Written question asked by Roy Beggs (Ulster Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Barry Gardiner (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many pupils in the Belfast Education and Library Board area are given teaching support from the English as an Additional Language Support Unit; and what the annual budget is for this unit in the BELB area.

Answer: Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils in the Belfast Education and Library Board area are given teaching support from the English as an Additional Language Support Unit; and what the annual budget is for this unit in the BELB area. [224172] Mr. Gardiner: The numbers of children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) are determined by the annual school census which took place in October 2004. At that date, the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) recorded 574 children with EAL. Each of the five Education and Library Boards receive earmarked funding from the Department on a per capita basis in respect of EAL. The Department's total earmarked budget is £420,000 in 2005-06 and the BELB has been allocated £117,000 from this budget for EAL support services in the 2005-06 financial year which is an increase of £7,000 from 2004-05.

Secondary information