§ 6. Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on funding for education of children with special needs in Northern Ireland. [167665]
§ Mr. GardinerIn 2002–03 around £125 million was expended in Northern Ireland for provision for children with special educational needs. In particular,
some £103 million was expended by the Education and Library Boards for special schools and to meet the additional costs of statemented pupils in mainstream schools and units;some £14 million for special educational needs was distributed directly to schools; and another £8 million supported the implementation of the SEN Code of Practice.