Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education whether any recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of funding pressures on the ability of rural schools to maintain (i) staffing levels; (ii) curriculum provision; and (iii) support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
Minister of Education: No specific assessment has been undertaken of the potential impact of funding pressures on rural schools.
However, I am fully aware of the financial strain that all grant aided schools, including rural schools, and other education services are currently facing.
Budgets for 2026-27 and subsequent periods have not yet been agreed by the Executive. Based on the Finance Minister’s Draft Budget, current indications are that my Department will have a resource funding gap of £0.6 billion in the current financial year.
ENDS
