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Minister hits back at area planning `mess' claims

John O'Dowd said the area planning of schools was complex
John O'Dowd said the area planning of schools was complex John O'Dowd said the area planning of schools was complex

THE education minister has hit back at a union leader's labelling of area-planning as a "mess", saying the process is complex.

John O'Dowd rejected claims made by Gerry Murphy, northern secretary of the INTO union.

Mr Murphy said area planning had become a mess with no consideration given to the vital community role played by schools.

He was speaking following the publication of an audit report, which evaluated the progress made by the Department of Education in delivering sustainable schools since the Bain Review of December 2006.

Bain concluded that because of falling pupil numbers and multiple sectors, there were too many schools and some would become educationally unsustainable.

More than 100 schools have been approved for merger or closure since, but the report warned there remained more than 70,000 school places that were surplus to requirements.

While the sustainable schools policy recommends minimum pupil numbers, they should not be the sole determining factor in whether a school is shut down.

The policy also sets out six criteria to be considered in assessing a school's educational viability. They are: Quality educational experience, stable enrolment trends, sound financial position, strong leadership and management, accessibility and strong links with the community.

Mr O'Dowd said he rejected Mr Murphy's claims and highlighted examples of when community links played an important role in determining a school's future. These included the recent decision to reject a proposal to shut down Malvern PS, the only school serving the lower Shankill area of Belfast.

"Area planning is challenging and complex. The aim of the process is to develop a planned network of viable and sustainable schools capable of delivering effectively high quality education that meets the needs of children and young people," Mr O'Dowd said.

"To label the process a mess is simply not true and does not stand up to scrutiny. In the last number of weeks both the assembly education committee and the audit office have published detailed reports on area planning, neither have concluded it is a mess. Recommendations have been made by both bodies on how to improve area planning and they will be given careful consideration.

"Contrary to claims that local communities have not been listened to there are several examples where viable alternatives have been brought forward by communities and have been enacted, such as in the instances of St Mary's High School in Brollagh, Dundonald High School and most recently Malvern Primary School in the Shankill."