To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) any significant outcomes that have resulted from the 2016 Paramilitary Action Plan; and (ii) how much of the £25 million budget allocated for the action plan has been spent since 2017.

My Department has contributed significantly to outcomes derived from the NI Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism Action Plan in a variety of ways including innovative youth work interventions through the Education Authority’s Youth Service which is helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable and hard to reach children and young people. Over 3,000 children and young people have participated in Phase One interventions and over 700 professionals, including youth workers, teachers and police and community workers have engaged in capacity building activities.

In addition, my Department has received funding for Curriculum materials and support for teachers (led by Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment) and a pilot “Wrap-around” educational support programme in four areas which links to my Department’s work to reduce educational underachievement linked to socio-economic disadvantage.

The budget for Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme is managed by the Tackling Paramilitarism Team within the Department of Justice. My Department’s budget for 2020/21 is approximately £1.7m and full spend is expected this financial year.