Rogers Welcomes School Enhancement Programme
SDLP Education spokesperson Sean Rogers has welcomed an announcement by the Department of Education regarding the School Enhancement Programme which he says is good news not just for schools but the construction industry.
The South Down MLA said:xa0“I am delighted that schools who submitted applications for capital investment will now benefit from improvement works under the School Enhancement Programme (SEP)
[caption id="attachment_43807" align="alignleft" width="390"]
St Joseph’s PS at Carnacaville looking forward to moving forward in the capital expenditure round.[/caption]“Over 50 schools will avail of much need improvement in their school estate. It is essential that our children are able to study in a comfortable and appropriate environment.
“The knock on effect of these refurbishment works represents a much needed win for the construction industry. These works will provide a vital stream of work for the industry which has come through a challenging time in recent years.
“It is vitally important that there are no delays in getting these improvement projects to the ‘shovel ready’ stage so that teachers and pupils can experience a better educational environment.”
***
St Joseph’s PS Welcomes Announcement
St Joseph’s Primary School Principal at Carnavaville, Mr Christopher McCann said: “We are delighted that our application for development under the School Enhancement Programme (SEP) received approval by The Department of Education (DE). “St Joseph’s now go forward to the next stage of the programme which is the preparation of a robust business case that has to be submitted to DE by 22nd November. “We are submitting the Economic Appraisal hopeful that the Minister will look favourably on our application. “The Minister intends to make an announcement in January 2014 after his staff have reviewed the business case. “If we are successfulxa0the appointment of consultants will be made to take the scheme forward.”***
Good News for Carnavaville PS Says Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke
Alliance Newcastle Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed the announcement by the Education Minister John O’Dowd that St. Joseph’s Primary School (Carnacaville) near Dundrum has been informed that their application under the School Enhancement Programme (SEP) for capital investment have secured approval to proceed to the planning stage.
“This is good news for the staff and pupils, as well as being a welcome boost in the near future for the local construction industry.”
“I look forward to St. Joseph’s Primary School Carnacaville which has an enrolment of over 160 primary school pupils benefiting from this programme.”
***
O’Dowd Announces £106 million Investment In School Enhancement Programme
Fifty localxa0schools across Northern Ireland were notified on Friday 18 October that their applications under thexa0Schoolxa0Enhancementxa0Programmexa0(SEP) for capital investment have secured approval to proceed.
The investment, worth a potential £106million, will ensure thexa0schoolsxa0benefit from refurbishment or extension projects, each valued between £500,000 and £4million.
Announcing the news, Education Minister John O’Dowd said:xa0“Last year I signalled my intention to establish axa0SchoolEnhancementxa0Programme. The purpose of thisxa0programmexa0was 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 existingxa0schoolsxa0and I am pleased to announce today that 50xa0schoolsxa0have been informed that their applications have been successful and will be advanced to planning. This represents a potential investment in the estate of £106million over the next two to three years.”
Examples of projects proceeding under thexa0Schoolxa0Enhancementxa0Programmexa0include the provision of permanent build accommodation to replace mobiles, refurbishment of existing accommodation and the provision of sports facilities.
The Minister continued:xa0“The successful projects are all consistent with the emerging area plans and the scale of the investment underlines my continuing commitment to improving thexa0schoolsxa0estate. It comes in addition to the major works projects worth £350million I have announced since last summer; in addition to the £31million I have invested in minor works since January; and in addition to the £47million I have earmarked for maintenance this year.
“This announcement is good news for the pupils, staff andxa0schoolxa0communities involved, as well as being a welcome boost for the local construction industry.”
Across County Down, some of the schools benefitting from the announcement include xa0theMillenium INtegrated Primary School, Knockevin Special School, and St Joseph’s Primary School at Carnacavale,
The full list of schools receiving the invest boost from the Department of Education.
| Belfast Royal Academy |
| St Malachy’s College, Belfast |
| Maine Integrated Primaryxa0School, Randalstown |
| St Patrick’s Grammarxa0School, Armagh |
| Our Lady’s Grammarxa0School, Newry |
| New-Bridge Integrated College, Dungannon |
| Friendsxa0School, Lisburn |
| Acorn Integrated Primaryxa0School, Carrickfergus |
| Dalriadaxa0School, Ballymoney |
| Millennium Integrated Primaryxa0School |
| St Michael’s College, Enniskillen |
| Belfast Highxa0School |
| Sullivan Upperxa0School, Holywood |
| St Louis Grammarxa0School, Ballymena |
| Mount Lourdes Grammarxa0School |
| Ballyclare Secondaryxa0School |
| Ballymoney Highxa0School |
| Erne Integrated College, Enniskillen |
| St Columb’s College, Derry |
| Malone Integrated College, Belfast |
| Rainey Endowedxa0School, Magherafelt |
| Ceara Specialxa0School, Lurgan |
| Donard Specialxa0School, Banbridge |
| Rathore Specialxa0School, Newry |
| The Armstrong Primaryxa0School, Armagh |
| Millington Primaryxa0School, Portadown |
| Victoria College, Belfast |
| St Joseph’s Grammarxa0School, Donaghmore |
| Methodist College, Belfast |
| Knockevin Specialxa0School, Downpatrick |
| Sacred Heart Grammarxa0School, Newry |
| St Aidans/St Bernadette’s Primaryxa0Schools, Belfast |
| De la Salle College, Belfast |
| Broadbridge Primaryxa0School, Derry |
| Anahorish Primaryxa0School, Toomebridge |
| St Bernard’s Primaryxa0School, Newtownabbey |
| St Joseph’s Primaryxa0School, Newcastle |
| Killean Primaryxa0School, Newry |
| St Killian’s College, Ballymena |
| St Mark’s Highxa0School, Warrenpoint |
| Coleraine Academical Institution |
| Willow Bridge Primaryxa0School, Enniskillen |
| New Buildings Primaryxa0School, Derry |
| Slemish College, Ballymena |
| Strandtown Primaryxa0School, Belfast |
| St Mary’s Grammarxa0School, Magherafelt |
| Wallace Highxa0School, Lisburn |
| Integrated College Dungannon |
| Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus |
| Loreto Grammarxa0School, Omagh |
