Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
£300M HOPE FOR SHARED SCHOOLS
Westminster windfall boost for integrated education projects
FIFTEEN schools could be set to reap the benefits of the £300million Westminster has released for shared and integrated education.
The money is part of half a billion pounds promised under the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement, which was also planned to fund housing projects.
Since 2016, £100million has been paid to the Department of Education – but £91million was returned to the Treasury earlier this year because it failed to spend it.
Now joint education groups are urging officials to use the £300million for 15 projects waiting on the green light for at least two years.
Integrated Education Fund chief Tina Merron said: “As the demand for integrated education places continues to grow it is important the Government recognises any further delays on these proposals will be denying many families access to integrated education.”
It remains unclear when the money will be handed over and the Department for Education
said it still doesn’t know what it will be spent on. Northern Ireland Council For Integrated Education chief Roisin Marshall called for clarity on their plans.
She added: “We are now at a stage where we have five schools ready to build and we are just waiting on
YESTERDAY
somebody to say they can start.” Ms Marshall revealed 10 further projects have had “development proposals agreed”.
A Department of Education spokesperson said: “This announcement is welcome news. We will provide further information once we have worked through the details.”
The Northern Ireland Office did not respond to a request for comment.
Projects waiting on the green light: