‘I don’t know when Clooney move will proceed,’ O’Dowd

Education Minister John O’Dowd said he could not give a definite date for when the long-awaited move to Clooney would proceed.

DUP MLA Gregory Campbell asked the Minister when he intended announcing the commencement of the move by Foyle and Londonderry College and Ebrington Primary School to the new site in Clooney.

Mr O’Dowd replied that the Executive’s Budget highlighted significant reductions in the capital resources for Education over the next four years.

He advised that this will have a detrimental effect on the Department’s ability to deliver new school building projects. “I now need to consider how the available funds should be deployed in a strategic and prioritised basis to address the most pressing needs across the schools estate. This work will be a priority for me and my officials in the coming months,” he stated.

“The proposed major capital schemes for Foyle College and Ebrington Primary School are two of 53 schemes on the Investment Delivery Plan.

“The schemes are at an early stage of planning, with the Stage C submission (initial sketch plans and costs) approved by the Department on 21 March 2011.

“It is the intention to hold the projects at their current stage until such times as it is decided, which, if any, projects can be advanced.

“Unfortunately, therefore, I cannot provide you with any indication as to when Foyle College and Ebrington Primary School will move to the Clooney site,” explained the Minister.