Commissioners take over SEELB

Four commissioners are to take over the responsibility of the South Eastern Education and Library Board, after the original board failed to meet a deadline implementing school cuts.

The SEELB was given a strict deadline of 6pm yesterday to approve cost cutting measures which would affect special needs schools in the board area.

Speaking after the meeting, Education Minister Maria Eagle said she regretted that the board had not met their deadline.

She said: "The SEELB is operating in the context of unprecedented investment in the education system, with an extra £130 million earmarked for education in the next two years.

"This board is currently in the process of repaying money that it spent without authorisation during 2003/2005."

She continued by saying that this is money that was denied to children and education services in the rest of Northern Ireland during that board and it is essential it is repaid as soon as possible.

Ms Eagle added: "The SEELB must get its budget under control for 2006/2007 so that other parts of the education budget do not have to cover its spending once again.

"I regret that unlike every other education and library board in Northern Ireland, the SEELB have not taken the decisions necessary to ensure that it lives within its means this year.

"I have therefore appointed four representatives to carry out the board's functions. I am satisfied that these representatives provide a strong team with a wide range of expertise in the operation of education and library boards, finance, governance and accountability."

Members of the Education and Library Board had been told that this was their last chance to make difficult decisions which would keep them within their budget.

However, board members said they would not pass measures which would damage children's education, including special needs pupils.

Sinn Fein education spokesperson Michael Ferguson commended politicians on the education board for standing firm on their decision and added that all parties had come together and told the British Government that they are not prepared to do their dirty work in the south eastern area.

Mr Ferguson continued: "These commissioners appointed tonight are also not elected, they represent nobody and they will be held to account by nobody.

"All they are, are people paid to erode the educational entitlement of our young people and they should hang their heads in shame for agreeing to do the dirty work the British Government has asked them to do."

Speaking after the meeting, the DUP's Iris Robinson said that the tactics adopted by the Education Minister in sidelining the SEELB members in favour of four appointed commissioners was disgraceful.

Mrs Robinson said: “The appointment of four commissioners is a clear abuse of the democratic process as well as being indicative of the bully boy tactics of the Northern Ireland Office and will not solve the issues that give rise to the financial difficulties faced by the current board.

"The financial crisis is not of this board’s making. My party colleagues on the board have been consistent in their opposition to cuts that will have a savage impact on the special needs budget."

The four commissioners to take over the SEELB are Pat Carvill, the former permanent secretary of the Departments of Education and Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland; Douglas Osler, a former senior chief inspector of education in Scotland; June Christie, who previously chaired the North Eastern Education and Library Board and the chair of the Ballymoney District Police Partnership; and Lawson McDonald, an accountant and former senior executive with the investment agency the Industrial Development Board.

(EF/SP)