£40 million schools projects paused

Local principals have expressed ‘disappointment’ after it was confirmed that major enhancements to their schools – costing a combined £40 million – have now been ‘paused’ due to funding cuts.

St Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley and Dean Maguirc College in Carrickmore have both been told that their vital building projects are on hold.

St Ciaran’s was due to receive £25.4 million for an uplift to its facilities, while Dean Maguirc College was allocated £13.9 million for long-awaited works. The principals at both schools – which have a combined enrolment of over 1,500 pupils – say they are ‘extremely disappointed’ at the setback.

“Everyone at the school is extremely disappointed that the funding, which had been allocated to us, has now been paused,” said Paul Lavery, the principal of St Ciaran’s.

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Dean Maguirc College in Carrickmore has undergone a remarkable growth in enrolment during recent years, and more than 600 students now attend the school from surrounding parishes.

Its principal, James Warnock, also expressed dismay at the decision.

“I am disappointed that there is no funding available to progress the preparatory work needed for our essential development during the next academic year,” he added.

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MLA , Declan McAleer, yesterday (Wednesday) wrote to the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education seeking clarification in relation to Dean Maguirc College.

“The project for ‘The Dean’ is long overdue and both myself and others have been lobbying for it to be completed for a number of years. This delay due to funding restraints must be addressed,” he said.

“The Dean is already over-subscribed in the number of students seeking admission,” he said. A major capital investment such as the one proposed for the school and confirmed last year is essential and I will be seeking clarification from the Department on this development.”

In total, 28 schools across the North are being affected by the move, which has led to renewed calls for the Stormont Executive to be re-formed.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said it was unlikely that the Department would have sufficient funding to proceed to any new major capital or school enhancement schemes to construction this year.

“When these projects are fully planned, a decision will be taken on a case-by-case basis whether they will progress to construction dependent on the budget available at that time,” they added.

“A number of schemes in a very early stage of development and where planning has not started have been paused as at present, it is not affordable to spend much-needed funding on consultancy fees for potential new build projects which will not be ready to proceed to construction for a number of years.”