To ask the Minister of Education whether financial pressures due to the rising global costs of materials will prohibit planned maintenance work or new school buildings from progressing.

Maintenance work will continue to be prioritised within available budgets. My response to your question AQW 3484/22-27 outlines action being taken by the Education Authority to mitigate against the rising global costs of materials.

In relation to new builds, the Department of Finance introduced measures to assist contractors that have been subject to significant and unforeseen cost increases and this has been applied to projects across the capital programme, where applicable.

Going forward, a specific clause will be included on new contracts, which will permit inflationary pressures to be taken into account and business case addendums will continue to be prepared to seek approval for increased rates for labour and materials during the life cycle of capital projects.