To ask the Minister of Education whether the budget to meet and maintain the recent pay deal for teachers has been, and will be, ring-fenced to guarantee this rise in future years.

Following the agreement of the financial package from HM Treasury earlier in the year, my Department was allocated additional funding to contribute towards the settling of three years of outstanding non-contractual teaching pay awards in 2023-24. The recurring impact of settling these pay awards, is estimated at £166m in 2024-25.

All Department’s opening budgets for 2024-25 were agreed last week by the Northern Ireland Executive. I will very shortly make final budget decisions with regard to the pressures my Department currently faces. Key education stakeholders, such as the Education Authority and schools, will be notified of their final opening allocations for 2024-25 shortly thereafter.