County Derry schools to benefit from £794m funding pot

Five County Derry schools are among a number of schools who have been awarded funding under the Major Capital Works Programme.

The programme will see £794m handed to 28 different schools - including Loreto College in Coleraine, Sperrin Integrated College and St Pius X College in Magherafelt, and Lumen Christi and St Brigid's Colleges in Derry City.

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen said there was a need for investment in schools.

"I have visited many schools and witnessed first-hand not only the tremendous work that takes place in each and every school, but also the need for an appropriate level of investment in the fabric of our schools, whether this is a new building, the
extension and refurbishment of existing school buildings, or through a programme of smaller scale minor capital works," she said in a statement to the Assembly this afternoon.

"Such investment is essential to provide the first class educational experience our pupils, staff and wider school communities both deserve and need to ensure our young people can achieve their full potential."

East Derry MLA Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the inclusion of Loreto College, Coleraine in the list of schools to benefit from the funding.

"This is a great day for Loreto college as we have secured confirmation from the Education Minister that they will be included in investment plans to redevelop and modernise the school," she said.

“Loreto is a first-class school at the heart of our community with nearly 1000 pupils - this investment can help ensure they have access to the very best facilities and opportunities in life.

“Sinn Féin will continue to hold the education minister’s feet to the fire to ensure that schools receive this funding as a priority, and that other schools in the area are also invested in."

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In making the announcement, though, the Education Minister also offered a note of caution going forward.

"In making this announcement today, it is my intention that these projects would be taken through to construction," she said.

"However, I should stress that authorisation to proceed to construction on any individual project will be based on the level of capital funding available at the point when a design is complete and all necessary approvals have been secured.

"Finally Mr Speaker, the projects I have announced today to advance in planning will benefit over 25,000 pupils across the schools estate.

"These projects have been carefully selected in line with my Department’s strategy for capital investment, which
continues to be shaped by the outworking of area planning and the delivery of a modern fit-for-purpose estate of viable and sustainable schools."

The following schools have received funding under the Programme: Ballyclare High School, Ballyclare Secondary School, Ballymena Academy, Belfast High School, Cambridge House, Ballymena, Carrickfergus Academy, Dean Maguirc College, Dromore High School, Edmund Rice, Newtownabbey, Friends' School Lisburn, Hunterhouse College, Belfast, Killicomaine Junior High School, Larne Grammar, Larne High School, Lisnagarvey High School, Lisburn, Loreto College, Coleraine, Lumen Christi College, Derry, Malone Integrated College, Belfast, Mercy College, Belfast, Portadown College, Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt, St Brigid's College, Derry, St Catherine's College, Armagh, St Ciaran's College, Dungannon, St Joseph's College, Belfast, St Louise's Comprehensive College, Belfast, St Paul's High School, Newry, St Pius X College, Magherafelt.

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