He has announced capital funding allocations for 2024-25.
The Minister secured an additional £80 million of capital funding for education this year, which will allow 15 new build and extension and refurbishment projects for schools from all sectors to proceed to construction, as well as the launch of a new programme of curriculum-led investment.
Visting Bangor Central Integrated Primary School, one the schools which will now proceed to tender and construction, the Minister said: "I am delighted to be at Bangor Central Integrated Primary School where children and teachers will benefit from a £10million new school. When the UK Government removed ring-fenced Fresh Start funding, I moved this project and others to my conventional major works programme. It will now proceed as envisaged, as too will the project for Millennium Integrated Primary School.
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"Today's significant announcement will see 15 schools benefiting from new state of the art facilities for young people from Belfast to Ballymena to Enniskillen and beyond. The investment will also provide a welcome boost to the construction industry over the next number of years."
The opening capital budget for education in 2024-25 is £254m. This will allow continued investment in ten major school build projects currently in contract or on site and digital infrastructure across the schools’ estate; keep schools open and safe; and provide much needed school places for the most vulnerable pupils with Special Educational Needs.
