To ask the Minister of Education whether his Department has carried out (i) an equality impact assessment to determine any negative impact on children with special educational needs or disabilities; and (ii) a rural impact assessment to determine any impact on children and young people in rural areas, on the cuts to services announced by the Education Authority.

The Education Authority has advised that as a public authority, under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the mainstreaming of their Section 75 equality and good relations duties, as well as duties under the Rural Needs (Northern Ireland) Act 2016, has been embedded into their policy/decision-making processes.

This includes consideration of any negative impact on children with special educational needs or disabilities and children and young people in rural areas for proposed Savings Measures 2025-26.

The planned savings measures are being taken forward individually for implementation and those that have been finalised have had equality and rural needs screening/impact assessment completed.