Ulster Unionist Education spokesperson Rosemary Barton MLA, has said that warnings of financial strain within the education service have been ignored for far too long.
Mrs Barton said:
“Given today’s announcement that almost 400 Northern Ireland schools will end up with a combined deficit of £50 million by the end of this financial year and the predictions of a £350 million financial shortfall within another two years, it is clear that the situation facing education is frightening.
“I have highlighted for some time that there have been net reductions in school budgets given the increase in costs of running schools. Regrettably, there appears to have been a reluctance on the part of the education authorities - including former Ministers - to do anything positive to resolve the issue.
“While we have received this warning of the funding gap, questions must be asked as to what options are being put in place to resolve the issues, have any savings been identified, have any reviews of structures within the Education Authority taken place and what discussions have taken place with the Department of Education to address the shortfall?
“I am also keen to establish that these financial pressures will not have any impact on long awaited capital funding within the education sector. Our schools deserve better than this.”