To ask the Minister of Education (i) why the collapsing wall in the playground of Portaferry Integrated Primary School has not been repaired months after the Education Authority acknowledged it; and (ii) whether remedial work is a priority to protect pupils and staff, when a safety report is made.

I understand that the collapsed wall at Portaferry Integrated Primary School was reported to the Education Authority (EA) Maintenance Helpdesk on 14 December 2020. The collapsed wall was then sectioned off by security fencing as an interim safeguarding measure.

The EA have advised me that works to erect a new boundary wall are due to commence early February 2022. The delay has been due to an issue over the ownership of the boundary wall which has now been satisfactorily resolved by their Legal Section.