McKay welcomes forward progress of ESA

Mr McKay said: “I would like to congratulate the OFMdFM in successfully concluding talks on ESA. This is a positive move for education and is to be welcomed.

“Sinn Féin has been in support of ESA as a replacement to the local Education and Library Boards in order to bring efficiencies into local education.

“The implementation of ESA can bring savings of up to £20 Million each year and given the extended pressure placed on all budgets due to the Tory cuts agenda we must look at ways of saving administration costs in order to protect frontline services.

“The education of our children is the most important factor in looking to advance the educational agenda and bringing together the regional Boards into one authority. This makes perfect sense for the overall education sector and will see better cooperation across the present board areas to the benefit in areas such as the management of the schools estate and effective forward planning.”