Green Light for Schools Welcomed - Elliott
The announcement by the Education Minister, Maria Eagle, that 84 postponed school build projects, including Devenish College, can now continue as planned has been welcomed by Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott.
The assemblyman said that such a statement by the Department of Education was long overdue and that the slow rate of progress surrounding many schemes had needlessly increased uncertainty regarding the future of many schools.
In a statement Tom said: “With regards the site of the new Devenish College on the Tempo Road I am glad that the go-ahead has been given, pupils, parents, teachers and the Board of Governors have had to endure many months of uncertainty and broken promises.
“The Minister’s statement will hopefully mean that the situation can finally progress, however the nature of the scheme, either through Public Finance Initiative or the more traditional format, needs to be finalised before the new campus can commence.
“I have recently made representation to Minister Eagle regarding the need for action on Devenish College and I will continue to press for the construction of the first-rate facility that the pupils and teachers deserve and have been promised by Ministers time and time again.”
The Fermanagh and South Tyrone assemblyman concluded by adding: “The postponement to the planned replacement for the Erne Special School in Enniskillen, is of course a blow to the families and staff involved. The care and support provided by the school is of vital importance to the community and must be allowed to continue without uncertainty.
“I am however glad that many projects across my constituency and beyond can now progress, the recent ‘stop go’ approach to school build projects has dented morale throughout the educational sector and I hope that this will now end.”