Sinn Féin Concerns Over School Build Programme

Sinn Féin Education spokesperson John O' Dowd has said he is deeply concerned that without an injection of cash by the Northern Ireland Executive there will be no new schools built in this financial year as a result of the constraints on the Education budget.

Mr O' Dowd said: "I, like many other MLAs, await the outcome of the Capital Review of School Builds announced by the education Minister Caitríona Ruane, however I am deeply concerned that that Review has been superseded by a series of substantial reductions to the Education budget over this last 12 months. In recent weeks senior departmental officials have reported to the Assembly Education Committee that the new build budget is under severe pressure. Those reports have been confirmed by budget updates.


"I have spoken with the Minister and I am aware that she has bid for funds for the Capital Build Programme in the June Monitoring Rounds and has talks with the Finance Minister Sammy Wilson planned on this issue."

He continued: "I am deeply concerned that without an Executive intervention there will be no new schools built anywhere across the North regardless of the outcome of the Capital Review. The money simply is not there and without an injection of Millions of pounds by the Executive there will be many disappointed pupils, teachers and parents as their much eagerly awaited new school will simply not be built."

NS