Spending frustration

The minister said the investment in schools across Northern Ireland, like Waringstown primary, helped to provide a better level of education.

In September the Department of Education withheld some 12million for a new build project for Lurgan College.

It took the decision because of the lack of an overall plan for controlled education in the area. The work was due to started during the current school term. Mr Robinson said: "Such announcements from the Minister can, on one level, deepen one’s natural frustration at missing out on a slice of the 500 million which has been invested in new schools in the past three years.

"However, it also has the capacity to galvanise all of us involved in education in this area to continue with our efforts to promote the value of the Craigavon two tier system as an educationally and economically sustainable model of education which has a proven track record of producing benefits for all pupils in our community."

He continued: "Lurgan College continues to be in need of a major surgery; the old building is groaning but I can assure you that its heart is strong. The governors have been greatly encouraged by the strong support of the community for what is undoubtedly one of Lurgan’s shining lights.

"A new build for the college and much-needed improvements in the fabric of other parts of the system would go a long way to ensuring that the Dickson Plan has the right facilities to provide all the young people of Lurgan with a high quality 21st century educational experience."

He concluded: "The Minister wishes to introduce a wide range of reforms to change the face of our education system and to put equality at the heart of what her Department does.

"If we are expected to raise standards even further, then all our schools in the Province have an equal right to fit-for-purpose accommodation.

"Although I recognise that we do indeed live in tight economic times and that we need to be smart and strategic when planning our schools’ estate, none of the Minister’s reforms will ‘come cheap’ and an under-funded education system will simply sow serious problems for all sections of our society in years to come."

Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, has said over 500 million has been invested in new schools.

Waringstown primary was one school which benefited from the investment. it received 1.4m to upgrade its buildings.

Maralin Primary School also benefited with a new build to the tune of 2.2 million.

She said: “Since the return of the devolved institutions in May 2007, over half a billion pounds has been invested in new schools right across the north.

“In reality that means 55 major capital school projects have been completed or are underway. In the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) area, 71.8million has been invested in nine schools.

Their pupils and teachers will benefit from new surroundings, fit-for-purpose buildings and a sense of reinvigoration and investment in our schools.”

The Minister continued: "Our schools must be sustainable and be able to provide the best education possible for our young people.

"In these tight economic times, we must be smarter and more strategic when planning our schools’ estate.

"We need to look at the overall needs of the area and use all of our resources to maximise the benefits for the entire community. “I have a wide range of reforms to change the face of our education system, to put equality at the heart and raise standards in every area. It is important that the leaders and teachers in our schools are given the best possible conditions in which to deliver these reforms."