£45 million investment in schools welcomed

Chief Executive Barry Mulholland said,

“Investment in the schools’ estate is essential to support high quality education for all pupils and CSSC very much welcomes that approximately £45million is to be made available to these 18 schools, including 10 controlled schools.

“The School Enhancement Programme (SEP) is a cost effective way to enable schools to improve their facilities and I look forward to learning more detail about the projects that will now progress.

“While this £45million investment is great news, current levels of capital funding continue to be insufficient to support much needed improvements to other schools in Northern Ireland.  CSSC welcomes the Education Minister’s commitment to prioritise the school estate.

“The current overall budget available has resulted in insufficient funding for the minor works, new build and school enhancement programmes, compounding the pressure on the schools’ estate.

“While CSSC acknowledges that finance for education is finite, the reality is that Northern Ireland’s education system requires significant investment after year on year decreases to school budgets in real terms; if there is insufficient investment in the education system, then Northern Ireland’s future is bleak.”

The controlled schools who have been informed their applications have been approved to planning stage in this tranche of the SEP are as follows: 

Primary schools

• Botanic PS, Belfast
• Carrick PS, Lurgan
• Cliftonville Integrated PS, Belfast
• Glencraig Integrated PS
• Irvinestown PS
• Kilcooley PS, Bangor
• Killinchy PS
• Strabane PS

Post-primary Schools

• Glastry College, Ballyhalbert

Special schools

• Riverside School, Antrim

The published School Enhancement Programme, Second Call, Protocol For Selection can be found at www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/school-enhancement-programme-second-call-protocol-selection.

15 January 2020