To ask the Minister of Education, following recent reports of school closures as a result of security concerns, to outline what support is in place for schools to ensure their security arrangements are appropriate.

Mr Givan

With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will group questions 3 and 8. I condemn the disruption caused by the recent school closures due to security concerns, and I welcome the speedy response from the PSNI. Our young people and staff should be able to attend school without concerns about their safety or security. The Department’s building handbook specifies the use of CCTV in schools with respect to building and site security and is for the protection of school premises and grounds against vandalism and theft. The handbook also provides for an intruder-detection system and external lighting for school security purposes. For new-build schools, consultation with the PSNI crime prevention design adviser and architectural liaison officer takes place on all aspects of site and building security from an early stage of development. If schools have concerns about their existing security infrastructure, they should submit an unavoidable minor works application, supported by a PSNI report. Guidance on security and personal safety is available on the Department of Education’s website, and the Education Authority’s health, safety and emergency planning service is also available to provide schools with information and guidance. While that guidance was originally introduced in 1997, it remains relevant and largely current. However, I am happy to commit to a review of the guidance to ensure that it remains appropriate and up to date to mitigate the risks in today’s world.

Ms D Armstrong

I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome his condemnation of the security hoaxes and the steps that he is taking. I want to press the Minister on the issue of communication with parents and stakeholders in the event of any unfortunate security alerts in the future. What steps will he advise taking in such circumstances?

Mr Givan

I thank the Member for her interest in the issue and for the question in light of the security threats that came through by email. The advice was that they were hoaxes, and schools were able to reopen. When it comes to communication, schools are well placed to advise parents of any circumstances that may require a response from parents, including if they need to collect their children. That is a plan that schools should have in place.

Mr Givan

Where there is a need for any capital, that can be brought forward by way of an unavoidable minor works application. An application for funding for security measures that may need to be provided in a particular school would be considered. If a school feels that it needs some security infrastructure, I encourage it to engage with the relevant managing authority and submit an application so that it can be considered.

Ms Bunting

I am grateful to the Minister for that information. He will be aware that there are a number of entrance points to schools, particularly secondary schools. In my constituency, there is at least one school that has several buildings. The Minister has indicated that funds may be available and that schools should apply. Will he indicate how schools can apply for that associated funding for security for their estate?

Mr Givan

It is by way of an unavoidable minor works application, and that will be considered through the normal processes. Each school differs in what would need to be developed and tailored to its unique circumstances. Schools are well placed to know what is necessary by way of any capital investment in security-related equipment. They should then engage through the Education Authority and put forward that application so that it can be assessed.

Ms Hunter

Minister, understandably, those calls and emails caused a lot of stress and concern for parents. Does your Department feel, at the moment, that all our schools in Northern Ireland are adequately prepared for emergency situations, events or threats, and will you revisit the current protocols around that matter?

Mr Givan

Where there is a security incident, there should be a security policy in place where schools have a strategy setting out how to deal with a wide range of issues. Those can range from security of cash, personal property and personal safety to incidents of violence. The school's response to any incident should be led by its safety strategy. While it is not realistic to plan for every possible situation, the safety strategy should set out the appropriate responses that can be implemented in an emergency.