Menu
18/10/2013
£106m Investment In NI Schools
£106m is to be invested in a programme to enhance and refurbish schools across Northern Ireland.
Fifty local schools have been informed that their applications under the School Enhancement Programme (SEP) for capital investment have secured approval to proceed.
The investment will see fifty schools benefit from refurbishment or extension projects, each valued between £500,000 and £4m.
Announcing the news, Education Minister John O’Dowd said: "Last year I signalled my intention to establish a School Enhancement Programme. The purpose of this programme was to ensure that we provide the best possible education estate for our children and young people, within the budget available.
"The SEP is designed to enable the refurbishment or extension of existing schools and I am pleased to announce today that 50 schools have been informed that their applications have been successful and will be advanced to planning. This represents a potential investment in the estate of £106m over the next two to three years."
Examples of projects proceeding under the School Enhancement Programme include the provision of permanent build accommodation to replace mobiles, refurbishment of existing accommodation and the provision of sports facilities.
The Minister continued: "The successful projects are all consistent with the emerging area plans and the scale of the investment underlines my continuing commitment to improving the schools estate. It comes in addition to the major works projects worth £350m I have announced since last summer; in addition to the £31m I have invested in minor works since January; and in addition to the £47m I have earmarked for maintenance this year."
Alliance Education spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA said: "This is great news that such a large amount of money will be spent on improving schools across Northern Ireland to deliver a better education for our children. I know that several of the schools who have been included in this announcement have been in desperate need of capital investment for several years.
"In a previous round of investment there wasn’t any funding for capital builds at integrated schools, so I am glad that several have been included in this announcement.
"This announcement will also be a major boost to our construction sector which has struggled since the economic downturn."
(IT/MH)
Fifty local schools have been informed that their applications under the School Enhancement Programme (SEP) for capital investment have secured approval to proceed.
The investment will see fifty schools benefit from refurbishment or extension projects, each valued between £500,000 and £4m.
Announcing the news, Education Minister John O’Dowd said: "Last year I signalled my intention to establish a School Enhancement Programme. The purpose of this programme was to ensure that we provide the best possible education estate for our children and young people, within the budget available.
"The SEP is designed to enable the refurbishment or extension of existing schools and I am pleased to announce today that 50 schools have been informed that their applications have been successful and will be advanced to planning. This represents a potential investment in the estate of £106m over the next two to three years."
Examples of projects proceeding under the School Enhancement Programme include the provision of permanent build accommodation to replace mobiles, refurbishment of existing accommodation and the provision of sports facilities.
The Minister continued: "The successful projects are all consistent with the emerging area plans and the scale of the investment underlines my continuing commitment to improving the schools estate. It comes in addition to the major works projects worth £350m I have announced since last summer; in addition to the £31m I have invested in minor works since January; and in addition to the £47m I have earmarked for maintenance this year."
Alliance Education spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA said: "This is great news that such a large amount of money will be spent on improving schools across Northern Ireland to deliver a better education for our children. I know that several of the schools who have been included in this announcement have been in desperate need of capital investment for several years.
"In a previous round of investment there wasn’t any funding for capital builds at integrated schools, so I am glad that several have been included in this announcement.
"This announcement will also be a major boost to our construction sector which has struggled since the economic downturn."
(IT/MH)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 December 2013
Community Projects Receive £1.1m
A total of 16 community groups across Belfast have received total funding of just over £1.1m from City Council. The funding boost is being delivered through the £5m Local Investment Fund (LIF), which is part of the council's wider Investment Programme for the city. The move brings the overall amount allocated through the fund to over £2.
Community Projects Receive £1.1m
A total of 16 community groups across Belfast have received total funding of just over £1.1m from City Council. The funding boost is being delivered through the £5m Local Investment Fund (LIF), which is part of the council's wider Investment Programme for the city. The move brings the overall amount allocated through the fund to over £2.
16 May 2013
£1.25m For Belfast Community Projects
20 community regeneration projects across Belfast have received funding totalling £1.25m from the City Council. The funding is part of £5m set aside for the Local Investment Fund (LIF). Just under £1.3m is earmarked each to the North, South, East and West of the city and a further £490,000 allocated for the Shankill area.
£1.25m For Belfast Community Projects
20 community regeneration projects across Belfast have received funding totalling £1.25m from the City Council. The funding is part of £5m set aside for the Local Investment Fund (LIF). Just under £1.3m is earmarked each to the North, South, East and West of the city and a further £490,000 allocated for the Shankill area.
14 January 2020
£45m Allocated To 18 NI Schools
Northern Ireland's new Education Minister has committed £45 million to 18 local schools in need of investment. The School Enhancement Programme will deliver capital funds to twelve primary schools, five post-primary schools and one special school to deliver the site improvements they have been crying out for.
£45m Allocated To 18 NI Schools
Northern Ireland's new Education Minister has committed £45 million to 18 local schools in need of investment. The School Enhancement Programme will deliver capital funds to twelve primary schools, five post-primary schools and one special school to deliver the site improvements they have been crying out for.
05 December 2024
New Investment Programme To Boost NI Schools
Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a new Curriculum-Led Capital Investment Programme for schools in Northern Ireland. The new programme will provide funding for resources, equipment, and facilities. This investment aims to directly support and enhance the delivery of the Northern Ireland curriculum.
New Investment Programme To Boost NI Schools
Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a new Curriculum-Led Capital Investment Programme for schools in Northern Ireland. The new programme will provide funding for resources, equipment, and facilities. This investment aims to directly support and enhance the delivery of the Northern Ireland curriculum.
05 February 2014
Ministers Praise Twinbrook Adult Learning Scheme
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Junior Minister Jennifer McCann visited St Luke's Primary in Twinbrook, Belfast, today to see how adults from the Colin area are achieving qualifications through an education programme at the school.
Ministers Praise Twinbrook Adult Learning Scheme
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Junior Minister Jennifer McCann visited St Luke's Primary in Twinbrook, Belfast, today to see how adults from the Colin area are achieving qualifications through an education programme at the school.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
