MP WANTS ANSWERS ON SCHOOLS DECISION
THERE were calls for answers this week after Dromore's new primary school, despite finally securing planning permission, was left off a list of 14 school building projects to get started thanks to an Education Department cash windfall of £13m.
Making the list, recently announced by Caitriona Ruane, is an Irish language school described by Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson as "much smaller" than Dromore Central, and the DUP man says the Education Minister may be leaving herself open to claims of discrimination.
"I find it difficult to understand," he said, "how she can justify funding for an Irish language school much smaller than Dromore Central and yet can't include our local primary school, given that it's bursting at the seams and having to take extraordinary measures just to accommodate the growing number of pupils.
"I feel it is not being given the priority it deserves and I will be seeking an urgent meeting to seek an explanation as to why Dromore Central has been excluded, given the current overcrowding experienced at the school."
Mr. Donaldson said Dromore's new primary school failed to make the list despite being the top priority in the Southern Education and Library Board area and it was particularly disappointing, he said, given the almost simultaneous news that long-delayed planning permission for the Mossvale Road site had finally been granted.
The minister's recent announcement that her department had received 13million capital allocation, as a result of the June Monitoring Round agreed by the Executive, came with the news that almost 8.5million of the money had been allocated for work to start on 13 new schools and the site acquisition for another.
"To ensure we can spend this money before the end of the financial year," she said, "we have identified projects which are well advanced in terms of financial, planning and tendering processes; we need to make rapid progress to realise the full potential of this allocation and are working closely with the schools and managing authorities to resolve outstanding issues."
The schools on the list include Carrick Primary School, Warrenpoint; Corranny and Cornagague PS, Roslea; Dromintee PS, Newry; Scoil Na Fuiseoige PS, Belfast; St Columba's PS, Draperstown; St Oliver Plunkett PS, Forkhill; St Colman's PS, Lisburn.
Also, St Joseph's PS, Madden, Armagh; Magherafelt PS and Nursery Unit; St Marys PS, Newcastle; Taughmonagh PS, Belfast; Bangor Grammar; Strathearn Grammar, Belfast and Colaiste Feirste, Belfast (site acquisition).
The minister also confirmed 10m had been identified to help address the maintenance backlog across the schools' estate.
She insisted she had regularly highlighted, and would continue to highlight, the need for continued investment in schools' infrastructure.
"Some schools will be disappointed that they are not included on this list," she said. "I can assure them that I will continue to lobby for more money and if and when I receive funds I will drive forward with the school building programme."
PRINCIPAL DISAPPOINTED AND CONFUSED
DISAPPOINTED and confused"; that was how principal Mr. Jim Cochrane summed up his reaction to news that Dromore Central Primary School was not on a list of schools to benefit from an Education Department cash boost.
"Of course I am disappointed that we don't feature on the minister (Caitriona Ruane)'s list, because obviously, like many of the other schools we would want to be starting this year.
"But I'm confused too; I can't understand how those 14 schools all make the list because, as I understand it, some were deemed fully compliant within the recent capital programme review, as indeed was Dromore Central, but others were only partially compliant.
"When the number of fully compliant schools was announced we had no idea of a pecking order among those schools in terms of where any available money would be spent first, but we did assume the choice would be made from among the fully compliant schools."
Mr. Cochrane reported one piece of good news - over and above the planning permission recently recommended for the proposed new Dromore primary - namely that Central is to receive a new mobile classroom, one of two needed over the next two years.
Until recently Mr. Cochrane didn't know if a mobile would be made available, but the SELB recently confirmed receipt of funding for classroom.
However, it remains to be seen if the mobile can be successfully installed ahead of the new school term this coming September.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
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Wind direction: South
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