25/04/2017 BBC Newsline

School principals have condemned a proposed cut in education funding.

The details were revealed yesterday by the Secretary of State,

who said he'll impose a budget if the Stormont parties can't

Education could lose 2.5% of its cash allocation - ?50 million.

Here's our education correspondent, Robbie Meredith.

Of no taking away then adding in schools. The education budget is the

second-largest of the mole. A two and half percent cut would be ?50

million. Less of it of that money will mean changes in the classroom.

That only ?160,000 less for my school which would echo equate to

three teaching staff redundancies. I would have increased class sizes but

my biggest concern would be the impact on the education of the young

people in my school. News of the cut came from the secretary of the

state. But there is also towards Stormont. Ellen the Anat Merced to

reflect the political priorities. If young people and education is not a

priority than I blame politicians. In light of the RHI scandal saying

there is no money makes no sense. ?0.5 billion wasted and you now tell

me I've got to lose three teachers from my school? Balancing the books

is already hard for schools, if this budget becomes a reality losing

classroom assistants and teachers will be the only way that many are

able to do it. Sinn Fein have blamed Conservative

policies for the cuts, but they've been accused by the DUP

of dodging hard decisions. Here's our Economics

and Business Editor, John Campbell. Our public services have faced a

series of tight budgets and that pressure is set to continue. The

health service accounts for half of Stormont entire spending. Under the

Secretary of State's and it would get some new money but not enough to

make an impact. There would be cut education, justice and economic

development. Mr Brokenshire says it is an attempt to reflect the

priorities of the local party. Those are not UK Government numbers, but

reflecting the advice of the head of the Northern Ireland civil service

as to his assessment of the position which takes account of the

priorities of the political parties prior to the dissolution of the

assembly. The Sinn Fein leader at knowledge is that there are tough

decisions to be made. She says the blame lives with Westminster. The

parts processed -- the cats have been in place since 2010 and the

Conservatives came to power. -- Cats macro. The DUP leader says the

failure to set a project is down to Sinn Fein. We want to create more

jobs in Northern Ireland. Jane Fein have decided that they would rather

stick to what seems to be a growing political wish list, instead of

dealing with the real issues that matter to the people of Northern

Ireland. Bid even if Sinn Fein and the DUP do a deal, with their budget

be much different? It is very likely that any devolved assembly executive

would have done something very similar. There is one big reason for

that. The Secretary of State has decided to stick with that policy,

and that has always been the state policy in previous executives. Mr

Brokenshire's budget contains ?50 million which has not yet been

allocated to the Department. It could be used for education, but

whoever uses -- sets a budget will not have much room. Finances will

remain tight Stormont for the next few years. 15 million pounds

available. Tonight, the Department of Finance

said that when the figures are adjusted for the impact

of the civil service redundancy scheme, the cuts

will not be so deep. It's just been confirmed that a

motorcyclist has been doubted died at the fifth race.

A 20-year-old man has been charged over the death of a woman in a crash

Margaret McLaughlin, who was 69, was a passenger in a car

which was involved in a collision with a lorry on the Urney Road.

The man will appear in court tomorrow charged with causing death

Two weeks ago, Roslea in County Fermanagh lost its GP

surgery after no-one applied to take over the practice.

Now villagers are being offered an alternative medical service -

but as our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports,

What happening here in Roslea is typical of what unfolding in lots of

rural areas across Northern Ireland. No doctor wants to come to work in a

single GP run practice. Perhaps because it is too expensive, too

much responsibility, even to lonely. So while GPs are looking after

themselves, the big question is who is looking after the people who

lived in these rural areas? It's been a fortnight since the locals GP

surgery closed. Instead, those living here are expected to travel

to the nearest health care practice 35 miles away. The local pharmacy

however which is very much in the heart of the village is offering an

alternative service, which links the blood via the Internet with a doctor

working out of a private practice -- wind people up with a private

practice in Belfast? I've had a suicide for the last three weeks...

But there is a charge for this. Today staff any public are putting

to the test. The way that it is for the minute, if I have to do it I

will do it. Paying to see a GP and over the Internet goes against the

ethos of the National Health Service which is meant to provide free care

at the point of delivery. According to the pharmacists, it's what the

National Health Service has come to. This is not an obvious solution, but

what it does it allows people who can see a GP have the option to

coming here. While some might see this scoping service as a profit

opportunity, others may take a more cynical view and see it as creeping

privatisation of the health service. Just miles from here over the

border, neighbours have no choice but to pay 50 euros to see their GP.

While this side of the border hasn't quite reached that save -- stage

people in Roslea are discovering what it might be like to have to pay

for their health care. The Southern Health Trust

has denied any plans to permanently close

Daisy Hill's Hospital The trust had recently warned that

temporary overnight closures of the emergency department may be

unavoidable because Last night, more than 800 people

attended a meeting to protest about the prospect of limited

opening hours. It is our intention to keep the

Department open if we can do that. That is our plan. We do have to put

contingency is in but it is clear that in the near future. What we are

proposing to do if we thought that was likely to happen we will inform

the public. Another call bentonite, with frost

in places. The last of the wintry showers go away. Temperatures in

rural areas will drop to freezing, maybe even just below. So there

could be frost on your car when seen tomorrow morning. December melted

quickly, however. A bright start, with some lovely sunshine to begin

with. Most places will have a dry morning away from the far

north-west. We are expecting things to cloud over at the course of the

day. The cold wind will bring snow and rain showers through the day,

and could be an ice brisk in the morning. In this sunshine, the wind

will be just as bitter as it was today and strong and gusty. So,

clouding over tomorrow afternoon. Still some brightness around, and

some places will stay like largely dry. Thursday will bring some more

spots of rain and again temperatures creeping up a little bit. That's the

story really once the cold air moves out of the way the temptress start

to move out of the way and there will be a lot of dry weather.