31 March 2026
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said the Executive used special educational needs (SEN) children as political pawns over a row on special school summer schemes.
He was speaking during the recall of the Assembly on Tuesday.
The SDLP brought forward an amendment highlighting that all Executive parties had members on the Education Authority (EA) board who knew about the issues with nursing and clinical staff for summer schemes.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said:
“Last week many families with SEN children faced a sleepless night as they worried how they would manage the long summer months without the support provided by special school summer schemes. They were put through real anguish and anxiety only for the Executive to U-turn less than 24 hours later amid significant public pressure.
“It was a political choice to make this a public issue when it should have been dealt with behind closed doors by the EA and Ministers. Instead families were dragged in as SEN children were used as pawns by warring departments more interested in scoring points than solving problems.
“This issue should not have come as a surprise to Executive parties, including Sinn Féin and Alliance, who have representatives on the Education Authority board. The minutes show this was discussed at meetings, so why was it not escalated to the Executive before now? Why has the Assembly been recalled and not the Executive, the body with the power to act?
“While it is welcome that special school summer schemes will now proceed, the way this was handled has caused unnecessary distress to families who deserve better. It underlines a deeper problem at the heart of this Executive, where dysfunction and division are too often allowed to take precedence over delivering for those who need help most.”