Nipsa members protest outside Stormont

The �26m set aside already, is said to be millions short of the final bill, which will include 11 years of back pay.

Classroom assistants protested at Stormont on Tuesday over the delay in settling the pay deal.

When it is agreed, it will mean back pay of up to �17,000 for some, but no extra for others.

Last June, the dispute led to a one-day strike but the assistants said promises made then have not been honoured.

Janette Murdock from public service union NIPSA, who works in Torbank Special School, said promises of a deal have not been honoured.

"If anything they have come back with less than what they had offered when the boards hit the financial crisis," she said.

"It's time now that we have to fight, it's 11 years since we asked for this - I think we have been more than patient."

BBC Northern Ireland education correspondent Maggie Taggart said a spokesman for the employers said talks are continuing and a firm offer to the staff is on the cards.

"However, the �26m set aside to pay for it is not going to be enough, and the Department of Education is being asked to find more money," she said.