Delegation for Stormont over schools fears

Last month, Mr O’Dowd announced that an immediate audit would be carried out to identify which Northern Ireland schools are no longer viable and need to be closed.

During his speech, the Sinn Féin minister confirmed there are 85,000 empty desks and that an audit is essential because Northern Ireland has too many schools.

Revealing details of next week’s local forum on the audit at Stormont to last Monday night’s monthly gathering of Ballymena councillors at Ardeevin, Cllr Tommy Nicholl said: “As chair of Council’s Community Planning Committee I felt it necessary when I heard about this audit to take immediate action and I liaised with the Chief Executive who organised a meeting on my behalf,” he said.

Councillors heard that the local delegation will include the Chief Executive of the NEELB, Ian Paisley MP, the North Antrim MLAs, Ballymena Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Council’s Chief Executive and Cllr James Currie, Council’s representative on the NEELB.

They also heard from Cllr Nicholl that the aim will be to ‘evaluate and discuss any impact the audit would have on the Ballymena borough and how it will be administered’.

He said: “Under Community Planning we have already agreed that the educational attainment of young people is criticial in terms of future employment and this is therefore very important and a necessary step.

“There is little point in discussing these issues when the audit is complete and we might receive a list of schools that are earmarked for closure”.

Making his audit announcement to the Assembly, the Education Minister said: “Key criteria will be enrolments, standards, and financial viability - I have asked for this to be submitted by the end of the year”.

Mr O’Dowd insisted he is determined to improve the quality of education, targeting those schools which are “failing their pupils” - even though it would mean some would have to close their doors.

“If through the challenge process they cannot turn the corner, I think it is only right and proper to close that school, and I make no apologies for that”, he added.