Delay for new NI education body

The new body for education has been delayed until 2010

The new body which was due to replace nine different education organisations in Northern Ireland has been delayed until January 2010.

The executive meeting on Thursday approved the creation of the Education and Skills Authority.

But it said it could not be ready by the target date of April next year.

The ESA is to replace the five education and library boards and four other bodies.

The new authority had originally been planned for April 2008, but the date was considered unrealistic.

The ESA is to replace the five education and library boards in Northern Ireland and four other bodies including the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).

Another of the organisations to be merged into the ESA is the North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB).

NEELB chief executive, Gordon Topping, welcomed the new date for the establishment of the authority and said "certainty had now been put into the situation".

The creation of the new authority was approved on Thursday by executive ministers despite the reservations of some unionist politicians.

A number of people have been appointed to the ESA and work has begun on the amalgamation of the nine organisations, however, it was widely expected that it would not be ready in time for the deadline of 2009.

The education boards have restricted new appointments and in some cases are filling the gaps with staff acting up to senior posts and by the employment of temporary workers.