asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether education and library boards in Northern Ireland have arrangements in place to provide Roman Catholic maintained schools with Roman Catholic classroom assistants, and controlled schools with Protestant classroom assistants; and whether there is equality of opportunity on religious grounds for classroom assistants employed by the boards.[HL6552]

No such arrangements are in place. Classroom assistants, in common with other non-teaching staff, are employed by the education and library boards in accordance with the ELB code of procedure and the principles of appointment on merit. Permanent substantive posts are publicly advertised and it is made clear that such posts are open to all sections of the community.