Latest news with #PaulGivan
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Investigation into why top civil servant was replaced
An investigation is taking place into the circumstances in which the Department of Education's permanent secretary was replaced in November 2024. BBC News NI understands the investigation is being undertaken by a senior legal figure from Scotland. It was commissioned by the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady. A permanent secretary is the most senior non-political official in a government department, effectively the department's chief executive. Who is Mark Browne? Mark Browne held the role of permanent secretary for a number of years, including a period when the Stormont Executive had collapsed. In the absence of a functioning government at Stormont from February 2022 until January 2024, departments were run by senior civil servants. As permanent secretary for education, Mr Browne had to make a number of difficult decisions on cuts in the absence of a minister. But in November 2024 Education Minister Paul Givan informed the chairman of the Stormont's Education Committee, Alliance assembly member Nick Mathison, that a temporary permanent secretary was being put in place. The former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Ronnie Armour, subsequently became the acting permanent secretary at the Department of Education. Why was Mark Browne replaced? That is what members of Stormont's Education Committee have been trying to find out. According to correspondence seen by BBC News NI, the committee had a number of questions about the change at the top. In a letter to Givan on 10 January 2025, Mathison, as the committee chair, asked "why there is a vacancy." He said the committee also wanted to know "what difficulties may have arisen, what implications these may have and how they may be resolved." In his reply to the committee, the minister said moves at permanent secretary level were made by the head of the Civil Service (HOCS), a position currently held by Jayne Brady. But in a further letter to Givan in February, the committee sought "further clarification on senior staffing issues." "The committee is concerned about the adequacy of governance checks and balances," Mathison wrote. "The committee's letter of 10 January asked 'why there is a vacancy.'" "The committee considered that your reply of 21 January did not answer this question, and the committee agreed to ask you the question again." Givan responded to that letter on 25 March, in which he said he "noted" the concerns of the committee. He again said that the head of the Civil Service had "moved the permanent secretary." Members of the Education Committee subsequently wrote to Ms Brady, asking "what were the considerations which underpinned your move of the permanent secretary." But BBC News NI understands that Ms Brady, as head of the Civil Service, had by that stage appointed a senior Scottish legal figure to investigate the circumstances behind Mr Browne's replacement at the Department of Education. What has been the response from the Department of Education and Jayne Brady? When contacted by BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Civil Service said: " We do not comment on internal confidential staffing matters." The Department of Education said it had nothing further to add to the response from the Civil Service. The FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, told BBC News NI they were not able to comment at this time. But the MLA who chairs Stormont's Education Committee says they still have questions. Nick Mathison told BBC News NI "a number of concerns have been raised with me relating to the role of the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in recent months." "It was surprising to see an interim permanent secretary announced with no explanation," he said. "Seven months on, despite calls for clarity and an explanation from the Education Minister and Head of the Civil Service, we remain in the dark as to why the previous Permanent Secretary is no longer in post or when the position will be filled permanently." "The role is the second most senior in education in Northern Ireland and the sector is facing multiple critical challenges, including school budgets, Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and school maintenance." "It is vital clarity is given, so the public can have trust in the senior leadership structures across the sector." More on this story Holiday hunger cut the 'most difficult choice' Prison service chief moving to new NI role
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mark Browne: Investigation into why top civil servant was replaced
An investigation is taking place into the circumstances in which the Department of Education's permanent secretary was replaced in November News NI understands the investigation is being undertaken by a senior legal figure from was commissioned by the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady.A permanent secretary is the most senior non-political official in a government department, effectively the department's chief executive. Who is Mark Browne? Mark Browne held the role of permanent secretary for a number of years, including a period when the Stormont Executive had the absence of a functioning government at Stormont from February 2022 until January 2024, departments were run by senior civil permanent secretary for education, Mr Browne had to make a number of difficult decisions on cuts in the absence of a in November 2024 Education Minister Paul Givan informed the chairman of the Stormont's Education Committee, Alliance assembly member Nick Mathison, that a temporary permanent secretary was being put in former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Ronnie Armour, subsequently became the acting permanent secretary at the Department of Education. Why was Mark Browne replaced? That is what members of Stormont's Education Committee have been trying to find to correspondence seen by BBC News NI, the committee had a number of questions about the change at the a letter to Givan on 10 January 2025, Mathison, as the committee chair, asked "why there is a vacancy."He said the committee also wanted to know "what difficulties may have arisen, what implications these may have and how they may be resolved."In his reply to the committee, the minister said moves at permanent secretary level were made by the head of the Civil Service (HOCS), a position currently held by Jayne in a further letter to Givan in February, the committee sought "further clarification on senior staffing issues.""The committee is concerned about the adequacy of governance checks and balances," Mathison wrote."The committee's letter of 10 January asked 'why there is a vacancy.'""The committee considered that your reply of 21 January did not answer this question, and the committee agreed to ask you the question again." Givan responded to that letter on 25 March, in which he said he "noted" the concerns of the again said that the head of the Civil Service had "moved the permanent secretary."Members of the Education Committee subsequently wrote to Ms Brady, asking "what were the considerations which underpinned your move of the permanent secretary."But BBC News NI understands that Ms Brady, as head of the Civil Service, had by that stage appointed a senior Scottish legal figure to investigate the circumstances behind Mr Browne's replacement at the Department of Education. What has been the response from the Department of Education and Jayne Brady? When contacted by BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Civil Service said: " We do not comment on internal confidential staffing matters."The Department of Education said it had nothing further to add to the response from the Civil FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, told BBC News NI they were not able to comment at this time. But the MLA who chairs Stormont's Education Committee says they still have Mathison told BBC News NI "a number of concerns have been raised with me relating to the role of the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in recent months.""It was surprising to see an interim permanent secretary announced with no explanation," he said."Seven months on, despite calls for clarity and an explanation from the Education Minister and Head of the Civil Service, we remain in the dark as to why the previous Permanent Secretary is no longer in post or when the position will be filled permanently.""The role is the second most senior in education in Northern Ireland and the sector is facing multiple critical challenges, including school budgets, Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and school maintenance.""It is vital clarity is given, so the public can have trust in the senior leadership structures across the sector."
