IPPN

Last Updated: Wednesday, 05 January 2011 16:26

The cost of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) in Northern Ireland has reached £10m without beginning work.

Its establishment has been delayed by political divisions at Stormont.

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane said £10.2 million had been spent since 2005/6 on the centralised administration on preparations.

Ulster Unionist Sam Gardiner obtained the details in an Assembly question.

"If she (Ms Ruane) has so far failed to get Executive agreement to her proposals while at the same time pouring public money into this project, you have got to wonder: at what point she will stop spending?" Mr Gardiner asked.

"This looks like another spectacular Sinn Fein failure and another failure for their Education Minister, hard on the heels of the fiasco she produced over school 11 plus transfer."

The minister has described the costs as an investment to save. She believes it will release £20 million a year in unnecessary bureaucracy, raise standards and more effectively plan the education estate.