To ask the Minister for the Economy what consideration her Department has given to funding higher education qualifications specialising in conservation as a means of addressing the biodiversity crisis.

My Department provides teaching grant to the Northern Ireland (NI) Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support the continuation of all activities delivered by the HEIs associated with their core activities of teaching. My Department therefore does not consider funding for specific higher education qualifications. The universities are autonomous bodies and as such are responsible for their own course provision however I can advise that there are higher education courses available at the NI HEIs that specialise in conservation and the biodiversity crisis. If you would like more details on these courses, the universities’ websites provide full detail on the courses they deliver, or the universities may be contacted directly for any further specific information you may require.