Belfast Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Concerns over accuracy of department-led survey on integrated education in NI
Conversely though, the survey, which campaigners said they were 'blind-sided' by on its release on Tuesday morning, does show that almost three quarters of the 9,700 parents who responded to the questionnaire said they would prefer or would not mind if their child went to an integrated school. The Belfast Telegraph also understands there are further concerns about how the findings have been presented after authors claimed almost 25% of parents have expressed a preference for their child 'not to attend an integrated school', Meanwhile, it found 32.9% of parents said they had expressed a first preference for an integrated school, with 67.1% saying they hadn't. The survey reported that quality of education was the most important (32.5%) factor considered when selecting an integrated school as first preference. Quality of education was again the most important (39.6%) factor considered when selecting a non-Integrated school as first preference. Almost a quarter of parents (24.0%) said they would rather their child was not educated in an Integrated school compared with 31.2% who preferred sending their child to an integrated school. Of those who selected an integrated school as first preference, 85.3% stated that it was either important or very important that their child received their education in an integrated environment. The Department said the survey was conducted specifically to asses the views of parents towards integrated education. But it comes after Education Minister Paul Givan rejected a bid by Northern Ireland's largest school, Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College, to transform to integrated status earlier this year, despite a parental vote in favour of the move. Though the Department's Parental School Admission Survey 2025 has been released as a stand alone document, it is expected to feed in to a more general survey due for release in December this year which will also incorporate other data collected by both The Life and Times Survey 2024 and a Lucid Talk poll conducted by the Integrated Education Fund. The Lucid Talk poll found that 65% of parents felt integrated education should be the standard model for the school system in Northern Ireland while the Life and Times survey found that 55% of parents would prefer for their child to be educated in an integrated school. Though the latest Department of Education survey found that, 32.9% of parents said they had expressed an integrated school as the first choice for their child, currently only around 8% of pupils attend a school with integrated status. Proximity to home was the second most important factor in which school parents opted for, behind quality of education, though campaigners have pointed out that there remains a limited choice of integrated schools in many areas of NI. Those who selected a non-integrated school were also asked if they would want their choice to transform to become an integrated school. In response, 37.5% said they 'don't mind', while 37% responded 'no' and 16.9% said 'yes'. The remainder said they did not know or would prefer not to say. Almost eight out of 10 parents (78.4%) said they had considered a school's admissions policy before deciding on a first preference selection for their child. Two thirds (66.4%) of parents made their school selections because their child met the admissions criteria well, though over a fifth (22.6%) of parents stated that the admissions criteria made no difference to their selection. The funeral of Jaidyn Rice takes places in Bangor Another potential issue is a lack of transparency over who responded to the survey, with the report noting that: 'policy officials responsible for drafting the Integrated Education Strategy contacted sectoral bodies asking them to encourage parents in their school sector to complete the survey and shared the link to the survey with them. This means it is possible that parents who did not go through the admissions process in 2025 may have completed the survey if they chose to access it though the survey link. This is considered unlikely, but it is not possible to determine the extent to 'which this may have occurred because the survey was anonymous.' The department said the survey was issued by the Education Authority to 63,349 parents whose children were going through the school admission process to meet the requirements of the Integrated Education Act and to measure demand.
