To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the ongoing issues with in-year planned growth funding for Grant Maintained Integrated schools.

Finance officials in my Department and the Education Authority have established a Project to review the Education Authority’s application of the Common Funding Scheme in relation to dual sites and contingency funding, which includes in-year growth. The issues raised by stakeholders are being fully considered as part of this Project.

Any change to the current funding approach adopted by the Education Authority will require a robust assessment of the financial impact on the education budget. This work is ongoing and is being progressed at pace. It is anticipated that the outcome of the review will be known early in the 2021-22 financial year.