Millions in capital investment for Tyrone schools

By Alan Rodgers

TWO Tyrone schools are to benefit from millions of pounds in capital investment from the Department for Education.

Dean Maguirc College in Carrickmore and St Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley are among the recipients announced by the Education Minister, Michelle McIllveen, this afternoon.

Dean Maguirc College is to receive £14 million, while the figure for St Ciaran’s has yet to be confirmed.

The major financial investment for both schools will be viewed as highly significant, and emphasises their roles within their respective Tyrone communities.

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MLA, Declan McAleer, welcomed the funding.

“This is a huge vote of confidence by the Department of Education in the Dean Maguirc College,” he said.

““The Dean Maguirc has been a hub of high-quality education and learning at the heart of our community for nearly 60 years.However, during that time, there has been a serious lack capital investment. The Minister saw this for herself when I invited her to visit the school in December.”

In her statement, Michelle McIllveen said it was important to keep a focus on the future. She added her hope that the announcement would bring some ‘much-needed good news’ not just to schools and their school communities but also the contractors and professionals in the construction industry and the wider economy.