Education Minister Paul Givan has announced that four new build major works projects, along with nine school enhancement projects are to progress to construction stage.

Many of the projects have been in planning for a significant number of years, serving schools that are in exceptionally poor condition that have seen little or no investment and now urgently require replacement buildings, Minister Givan said.

The four major works projects are Enniskillen Royal Grammar School; Priory Integrated College, Holywood; Dunclug College, Ballymena; and St Malachy’s Primary School, Armagh.

Delivery of each project will be spread across a number of years as delivery of the projects progresses on site.

Education Minister Paul Givan pictured with Principal Neil McAllister and pupils Jude and Rose at Fairview Primary School - one of the nine schools to move to construction of an enhancement project. Photo: Department of Education

placeholder image — Education Minister Paul Givan pictured with Principal Neil McAllister and pupils Jude and Rose at Fairview Primary School - one of the nine schools to move to construction of an enhancement project. Photo: Department of Education

The total capital investment on these projects is just over £130million across the coming four-year period.

A further nine schools will move to construction on school enhancement projects, including Lurgan College; Greenhaw Primary School; Antrim Primary School; Fairview Primary School, and Ballyclare Primary School, along with Chapel Road Primary School; Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Belfast; St Bride’s Primary School, Belfast; and St Mary’s Primary School, Newtownbutler.

These schemes address immediate and pressing need through smaller‑scale refurbishment or extension works.

The total capital investment on these projects is just over £50m across the coming three-year period.

“Whilst I continue to work to secure a Capital Budget settlement that can deliver the investment required for our school estate, it is clear that these schemes cannot continue to be held back,” Paul Givan said.

The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Fairview Primary School, one of the nine schools to move to construction of an enhancement project.

“I believe this is a prudent approach to manage overall capital expenditure by very carefully controlling the number of schemes released to construction procurement, as part of a balanced portfolio of schemes aimed at addressing the decades of underinvestment in our school buildings,” he added.

“Proceeding to construction stage will be very welcome news for the schools, pupils and wider school communities concerned and for the wider construction industry.

“I will of course continue to make the case for increased and sustained capital investment across our Schools’ Estate.”