Education Minister has announced that three major
works projects, previously announced in 2022 but paused due
to budget constraints, will now move forward to planning and
design.
The three schools set to benefit from today's announcement are:
- Belfast High School, Newtownabbey;
- Ballyclare High School, Ballyclare; and
- St Brigid's College, Londonderry
said: I am pleased to be
delivering the good news here at Ballyclare High School today
that three major works projects will now advance in planning. The
capital investment across the three schools when the projects are
delivered will be over £200m.
These schools have been in need of significant capital investment
for a number of years. Their buildings are in extremely poor
condition and have seen little or no investment. We are now a
step closer to the development of modern school facilities that
are fit for purpose and that will better support the learning and
development needs of young people in these three schools for
generations to come."
Speaking at Ballyclare High School, the Minister said: Whilst
this is welcome progress, I recognise that there are many other
schools in need of significant investment. The education system
is facing a capital funding crisis that must be addressed.
"I will continue to manage capital expenditure very carefully and
prioritise those most in need. Decades of underfunding has left
much of our schools' estate in very poor condition.
I will of course continue to make the case for increased and
sustained capital investment across our schools' estate.
