Schools set to get an extra £20m

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An extra £20m is to be put directly into schools in Northern Ireland next year, the education minister has said.

Caitriona Ruane announced almost £1.8bn "recurrent funding" for education for next year with schools and education and library boards receiving £1.45bn.

Over three years £2.5m is to go on an "emotional health" programme, to include school counselling and the development of anti-bullying policies.

"This is a record level of funding for schools and boards," Ms Ruane said.

"It is a clear demonstration of the executive's commitment to ensure all our children and young people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential through quality education services."

The minister said that "taking account of falling rolls, this provides an average increase in funding per pupil of more than 3%".

She said that, in addition, £700m was available for capital investment over the next three years, which will enable work on over 100 major schools projects to be taken forward.

Funding for extended schools - which run before and after school activities - will be reduced, the minister said.

She said that there would "always be more needed than it was possible to provide".