Fifteen schools are set to get new buildings or an extension following an £80 million funding boost.
Education minister Paul Givan announced on Tuesday which new-build, extension and refurbishment schemes will be funded from his capital budget.
It comes just months after it was revealed some new school projects were in jeopardy after £150 million of funding for new buildings in 2015′s Fresh Start Agreement was no longer available.
But the additional funding will now see seven new build primary schools “progress to procurement and construction”.
The schools are:
- Bangor Central Integrated PS
- Crawfordsburn PS
- Edendork PS
- Glenwood PS
- Mary Queen of Peace PS
- Millennium Integrated Primary
- Scoil an Droichid
Eight primary and post-primary schools will also receive investment through major extension and refurbishment and new build construction projects.
These include:
- Abbey Community College
- Carniny PS
- Kilronan Special School
- Lurgan Model Integrated PS
- St John’s PS (Kingsisland)
- St Malachy’s College
- St Mary’s PS (Barr)
- St Kevin’s College
The funding will also see the launch of a new programme of curriculum-led investment, while construction will also begin at Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh, which will provide five new post-primary schools.
Mr Givan also confirmed more than £50 million has been earmarked to support special educational needs.
The DUP minister made the funding announcement on a visit to Bangor Central Integrated PS, which will receive £10 million for a planned new build.
“Today’s significant announcement will see 15 schools benefiting from new state of the art facilities for young people from Belfast to Ballymena to Enniskillen and beyond.
“The investment will also provide a welcome boost to the construction industry over the next number of years.”
Education Minister @paulgivan has today announced capital funding allocations for 2024-2025.
— Education NI (@Education_NI) May 28, 2024
The Minister secured an additional £80million of capital funding for education this year, which will allow fifteen important new build and extension and refurbishment projects for… pic.twitter.com/MzsmgrAAQk
Mr Givan also said “a series of targeted smaller scale investment programmes to support and enhance the delivery of the curriculum in our schools” will be announced over the coming weeks.
“Potential schemes in this area will include specialist curriculum accommodation at post-primary; outdoor play and PE in the primary phase and curriculum resources and equipment more widely,” he added.
“It is my priority to ensure the educational experiences of as many children and young people as possible across Northern Ireland are impacted positively by capital investment.”
Mr Givan added that his overall capital budget was also providing investment for 10 major school build projects that are currently in contract or on site, as well as funding for digital infrastructure across the schools estate.
