Work for Rossmar’s new school “on site” within the year

The NI Minister of Education John O'Dowd meets Rossmar school pupils Paddy and Brandon following their presntation to him. Also included are principal Mr Brian McLaughlin and teacher Nuala McNeill. INLV1222-341KDR

Mr O’Dowd spoke at Stormont this week to give an update on the various capital investment projects planned for East Londonderry over the course of the next five years.

He had been asked by Limavady based MLA George Robinson to outline the projects.

Mr O’Dowd said that the Rossmar project should be on site before the end of this year and that a business case is currently being drawn up to support a new build for Roe Valley Integrated Primary School.

He also said that work was underway on business cases for the shared science, engineering, technology and maths centre and shared sixth form centre for Limavady High School and St Mary’s.

Responding to DUP MLA George Robinson’s query, Mr O’Dowd said: “With a constrained capital budget position, I currently have no plans for a further capital announcement at this stage.

“In June 2012, as part of 18 projects, I announced Rossmar School in Limavady. It is anticipated that this project will be on site in 2015.

“In January 2013, the combined Listress, Craigbrack and Mullabuoy primary school was identified as one of 22 projects to be taken forward in planning.

“The development proposal for this amalgamation was approved in August 2014, and work is currently under way on the feasibility study.

“When it is complete, a supporting business case will be provided prior to the appointment of a multidisciplinary design team to take forward the detailed design of the new school. In June 2014, I announced 16 capital projects that included Roe Valley Integrated Primary School.

“A draft feasibility study has been received for this project, and work is ongoing on the business case. Currently, I cannot offer definitive timescales for the commencement of the construction works for those projects due to the constrained capital budget position.

“In July 2014, I announced the first of three major projects under the shared education campus programme, one of which is in Limavady.

“This project will provide two new shared facilities: a shared sixth form on the St Mary’s High School site and a shared science, technology, engineering and maths centre on the Limavady High School site. Work is under way on the feasibility study and business case for this project.

“Finally, there is one school enhancement project in the constituency. This is for the Coleraine Academical Institution to upgrade the mechanical and electrical services at an approved cost of £1·7 million, with site work commencing in April 2015.”