That should mean an average of �87 extra per pupil.

The changes have been introduced because the government is streamlining the system it uses to give money to schools in the province.

However, the five education and library boards have all predicted shortfalls of millions of pounds for the overall services they provide.

They believe there will still be problems which will impact on children in the long term.

Commenting on the budget news, the North Eastern Education Board said that the extra money for its services was welcome.

Plans changed

However, the board added that it will still have to make difficult decisions which will have an effect on children in the classroom.

Education Minister Barry Gardiner said he had changed some of his plans for deciding how much money schools should get.

DUP politicians said there would be huge differences between the budgets of schools virtually next door to each other and that Catholic schools would be better off.

Mr Gardiner said more money was going to almost all schools and also to education and library boards, who he accused of causing undue concern for parents and staff.

The boards have been predicting multi-million pound shortfalls after early indications of their budgets.

The Department of Education said almost all schools would get extra money of varying amounts.