Appointment of new member to the Board of the Education Authority

A new member has been appointed to the Board of the Education Authority (EA).

Lord Weir has been nominated by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in place of Mr Mervyn Storey, who took up the position of EA Chairperson on 1 January 2025.

Political members are not ministerial appointments and are nominated by their respective political parties in accordance with Article 3, Schedule 1 of the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

Lord Weir is a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. He has served as Education Minister and previously Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Education Committee. He has declared that during the last five years he has undertaken political activity on behalf of the DUP. He is a member of the House of Lords for which he receives an attendance allowance when participating in proceedings.

Notes to editors:

1. The Education Authority (EA) came into operation on 1 April 2015 and replaced the five Education and Library Boards (ELBs) and their Staff Commission.
2. The constitution of the EA Board is set out in the Education Act (NI) 2014.  The Board comprises a Chairperson appointed by the Minister and 20 members who are nominated by a range of interests i.e. there are 12 members representing the trustees of maintained schools, transferors of controlled schools, Irish-Medium schools, integrated schools, voluntary grammar schools & controlled grammar schools, and 8 political members who are nominated by the relevant political parties.
3. The EA is a non-departmental body sponsored by the Department of Education. It is responsible for ensuring that efficient and effective primary and secondary education services are available to meet the needs of children and young people, and support for the provision of efficient and effective youth services
4. Lord Weir's appointment commenced on 22 January 2025 and will cease in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014. The annual remuneration for the member positions will be £8,800 per annum plus travel and subsistence allowances.