To ask the Minister of Education, whether he plans to increase the proportion of the departmental budget fund allocated to schools beyond the current level of 59 per cent.

Mr Weir

The percentage of the 2016-17 education budget currently allocated to the aggregated schools budget is just over 60%. It has slightly moved up proportionately, I think, because of some of the other reductions. When one is quoting any government statistics, there is always a slight degree of caveat to be added to that. On top of the 60% that is in the aggregated schools budget, around an additional 12% of the overall 2016-17 budget is allocated to schools from centre budgets held by the Education Authority, with a further 13% attributable to services to them. So, about 85% goes directly into some form of schools' budgets funding. For example, all special schools are paid for directly out of the block grant that comes to the Education Authority. Classroom assistants and home-to-school transport are not paid for through the aggregated schools budget, and those are fairly substantial funds. While adding that caveat, it is my intention, as Education Minister, to give greater freedom and autonomy to schools over how they spend their budget. I want to do that in a considered way to see how we can get a level of advantage to have that greater level of autonomy, so, over the next few months, I will give that some consideration. I believe that there are a lot of things that are very worthy in education, but I regard the front-line delivery in schools, if you like, as the key priority. I will give priority to schools funding in future budget allocations, and I will continue to argue in the Executive, within the constraints of the overall Northern Ireland Budget, for additional funding for schools where possible.

Mr Weir

I have every confidence. The Member will realise that the distribution of funding cannot simply happen overnight; it needs to be carefully thought through. In Northern Ireland we have about 1·8 million people. We have to look at where there are direct economies of scale but give that opportunity to schools to spend a greater percentage of their budget. The direction of travel for the percentage of the overall education budget and what can be directly spent by schools will be upwards while I am Minister. To be fair, we also have to realise that sometimes, when we compare Northern Ireland with England, for example, there is a very different school system in England that has evolved over many years. Also, to some extent — this is true of almost any form of statistics — you are not always absolutely comparing like with like. For example, we have a situation now where £85 million is spent on classroom assistants. That is spent directly in classrooms, but it does not appear in the line for the aggregated schools budget. We have to make sure that, when we talk about levels of school spend and school autonomy, we are talking on a similar basis.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone)

I remind Members that, if they wish to speak, they should stand. Those who have provision made should let us know.

Mr McGrath

Does the Minister agree that it is difficult for principals to effectively budget in area learning communities when some of the funding has to be claimed retrospectively? Will he undertake an investigation into this to ensure that risks are not taken by principals, and that all support that can be offered to them is offered to them?

Mr Weir

There is always the possibility of some bolt out of the sky in terms of funding. I want to make sure that whatever announcements are made, even if it means taking a little bit more time and be it either capital or resources, are then stood over. The one thing we want to avoid, as much as possible, is uncertainty. If there is a particular problem of area learning communities receiving their money late or having to claim it back retrospectively, I will be very happy to look into it and see how we can move that forward for 2017-18.

Mr Logan

Has the Minister any plans to review the common funding formula?

Mr Weir

The common funding formula, and associated formula funding arrangements, are kept under constant review. There was a previous independent review in 2013. I want to try to ensure particularly, as I mentioned earlier, that there may be a little more flexibility on the capital side, but there is no doubt that anybody in education, particularly in schools, will tell you that resource funding is very tight at the moment. What I want to do is to examine the common funding formula to make sure that it is fit for purpose — that, where money is actually happening, it is going the right way and getting the maximum advantage. I will be keeping it under review to try to ensure that the best possible support is given to schools across the board.

Mr McElduff

I ask the Minister if he has any message for school principals who are feeling the pressure of reduced school budgets and the possibility of the loss of teaching posts and bigger sized classrooms. Is there any good news emanating from the Department and the Minister on that front?

Mr Weir

I always like to be the Minister for good news. Unfortunately, it does not always work out that way. I am working on the situation, and I hope to be in a position in the near future to be able to give some level of additional support to schools from within the budget. People have always got to remember that any money going to schools from within the budget is being cut elsewhere. We have to make sure we do not have our cake and eat it. The prioritisation of trying to retain as many jobs as possible will also be a key focus as we move ahead. I hope to be able to say something in the near future on that issue.

Mrs Palmer

I thank the Minister for his determination to make sure that the Department gives schools more control over their budgets. When you are looking at this review, have you a timetabled plan in mind to execute it?

Mr Weir

In terms of any short-term action I can take within 2016-17, I hope to be able to announce that reasonably soon. On other more strategic issues, I will want to take a little bit of time. In that regard, it is important to get things right. Moving forward, the other critical factor in terms of the level of support that we can give schools will be getting a clearer understanding of the 2017-18 budget, because that will show the level of room for manoeuvre. I have no doubt that we have a lot of school principals who are trying to manage their budget under very difficult circumstances, and the vast bulk of them are doing that in a very responsible fashion. I want to see what additional help can be given to them. In the short term, I am not going to be able to promise miracles, but, hopefully, there will be some help that will be given in the near future directly to schools.