Minister gives green light to £35million investment to enhance school buildings

Education Minister John O’Dowd has given the green light for a £35million investment in 12 schools, as part of the School Enhancement Programme (SEP).

The following projects will now proceed to construction:

· Sullivan Upper School, Holywood
· Integrated College, Dungannon
· St Louis’, Ballymena
· Broadbridge Primary School, Eglinton
· Erne Integrated College Phase 2, Enniskillen
· St Patrick’s Academy, Lisburn
· Killean Primary School, Newry
· Mount Lourdes GS, Enniskillen
· John Paul II Primary School, Belfast
· Methodist College, Belfast
· Wallace High School, Lisburn
· Strandtown Primary School, Belfast

The Minister said:

“This £35million investment is an investment in the future of our young people. The improved and new accommodation will provide better facilities for young people to learn in and an improved working environment for all the school staff.

“Ongoing investment in our schools’ estate is essential if we are to continue to provide a high quality education and today’s announcement has been made possible by an increase in the DE capital budget of £46.9million or 32% in FY16/17.

“Thirty four SEP projects are already in construction or have been completed. Construction work for these 12 additional projects will proceed in the FY16/17 financial year. Of course, this level of investment also provides a significant boost for the local construction industry and in turn, the local economy.”

The School Enhancement Programme (SEP) is a capital build programme targeted to meet the immediate and pressing needs in schools, through smaller scale works, where a new build capital works is not deemed deliverable. It caters for construction projects costing between £500,000 and £4,000,000. This phase of the School Enhancement Programme represents a total investment of £35million.

Notes to editors: 

1. Allocations to schools are as follows:

· Sullivan Upper School, Holywood £2.9m
· Integrated College, Dungannon £3.1m
· St Louis’, Ballymena £4m
· Broadbridge Primary School, Eglinton £2.7m
· Erne Integrated College Phase 2, Enniskillen £3.8m
· St Patrick’s Academy, Lisburn £3.7m
· Killean Primary School, Newry £1.5m
· Mount Lourdes GS, Enniskillen £1.1m
· John Paul II Primary School, Belfast £0.8m
· Methodist College, Belfast £4m
· Wallace High School, Lisburn £3.2
· Strandtown Primary School, Belfast £4m

2. The Department of Education’s ‘Education Works’ campaign promotes the value of education. This year’s campaign aims to ensure that parents have information on schooling and that they are aware of the steps they can take to ‘Get Involved’ and support their teenager in achieving good outcomes at school. Watch out for the ads on television, radio and outdoor locations. The campaign highlights the vital role families can play in helping children do well at school and improve their life chances. Visit nidirect - Education Works for more information or watch the TV ad on the Department’s YouTube channel.

3. See photos from the Department of Education in our flickr collection.

4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education’s Communications Team on Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.

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