (EA) piloted a series of group-based financial planning workshops in 2025-26 for schools assessed, by the EA, to have non-complex financial circumstances. This approach has enabled the EA to prioritise individual meetings with schools facing complex financial planning issues to maximise the time and support available to them.

Any school that chose not to participate in the pilot scheme and requested an individual financial planning meeting was accommodated by the EA. Positive feedback was received by schools on the day of the workshops and the EA will carry out a Post Engagement Evaluation with schools, following completion of the 2026-27 financial planning cycle.

Individual Financial Planning meetings have not been replaced by Schools Financial Planning Workshops. Based on the EA’s financial assessment, schools are invited to attend a financial planning workshop and the EA offer follow-up individual meetings, to schools that require further support.

This blended approach ensures both broad engagement with the sector and targeted support for schools with complex financial circumstances.