McCrea's disgust with Minister over school plans

DUP Mid Ulster MLA Ian McCrea has voiced his disgust at the lack of respect shown by the Education Minister following her announcement on capital spending priorities.

“Following the minister’s shameful and shambolic so called announcement on her capital spending priorities, the people of Northern Ireland are left with no idea as to the future plans for their local schools,” he said.

“The Minister felt it acceptable to write to principals with her decision whether or not they would receive capital funding a mere day before the schools closed for the summer recess which clearly outlines the Minister’s lack of respect for the principals, their school and most importantly the lack of respect for the pupils who would benefit greatly from these new builds.

“To make things worse following the Minister’s stall tactics on funding for the 68 schools, several months before hand she announced a 2 million investment in Irish-medium school buildings, which outlines quite clearly where her priorities lie and that her calls for equality for all are pie in the sky.

“The local schools in the Mid-Ulster area that need a new build have now been informed and we are now aware that the Magherafelt Primary school and Nursery school new build scheme is not given the immediate approval it has long waited for and that the enrolment figures over the past few years need to be addressed to make it fully compliant.

“I find the attitude of the Education Minister totally disgraceful especially the way she has led these schools and the community up the garden path and that her actions really puts into question her ability to remain as a minister.

“Over the last few years I have been working to get any outstanding issues in relation to this new build started and have successfully lobbied the planning service to approve their application, I have also dealt with issues surrounding the transfer of land for the access to the station road site and following this announcement we find out that the new build is currently in question.

“I have written to the Education Department and the Committee Chair to express my concerns and to demand that immediate discussions take place with the schools to sort out these issues to allow it to commence as soon as possible."

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