Caitriona Ruane announced the as yet unspecified cut in her education budget. She said: "There would always be more needed than it was possible to provide."
A Department of Education spokesman said schools could use their main grant for extended services. He added that ministers are still committed to extended schools.
Seamus Searson, Northern Ireland organiser for teachers' union NASUWT, expressed surprise at the move. "It seems strange as they seem to be going backwards," he said. "Some areas would really benefit from extended schools."
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