To ask the Minister of Education how he will deliver on actions attributed to his Department in the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Delivery Plan 2024 – 2026.

Addressing violence against women and girls is an issue for all areas of society and education has a role in supporting that. The Delivery Plan brings into sharp focus my Department's responsibilities, and we will consider how the curriculum can support the wider strategy, with schools having an important role to play in addressing violence against women and girls.

My Department will contribute to the Delivery Plan and is establishing an Oversight Group to decide how the actions it is required to take forward will be delivered together with key delivery partners including the Executive Office. This will include engagement with stakeholders. Officials will bring forward recommendations for my consideration in due course. In turn I will want to consider whether any agreed actions should to be brought to the Executive.

Our curriculum is already designed to provide opportunities to educate young people to develop healthy relationships. Pupils have the opportunity to explore their management of a range of feelings and emotions and those of others; initiating, developing and sustaining mutually satisfying relationships, explore the qualities of a loving, respectful relationship and develop coping strategies to deal with challenging relationship scenarios.

Schools are supported to deliver the curriculum by the development, by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, of teaching materials including materials in respect of Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse, Healthy, Positive Sexual Expression and Relationships and Consent all of which are relevant to the strategy.