It comes after the Education Authority announced that schemes are being called off due to concerns over the healthcare provision available for participating children, with the decision landing just as the Assembly enters Easter recess. 

Speaking after the petition was submitted, Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson said: “The decision to suspend summer schemes at special schools is nothing short of disgraceful. That this announcement was dropped as the Assembly enters Easter recess only adds insult to injury.

“Once again, it is the most vulnerable children who are paying the price for failure and inaction. Parents are being left abandoned, scrambling for alternatives that simply do not exist. The response from the Education and Health Ministers has been woefully inadequate.

“That is why Alliance has moved immediately to seek a recall to have this issue debated on the floor of the Assembly. The Ministers responsible must return to the chamber, answer to the families affected, and explain how they intend to fix this. The buck passing needs to stop. Both Ministers need to get around the table immediately, take responsibility and act.”