'Primary Guest' Opens Derry School

A special visitor was the primary guest at the official opening of Lisnagelvin Primary School, Londonderry last week with the Northern Ireland Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane on hand to address guests and pupils.

Speaking at the ceremony the Sinn Fein Minister (pictured) said: "The opening of this building and facilities is a fitting celebration marking the completion of the new school.

"The school, and the community it serves, have the right to modern educational facilities and it will provide a wonderful environment for future generations to learn, prosper and develop.

"My Department has invested £5.4m in this new building and during my time as Minister of Education, 50 major capital school projects have been completed representing an investment of around £426m in our schools' estate.

"Six major capital school projects are currently on site representing a further investment of over £90m, and in August 2010 I was able to secure an additional capital allocation of £13m.

"This will allow 13 new build schools to start on site in the current financial year," she enthused.

"I have proven that if I get the funding needed I can spend it. We are facing very difficult financial times with many difficult decisions ahead however I will continue to press the case for much needed capital investment to address the problems resulting from historic under-investment in the schools' estate."

Thanking the contractors, the Minister continued: "I would like to thank and pay tribute to the architects, the contractors, Western Education and Library Board and anyone who played a part in the planning, construction or fitting out of these new premises.

"This is a very exciting time for everyone associated with Lisnagelvin Primary School. The school is now excellently equipped to enable it to deliver the curriculum and meet the needs of its pupils for many years to come and I wish the pupils, school, parents and staff every happiness and success in the future," she concluded.

(BMcC/GK)