Minister to meet education board

The BELB had a budget deficit of £9m four years ago

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has agreed to meet an education board which suspended its meetings last week in protest at a shortage of funds.

The Belfast Education and Library Board had predicted a shortfall of £7.5m by the end of this financial year.

Board members had said there had been a breach of trust with the Department of Education who they said gave assurances that extra money would be available.

They said the department failed to deliver on the promises of extra money.

The board members asked the minister and permanent secretary to go to their headquarters to answer their complaints.

Instead the members have been invited to the Department of Education headquarters in Bangor next week.