O’Dowd glad of UUP poorPUL kids quiz

He made the remark after East Belfast UUP MLA Michael Copeland asked the Minister how the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) will meet the needs of working class Protestant children.

Mr O’Dowd replied: “I welcome the fact that eventually I have been asked by a unionist representative, about the needs of protestant working class children in regards to the role of ESA.

“When ESA is established it will be with a balanced and representative membership incorporating the representatives of Transferors of Controlled Schools.

“It will be equipped with statutory responsibilities for raising standards and school improvement. Therefore, the main way that ESA shall help Protestant working class children will be by working to improve their educational outcomes.”

He said the body will have the capacity to address “our uneven profile of educational achievement and performance” within which pockets of disadvantage and underachievement have prevailed regionally.

“It will also provide a regional School Development Service and Governor Support Service. Finally, ESA shall be supported in its functions by the sectoral body for Controlled Schools,” he stated.