AQW 23560/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 21924/22-27, for a breakdown of the category numbers by who has been working without a check for (i) more than one month; (ii) more than six months; and (iii) more than 12 months, including the number which are employed by the Education Authority in each category.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 27 February 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Priority
- Tabled
- 27 February 2025
- Answer due by
- 5 March 2025
- Answered
- 3 March 20254 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- Yes
Answer
The Education Authority has advised that the number of outstanding Access NI checks related to staff engaged in schools on a temporary basis has reduced from 1,534, as of 5 February 2025, to 828, as of 28 February 2025.
The breakdown of the outstanding checks at 28 February 2025 is set out in the table below.
| Category | >1 month | >6 months | >12 months | Total |
| Classroom Assistant | 287 | 93 | 117 | 497 |
| Cleaning & Building Supervisor | 72 | 38 | 38 | 148 |
| Transport | 17 | 4 | 1 | 22 |
| Catering | 32 | 5 | 8 | 45 |
| Supervisory Assistant | 20 | 11 | 8 | 39 |
| Extended & After Schools | 18 | 8 | 11 | 37 |
| Other including invigilators, language assistants, sports coaches, technicians and youth workers | 17 | 10 | 13 | 40 |
| Total | 463 | 169 | 196 | 828 |
When awaiting the outcome of an Access NI check, the school principal is required to complete a risk assessment, ensure the staff member is supervised at all times by someone who is vetted to work in regulated activity and follow-up to confirm that the Access NI check has subsequently been completed.