Department recommits to Strule Campus project

THE Department of Education (DE) reiterated that it remains ‘fully committed’ to the Strule Shared Education Campus, when its permanent secretary met with councillors and school principals in Omagh earlier this week.

On Tuesday morning, Dr Mark Browne sat down with local politicians and educators to discuss the Department’s position regarding the future of the £540 million development, which, when completed, will see 4,000 pupils move into a six school site on the grounds of the former Lisanelly army camp.

While not shying away from significant funding difficulties facing the project, which an Independent Review recently condemned as ‘financially unjustifiable’, the permanent secretary said the DE still backs the ambitious plans, while also emphasising the important role any incumbent Education Minister must play in bringing the vision to completion.

Commenting after the meeting, a departmental spokesperson said, “The need for significant capital investment in post-primary education in Omagh has been recognised by successive executives.

“The benefits of the Strule Shared Education Campus for young people and the wider community are extensive, providing new and unique opportunities for pupils to be educated together in high-quality facilities.

“Whilst there are currently significant funding challenges across the education capital budget, the DE is fully committed to continuing work to take forward the planning and design of the Strule Campus, including the development of shared education within the campus and is considering a range of potential funding options to support the programme.”

During Tuesday’s meeting at the Grange Council Offices, local councillor, Barry McElduff, objected to conclusions reached in the Independent Review, labelling them ‘a bolt out of the blue’.

“In the meeting, the Permanent Secretary was very straight-talking and pointed out that the new, incoming Education Minister will have to reaffirm their commitment to the project.

“As will the wider executive,” added the Sinn Féin councillor.

He continued, “Michelle O’Neill as First Minister Designate wrote to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in December reaffirming her ongoing support for the Strule Campus and that of Sinn Féin.

“I will be proposing at our council meeting next Tuesday that we seek to engage the new, incoming Education Minister and The Executive Office on reaffirming this commitment.”

Reflecting on the meeting, Cllr Stephen Donnelly said, “An urgent priority for any incoming Education Minister must be to ensure that all schools in the Omagh area have clarity on the direction of travel.

“For too long school principals, teachers, pupils and their parents have been trying to plan for the future and have been unable to do so.”

The Alliance Party representative continued, “(During Tuesday’s meeting) I pressed the Permanent Secretary on the present state of the capital budget and it is clear that given the inflationary pressures that have built up over time that a substantial financial commitment will be required to see this come to fruition.

“On account of this, I urged that he and his officials pursue alternative avenues for sourcing funding to mitigate the strain that spiralling costs have undoubtedly created.”