To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the difference between the Integrated Education Strategy compared to the requirements contained in the Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022; and (ii) why the strategy does not reflect the requirements defined in the Act.

In line with its duty under the Integrated Education Act 2022, the Department published an Integrated Education Action Plan on 26 April 2023 as a constituent part of the first strategy for Integrated Education. That action plan committed DE to fifteen specific actions in delivering implementation of the Act and forms the basis of the Department’s implementation plans. The Strategy and Action Plan are available here: Strategy-integrated-education-northern-ireland and Integrated-education-strategy-action-plan.

Though published before I became Minister, I am satisfied that the Integrated Education Strategy is compliant with the requirements of the Integrated Education Act.