Beggs clashes with Ruane over delayed Island school

The Ulster Unionist MLA raised the issue during Question Time at Stormont, explaining that the proposal to combine Mullaghdubh, Kilcoan and Ballypriormore schools was first mooted in 2002 and Ballypriormore had closed in December ,2003.

Mr Beggs asked the Sinn Fein minister for her assessment of the time taken by her Department in handling the amalgamation process.

In response, Ms Ruane referred to falling enrolment figures in the remaining primary schools in Islandmagee. In a supplementary question, Mr Beggs attributed the falling rolls to continuing uncertainly regarding the new-build.

He said: “With due respect to the minister, my question asked for her assessment on the length of time it has taken to build the new school. Does the minister accept that the inordinate length of time taken in getting the process through departmental structures is causing problems, and that that delay and uncertainty may well have resulted in many children passing what would be their local primary school to travel out of the area to other schools?

“Does she, therefore, accept that the Department has a degree of responsibility, in that that delay may well have caused the numbers to decline, thus creating that uncertainty? Will the minister carry out a survey of the number of children who are travelling out of Islandmagee to be schooled elsewhere?”

Ms Ruane told Mr Beggs: “I cannot take responsibility for previous ministers. All I can do is take responsibility for what I am doing.”

The minister added: “I absolutely agree with the member that the best scenario is where children do not bypass local schools and parents support their local schools, because that is the best way of building strong, cohesive, vibrant communities.

“The difficulty with the Islandmagee situation is that the original economic appraisal was based on a long-term enrolment of five class bases, or 116 to 145 pupils. However, enrolments at the existing school have declined year on year since 2004. As I said, the long-term enrolment at present for the proposed amalgamated school is 79 pupils — only three class bases.”

Speaking later, Mr Beggs expressed disappointment at Ms Ruane’s response. “She did not take the opportunity to comment or respond to my specific points about decision making, uncertainty and local pupils being at schools outside the Island,” he said.

“It remains deeply frustrating that land has been acquired by the education board, full planning permission has been granted and a positive economic appraisal has been completed long ago, yet still no ministerial decision is forthcoming to go ahead with the new school,” he added.