§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement as to the means by which educational services are funded in Ulster.
§ Mr. ScottGrants are paid to the education and library boards by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI) for the day to day operation of the services in their areas, including the running of controlled schools and the maintenance of most voluntary schools, provision of school meals and school transport services, awards to students in higher and further education, and library, further education and youth services. For this purpose, boards receive 100 per cent. grants from DENI on all approved recurrent and capital expenditure.
The salaries of the majority of teachers are paid directly by DENI with the exception of part-time teachers in controlled schools and colleges of further education, who are paid by the boards, and teachers in voluntary grammar schools who are paid directly by their employing schools.
Other grants paid by DENI include capital grants (normally at the rate of 85%) to all voluntary schools, grants to voluntary grammar schools in respect of their recurrent expenditure, recurrent and capital grants to the teacher training colleges, museums and the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, grants to the Northern Ireland Sports Council and capital grants (at 75%) to district councils for the provision of recreational facilities. The Department also pays grants to the two Northern Ireland universities on the advice of the University Grants Committee, and to numerous other bodies concerned with various aspects of educational, recreational, youth service and community provision.