“We cautiously welcome this news. For too long we have been without a Minister of Education to take key decisions and move education forward in Northern Ireland. If this deal does indeed lead to a restored Executive, any new Minister must immediately address the important issues of pay, workload and rebuilding trust with the education workforce. ASCL NI will, as always, continue to engage with all stakeholders and we hope to work with a new Minister of Education in the very near future.”