Belfast Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘We are a safe place,' declares Ballymena school named by DUP Minister in debate over absenteeism after riots
St Patrick's College, a Catholic maintained post-primary, was mentioned alongside Harryville Primary School by Education Minister Paul Givan when addressing the impact of the racially motivated riots in the town. St Patrick's is on the opposite side of the town from where the rioting happened. 'It is outrageous that, over the past week, we have been dealing with children who have come into school traumatised, showing all the signs of trauma as a result of what has happened on our streets,' the minister told MLAs. 'Alarmingly, we have also been dealing with children who engaged in the rioting and attacked the houses of children who are in their class. 'It is an appalling and complicated situation that requires intervention. My team has engaged with a number of schools as a result of the picture that we have had to deal with. We have engaged the Education Authority's emotional health and well-being unit and its intercultural education service to try to provide support for those schools. 'Last week, at a number of schools, including Harryville and St Patrick's Primary Schools (sic) in Ballymena, attendance has been less than half of the school. That is a clear problem, complicated by the fact that we are dealing with children in both schools who were engaged in the trouble and children in both schools who were the victims of it. It requires a concerted effort. My team and I are very much engaged in trying to provide that support.' PSNI say Portadown riots had 'more co-ordination' as mutual aid to be deployed this weekend The minister later added: 'There is a recording of absenteeism that occurred as a result of what happened last week. I have the precise figures for the schools in the Ballymena area. 'For example, 84 newcomer children in Harryville Primary School have not been at school. 'The figures for St Patrick's College show that attendance levels are sitting at around 65%. 'We therefore have that information. It will drive the interventions that we feel are necessary in order to provide support to those schools. We have that information about not only Ballymena but other areas. We will certainly use it to inform the approaches that need to be taken to provide support to schools.' A statement from the principal Paul Fitzpatrick and governors at St Patrick's College said: 'St Patrick's College, Ballymena would like to reassure all of our pupils and parents/guardians that this school will continue to be a safe place for them to learn in and in which they can develop as young people. 'As always, our staff will continue to work hard for the education and pastoral support of all of our young people.' Mr Givan said his department is engaging with schools in the area. 'There are only a couple of weeks left in this academic year, and it has been flagged up that that support will be available in September when the schools return after the summer break,' he said. PSNI chief warns rioters 'we will arrest you' Meanwhile, the principal of a south Belfast primary school has said at least three families who had children attending her school have now left Northern Ireland. Hilary Cunningham, principal at Fane Street PS, which has one of the most diverse cohorts of pupils in Northern Ireland, said schools are too often left to pick up the pieces after violence and intimidation. 'Last year, we had a family whose front door was burnt, we also had another family who has been intimidated quite recently,' she told BBC News NI. 'Young lads standing outside the front door waiting for them when they come back in, and this is a woman on her own with two children, two young girls. 'We've actually got three families that have gone to other countries because they are so frightened to stay, and another little child from nursery who wouldn't come into school because the family were afraid to travel to school,' she said. 'It is very difficult to deal with but we just support them as much as we can.'
ITV News
17-06-2025
- ITV News
Children's Commissoner warns young people getting caught up in violence 'could impact their future'
Northern Ireland's Children's Commissoner is warning young people that getting caught up in violence could have a devastating impact on their futures. Responding for the first time to last week's disorder Chris Quinn described the behaviour of young people as "frightening". This comes as the Education Minister revealed on Monday that absence rates at schools closest to the disorder in Ballymena spiked following the violence in the town last week. This follows disorder which started in Ballymena last Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last weekend. Two 14-year-old Romanian boys have been charged with attempted rape. A peaceful protest on Monday evening about the alleged assault was followed by attacks on police and properties housing ethnic minorities. The disturbances in the Co Antrim town continued for several nights and spread to other areas of Northern Ireland including Portadown, Larne, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Londonderry and Coleraine. Scores of people were arrested. To date, over 30 arrests have been made by police investigating disorder in Northern Ireland, the age of those taking part as young as 12. The Education Minister said it was alarming that some school children had been attacking homes of their peers during the disorder. Paul Givan said 84 newcomer children at Harryville Primary School have not been attending, while attendance is at around 65% at St Patrick's College. Speaking in Mr Givan said: "Over the past week we have been dealing with children who have been coming into school traumatized, showing all of the signs of trauma as a result of what has happened in our streets. But alarmingly, we're also dealing with some children who engaged in the rioting and attacked some of the school, houses of the very children in their class." In a statement St Patricks College said: "It would like to reassure all pupils and parents that the school will continue to be a safe place." They added, "Staff will continue to work hard for the education and pastoral support for all young people." UTV have contacted Harryville primary school for a response but they did not want to make a Ireland's Children's Commissioner Chris Quinn has condemned any young people taking part in violence and had this message: "I would urge children to stay away, we're entering into a summer period which can be challenging, and that has been the case here for a long time. "I've seen for many years how children and young people get caught up on that so I would urge them to stay away."There's lots of misinformation out there at the minute." He continued, "I would urge them to question that information and think about the sources of it, because I do believe they're getting coerced and manipulated and driven by misinformation and disinformation." As the investigation continues into finding those responsible, the PSNI has once again urged young people to stay away from violence or risk ending up with a criminal record. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
