Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of (i) primary; and (ii) post-primary, school children who paid (a) full; or (b) subsidised, fees for instrument tuition provided by the Education Authority, in each of the last five years.
Minister of Education: Education Authority (EA) has confirmed that it does not hold the information requested, for the years 2021 – 2026.
Until the 2025-26 academic year, the administration of remission policies, in respect of reduced music tuition charges for Free School Meal Entitled (FSME) pupils, was largely undertaken at school level, meaning that EA does not hold the data centrally.
From the commencement of the 2025-26 academic year, the EA has implemented a revised Remissions Policy, in respect of EA Music Service charges. This policy provides for 70% remission of all Music Service charges, in respect of FSME pupils.
The collection of final data from schools, regarding numbers of FSME pupils availing of Music Service tuition in 2025-26, is not yet complete and as a result, it is not yet possible to provide final data on the number of pupils receiving remission due to FSME. Full data for 2025/26 will be available by the end of March 2026.
In addition to the tuition provided within schools, EA Music Service also provides advanced or specialist tuition in Music Service Hubs, after school hours. This service is available to a smaller number of pupils.
In the 2025/26 year:
30 primary pupils receive instrumental tuition through EA Music Service Hubs. 10 of these pupils pay reduced charges, due to the EA Music Service Remissions Policy.
195 postprimary pupils receive instrumental tuition through EA Music Service Hubs. 28 of these pupils pay reduced charges, due to the EA Music Service Remissions Policy.
ENDS
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