Free School Meals

Oral Answers to Questions — Education – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 15 January 2001.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Gerry McHugh Gerry McHugh Sinn Féin 2:30, 15 January 2001

3. asked the Minister of Education to confirm that the free school meals entitlement will continue to be the basis for the allocation of additional funding schools in all areas.

(AQO 536/00)

Photo of Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin

Additional funding for schools will be allocated using methodologies that best meet the intended purpose. Where the aim is to counter the effects of social disadvantage, free school meals entitlement will continue to be an important factor.

Photo of Gerry McHugh Gerry McHugh Sinn Féin

How do schools receive additional funding on the basis of free school meals entitlement?

Photo of Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin

There are three current examples. First, in line with Government policy on targeting social need, there is an additional 5% of Chancellor’s funding, over and above formula-funded budgets, for distribution directly to schools, on the basis of free school meals entitlement. Secondly, the school support programme provides professional support and modest additional resources to support agreed action plans. Free school meals entitlement is one of the factors that are taken into account in decisions about which schools should join the programme. Thirdly, there is the group 1 schools initiative, which provides additional funds to support agreed action plans for schools for which the support offered through the special education support programme (SESP) is insufficient, due to the scale of socio- economic and educational disadvantage.

Photo of Carmel Hanna Carmel Hanna Social Democratic and Labour Party

Has the Minister taken any additional steps to target resources at the areas of highest social need?

Photo of Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin

My answer to Mr McHugh’s question set out our approach. We will listen carefully to any ideas or suggestions relating to the local management of schools, a topic that may well be raised again towards the end of this Question Time. We are moving forward with the common formula to ensure that we distribute educational resources more sensibly and justly. I have outlined today the indicators that we are working with at the moment, but we are prepared to consider any better suggestions or ideas that are put to us.