Anger At Cuts To Sports Scheme For NI Primary Schools

A decision by the Department of Education to end the funding provided for sports coaching at over 400 Northern Ireland primary schools has been highly criticised, with SDLP sports spokesman Justin McNulty branding the move a result of the failed devolved government.

A spokesperson for the department said the scheme was scrapped due to "pressures on the education budget" and that attempts to find the money from other areas had not been successful.

The programme had been in place since 2007 and cost around £1.3 million a year. £11m had been invested in the coaching since 2010, according to the department.

Schools were allocated one hour of football or GAA coaching per week, with 36,000 pupils benefiting from it last year.

The Department of Education said the funding will end next week, on October 31.

A representative said the department "recognises the contribution that the curriculum sports programme has made in helping to raise the confidence of young children".

"However the pressures on the education budget mean further funding cannot be made available in 2018/19 without impacting other areas of the budget and increasing the risk of an overspend."

Mr McNulty expressed his outrage at the cutbacks and said many in the football industry are "totally maddened" by the decision.

"I am seething with anger, as are Ulster GAA and the IFA and as will be the coaches at hearing this news," the SDLP MLA said.

"The people who are failed most are the thousands of children who will be denied participation in the programme. Let there be no mistake where the blame lies here, right at the heart of our failed political process and our failed government.

"No silly slogans of gimmicky posters will be any good to the children impacted by this decision. I am extremely disheartened by this news."



(JG)