Another board 'faces hardship'

A number of education boards have already revealed shortfalls

Another of Northern Ireland's education and library boards is facing financial hardship because of a shortage of funding.

The Southern Education and Library Board (SELB), which is based in Armagh, is predicting a shortfall of an estimated £28m over the next three years.

SELB chief executive Helen McClenaghan revealed the projected shortfall at a monthly meeting on Thursday.

Ms McClenaghan said she feared its budget for services supporting schools from 2005 to 2008 may be "totally inadequate".

The board will hold a special meeting in two weeks' time to plan how to cut costs.

The Belfast and South Eastern Boards are already the subject of a special government inquiry into their overspending.

The North Eastern Board has cancelled all but emergency maintenance to stay within its budget this year.

In a statement, the Department of Education said the money allocations had not been finalised.

It added that it was the responsibility of the boards' chief executives to make sure their spending remained within budget.