An increased security budget was blamed by the North's Education Minister for the £88 million reduction in the Schools Capital Programme.
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation described as "alarming" the announcement by the Education Minister, Mr Michael Ancram, yesterday. Mr Ancram introduced a £23 million package enabling work to begin on 10 major new projects, including funding for eight primary schools, a new co-educational grammar school and a new special school.
Mr Frank Bunting, INTO Northern secretary, said: "The £88 million reduction from £111 million to £23 million in the Schools Capital Programme is yet another indication of how this government has failed the funding of the school education system.