A row over funding has led to an almost unprecedented development with a major education board halting all its meetings.

Belfast Education and Library Board has voted to suspend all meetings in the wrangle which centres on a £7.3m budget shortfall.

While members have accused the Department of Education of failing to help address a deficit which could force cuts in services, a Department representative has insisted that it had "consistently emphasised to education bodies the need to live within the level of resources made available by the Executive".

A statement said: "The Education Minister Caitriona Ruane made a bid for additional funding through the September monitoring round."

Earlier this week, the Board had been told by the Department that there was little likelihood of any additional funding in this financial year.

In a statement, the Board said all meetings were suspended until a meeting with the Education Minister Caitriona Ruane, and the Department of Education Permanent Secretary Will Haire can take place.

Board Chairman, former Belfast Mayor, Jim Rodgers said the decision had been taken because members were "concerned about going into an overspend situation if we don't get financial help from the department".

In a separate joint statement, DUP Board members said: "The Minister may talk about her concern for children but her actions show that there is no substance behind those words.

"Her annual budget for the department is £1.8 billion and the shortfall in Belfast is therefore around 0.3%, yet we are being told that she can do nothing for the children of Belfast."

(BMcC)