Mr Weir: I thank the Minister for her answer. Will the Minister give an assurance that the Department will give greater co-operation on that vital issue, given that there has been a year-on-year decrease in the number of school-crossing patrol officers employed across the five education and library boards, and that compared to four years ago, the number of school-patrol officers is down 26%.

The Minister of Education: As the Member will know, there are 660 school-crossing patrols across the five education and library board areas. The Belfast Education and Library Board has 110; the North Eastern Education and Library Board has 148; the South Eastern Education and Library Board has 111; the Southern Education and Library Board has 152; and the Western Education and Library Board has 139.

At present, there are 29 vacancies for school-crossing patrol officers. The boards are looking at the difficulties experienced in employing staff.

Mr Burns: Does the Minister agree that school-crossing patrols are good value for money? Will she insist that the education and library boards find the money to replace school-crossing patrols that have been cut in recent years?

The Minister of Education: It is essential that young people can travel to school safely, and there are many different ways of ensuring that they do that. I look forward to increases in budgets to deal with all the different issues for which the Member would like me to find money, but safety is paramount, and I have said that to all the boards.