Northern Ireland

More than £240 million needed for schools to 'stand still'

Peter Weir appeared before the education committee yesterday to discuss school budgets
Peter Weir appeared before the education committee yesterday to discuss school budgets Peter Weir appeared before the education committee yesterday to discuss school budgets

THE north's education system needs £240 million extra for schools to continue providing services they offer now, a Stormont committee has heard.

DUP minister Peter Weir appeared before the education committee yesterday to discuss school budgets and contingency plans in light of the devolved government's collapse.

Debts are soaring out of control with schools predicted to be £75 million in the red in the next three years.

Figures previously released in the assembly showed that hundreds of cash-strapped schools were careering towards serious financial difficulties.

Many are are struggling to tighten their belts because millions of pounds have been taken out of the system.

Schools must now pick up the tab for increases in employers' contributions to national insurance and superannuation.

Many warn this will cost them tens of thousands of pounds, with the cash coming straight out of their budget. For some, this means making staff redundant.

Mr Weir told the committee yesterday that this would cost schools about £22m annually.

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle, who chaired yesterday's meeting, questioned why schools were being asked to make three-year financial plans without knowing what the overall budget was.

He also queried figures that predicted the total debt among schools expected to be in deficit at March next year would be more than £33m.

By March 2018, this is expected to rise to £55m and increase again to almost £75 by the end of the 2018/19 financial year.

Other schools are predicted to be in surplus - but the total figure falls from £29m to £9m over the same period.

Mr Weir agreed that deficits were getting larger while surpluses were decreasing.

He said the £33m figure, provided by his own department, was an early estimate but neither he, nor his officials, could tell the meeting what they expected the actual deficit to be.

The Irish News last year revealed that every school in the north had its spending plans rejected by government, throwing budgets into disarray.

Responding to Mr Lyttle, Mr Weir said these plans had not been "rejected" but added that the Education Authority had "not approved" them.

The minister acknowledged the situation was tough for schools and said for them to operate without making any changes "you would need £240m extra to stand still".