Minister Weir welcomes extra funding for Education

Education Minister Peter Weir today welcomed the £30m allocated to Education as part of June Monitoring.

The Minister said:

“I welcome the additional £30m of funding added to the 2016-17 Education Budget by the Executive, as part of the June Monitoring process.

“Of this total, £20m has already been allocated with £15m going to the Aggregated Schools Budget and the remaining £5m allocated to the Education Authority for Special Education Needs pressures.”

A further £5m has been allocated to the Department today to enable controlled and maintained schools to draw down on surpluses  that they have built up previously.

Continuing the Minister said:

“The final £5m allocated to the Department is particularly welcome as it will be used to fund additional costs arising from the increasing demands for Special Education Needs (SEN).  I feel it is important that pupils with special educational needs can avail of the same educational opportunities as all other pupils within a mainstream or special school. This funding, together with the £5m allocated previously, will go to support this vulnerable group to allow them to achieve the best possible educational outcomes.

“I fully recognise the pressures that schools are facing. It is my intention to give further consideration to the overall budget position with a view to identifying what, if any, additional funding can be made available to schools this year.”

Notes to editors: 

Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440, and your call will be returned.

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