To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of vandalism against school property occurred in (a) North Belfast, (b) Belfast and (c) Ireland; and what the total cost was in each area, in each year since 2000. [127422]

The cost of vandalism met by each Education and Library Board in controlled and maintained schools in each financial year since 2000 is as follows:

£
Education and Library Board	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Belfast	356,250	485,000	292,000
Western	62,958	42,263	53,623
North-Eastern	272,036	286,121	226,994
South-Eastern	189,741	248,122	69,449
Southern	78,286	133,708	140,713
Total	959,2 71	1,195,214	782,729

The computerised system currently operated by the 5 Education and Library Boards is being upgraded at this time and information on the number of incidents of vandalism in schools and on the cost of such incidents is not available at present. The information on North Belfast schools is also not available at this time. I will write to the honourable member when this information becomes available.