Members discussed ambulance response times, special educational needs, and women's health.
Key speakers
Overview
The plenary covered a range of constituency and service delivery matters, with members raising issues on behalf of rural communities, schools, and women's healthcare. The session did not follow a single thematic thread; instead, it moved across several distinct policy areas in succession, with different members leading on each topic.
The first substantive item concerned ambulance response times in rural areas of Northern Ireland. Mr Donnelly set out specific data on the proportion of category 1 emergency calls being reached on time in rural settings, arguing that the gap between urban and rural response times represents a direct risk to life. His contribution prompted further statements from other members with rural constituencies.
The second item focused on the role of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) in schools. Mr Mathison led this discussion, making the case that current workload pressures on SENCOs are preventing them from doing the jobs they are trained to do. Members who contributed to this item shared the view that meaningful reform of special educational needs provision is not achievable without better support for the staff responsible for delivering it.
Ms McLaughlin raised the absence of a dedicated women's health strategy in Northern Ireland, noting that the region is the only part of the United Kingdom without one. She drew attention to specific gaps in provision and argued that this represents a structural inequality in how the health service responds to women's needs.
Additional contributions covered local and community matters, including recognition of community organisations, first responders, and voluntary groups operating in members' constituencies. These items were shorter in nature and did not generate extended debate.
The session also included a brief exchange on economic policy, in which Mr Beattie offered a critical assessment of the Department for the Economy's record under its current ministers. This prompted a short response from other members but did not develop into a full debate.
Throughout the session the tone was largely factual and focused on service delivery, with members citing specific figures and cases to support their arguments. There were no formal divisions and no formal decisions were reached.
What was discussed
Ambulance Response Times
Mr Donnelly raised the specific statistic that only one in seven category 1 emergency calls in rural areas is being reached on time, stating: 'When only one in seven rural category 1 calls is being reached on time, the Department must treat that with the urgency that the risk to people's lives demands.' He called for the Department of Health to acknowledge the scale of the problem and to set out a plan for improving rural coverage.
Mrs Dillon supported this contribution, noting the reliance of rural communities on both the ambulance service and voluntary first responders, and stating that 'we would not be able to survive in our communities without first responders or the Air Ambulance.' The discussion highlighted the particular pressures faced by communities at a distance from major hospitals, where response times for emergency services are a more acute concern than in urban areas.
Special Educational Needs Coordinators
Mr Mathison led a focused discussion on the conditions in which SENCOs operate in Northern Ireland schools, arguing that increasing administrative demands are reducing the time they have to support pupils directly. He stated: 'We will not deliver meaningful SEN reform and will not meet the needs of children unless we support SENCOs to do their jobs.'
Other members who contributed to this item agreed that the system places excessive demands on SENCOs relative to the resources and support available to them. The discussion did not identify a specific legislative solution but produced a clear consensus among contributing members that the issue requires ministerial attention as part of any broader SEN reform programme.
Women's Health Strategy
Ms McLaughlin drew attention to the fact that Northern Ireland does not have a dedicated women's health strategy, a position she described as making it 'the only part of the UK without a dedicated women's health strategy.' She set out specific areas in which she argued the current provision falls short, including conditions that disproportionately affect women and are not adequately covered by existing frameworks.
Her contribution did not receive a formal ministerial response during the session. Other members indicated support for the principle of a dedicated strategy, and the item was recorded as a matter requiring follow-up by the relevant department.
Department for the Economy Record
Mr Beattie offered a critical assessment of the Department for the Economy's performance, describing the record of its ministers as 'nothing short of a shambles.' This was a brief contribution rather than a sustained debate, and it did not result in a formal response or counter-argument from government ministers in the chamber at that point.
The exchange illustrated ongoing scrutiny of the Department's performance by members in opposition, but did not produce a detailed discussion of specific policy measures.
Decisions and outcomes
No formal votes were taken and no formal decisions were reached during this session. Members placed a range of service delivery concerns on the public record, including ambulance response times, SENCO support, and women's health provision. These items were treated as matters for follow-up with the relevant departments rather than as items requiring immediate legislative action. Mr Beattie's comments on the Department for the Economy were recorded but did not generate a formal ministerial reply.
Notable moments
Mr Donnelly
“When only one in seven rural category 1 calls is being reached on time, the Department must treat that with the urgency that the risk to people's lives demands.”
Donnelly cited a specific statistic on rural ambulance response times to support his call for ministerial action on emergency service provision.
Party affiliation not recorded in this transcript.
Mr Mathison
“We will not deliver meaningful SEN reform and will not meet the needs of children unless we support SENCOs to do their jobs.”
Mathison argued that workload pressures on Special Educational Needs Coordinators are undermining the effectiveness of SEN provision in schools.
Party affiliation not recorded in this transcript.
Ms McLaughlin
“Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK without a dedicated women's health strategy.”
McLaughlin raised the absence of a women's health strategy in Northern Ireland and called for one to be established.
Party affiliation not recorded in this transcript.
Mr Beattie
UUP
“The record of the Sinn Féin Ministers in charge of the Department for the Economy has been nothing short of a shambles.”
Beattie offered a critical assessment of the Department for the Economy's performance under its current ministers.
UUP is in opposition to Sinn Féin on economic policy matters. This statement represents Beattie's view of the Department's record and is consistent with UUP's opposition role.
Mrs Dillon
“We would not be able to survive in our communities without first responders or the Air Ambulance.”
Dillon spoke in support of Mr Donnelly's contribution on rural emergency services, emphasising the dependence of rural communities on first responders.
Party affiliation not recorded in this transcript.
Mrs Erskine
“There is a massive stone sitting unturned on the A5.”
Erskine raised delays in road infrastructure projects, using the A5 as a specific example of stalled investment affecting her area.
Party affiliation not recorded in this transcript.