Bright Sparks Preschool, Crawfordsburn

Members' Statements – in the Northern Ireland Assembly am 11:00 am ar 7 Mai 2024.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Alex Easton Alex Easton Annibynnol 11:00, 7 Mai 2024

I, too, want to raise the issue of Bright Sparks Preschool, which is a feeder preschool for Crawfordsburn Primary School. Last Wednesday, the Education Minister visited Bright Sparks to hear about its excellent work and see all the pupils in the preschool. He was made aware of all the issues; the electrical issues and the fact that parts of the building were in danger of collapsing. He went away giving the guarantee that he would contact the Education Authority. Come Thursday, we heard the devastating news that the Bright Sparks management committee had decided that it had to close the building and make alternative arrangements due to health and safety issues.

My annoyance is that I have met the Education Authority with Bright Sparks many times over the past several years, and there has been a lack of effort by the Education Authority to find a solution for a building that it owns. My message to the Education Authority is that it must act quickly and do something to help Bright Sparks. I ask the Education Minister to use his influence to get the Education Authority to do something to help.

Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP

That concludes the time available for Members' statements. We will now move to the update on the East-West Council. Members may take their ease momentarily while the Principal Deputy Speaker assumes the Chair.

(Madam Principal Deputy Speaker [Ms Ní Chuilín] in the Chair)