Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, Rosemary Barton MLA, has called on all concerned not to use the former Lisnaskea High School site as a political weapon against the broad Unionist community in the area.

Mrs Barton said:

“Lisnaskea High School was the last remaining controlled post primary school in Fermanagh outside Enniskillen until its controversial closure in 2013.

“The Protestant and Unionist community in the South Fermanagh area have suffered terribly during the troubles - many former pupils of the Lisnaskea High School were murdered by the IRA.

“The former Lisnaskea High School site would be a fitting location for the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) to re-locate to and develop their much needed support for victims and survivors.

“I acknowledge that the Irish language school, based in the South Fermanagh area also require better premises, however so too does Devenish College who have been waiting for a new build that was promised in 2004 - fourteen years ago.

“The claim by educationalists to close Lisnaskea High School was because it was unsustainable with its numbers, however when it closed it had many, many more pupils than the Irish Language school in the area had then or even now.

“I have no problem with the Irish medium school having better property and facilities. Given the significant sensitivities in this area however, whatever the site is used for should have broad community consensus and not have a negative impact on community relations.

“Maybe an option is to allow a new GP and health service hub to proceed on the site. I recently met with Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly and emphasised the potential opportunities for such a regional centre, particularly given the vacant site at the old Lisnaskea High School.

“Such a health hub could have a range of integrated services, including but not exclusive; nurse practitioners’; Physiotherapy; Speech Therapy; Occupational Therapy; wellbeing clinics for men and women; mental health services and podiatrists.

“Such a proposal would require a significant site with a lot of professional accommodation, along with parking availability to facilitate patients and staff. The delivery of such a project would require a very positive and pro-active approach to the entire matter of localised healthcare provision.”