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27/10/2004
Education Minister hits out at overspend
Education Minister Barry Gardiner has demanded swift action over the escalating crisis in funding within the Belfast and South Eastern Education Boards after it emerged that the two boards had a combined overspend of around £11 million.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Gardiner told the chief executives of both boards that they bore personal responsibility for monitoring spending.
Mr Gardiner, said: “The boards have tough choices to make. I know that. But it is their responsibility, to set out clearly, how they intend to live within their budget.
“That means stating their priorities carefully. Only then, can I begin to work with them to minimize the adverse impact such cuts may have on children in the classroom.”
However, a spokesperson for public service union NIPSA said that any demands that both boards cut costs would badly affect children.
"The question that needs to be asked is why Barry Gardiner mishandled the allocation of budgets in Northern Ireland," he said.
"He set a budget that was too low to deal with issues that are being dealt with in education in Northern Ireland.”
Both boards both due to hold full meetings on Thursday at their headquarters to discuss the ongoing crisis.
(MB/GMCG)
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Gardiner told the chief executives of both boards that they bore personal responsibility for monitoring spending.
Mr Gardiner, said: “The boards have tough choices to make. I know that. But it is their responsibility, to set out clearly, how they intend to live within their budget.
“That means stating their priorities carefully. Only then, can I begin to work with them to minimize the adverse impact such cuts may have on children in the classroom.”
However, a spokesperson for public service union NIPSA said that any demands that both boards cut costs would badly affect children.
"The question that needs to be asked is why Barry Gardiner mishandled the allocation of budgets in Northern Ireland," he said.
"He set a budget that was too low to deal with issues that are being dealt with in education in Northern Ireland.”
Both boards both due to hold full meetings on Thursday at their headquarters to discuss the ongoing crisis.
(MB/GMCG)
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