Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Finance – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 9 April 2024.
Minister, you said that you are left dealing with the consequences of the removal of the ring fence, but one of the consequences is not that the Executive have to remove money. It is really important to nail that myth. A ring fence being removed does not remove the money from those schools. That was a decision made by the Executive. Was it made by the Education Minister or was it made by you in conjunction with the Education Minister? It is really important that we be precise about that. Removing the ring fence does not cut the funding. That was a decision that the Executive made.