Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson Rosemary Barton has raised her concern at further delays in the development of new school builds at the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh.
Rosemary Barton MLA said:
“The wording of the excuse from the Department of Education is unusual. They say ‘a number of important emergent issues’ had led to a delay in the project. What does that mean and what are the consequences for the future development of this project and indeed others?
“The statement raises more questions than answers. This project has been in the Department of Education planning system for many years, and while I accept it is a major project and undertaking, it appears to have come up against many delays.
“It is nothing new for delay to be injected into new school builds. In Fermanagh Devenish College has waited over thirteen years since it was promised a new build. In the time since that commitment was given in 2004, three schools have amalgamated - Enniskillen, Duke of Westminster and Lisnaskea High Schools.
“I have written to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education asking for an explanation of the Strule Campus issue, but also for an update on the Devenish College proposed new build.”