AQO 787/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 17/09/2020
Answered On Date: 29/09/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on current development proposals for schools in East Londonderry.

Answer:

Area Planning activity including work on Development Proposals (DPs) was paused on 3 April 2020, with the exception of special education provision in mainstream and special school settings, so that all available resources could be redeployed in support of the Department’s emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a consequence the Department has extended the statutory objection period following publication of some DPs to provide more time for interested parties to comment.

When DP activity was paused there were three published proposals relating to two schools in East Londonderry.

DP 588 to close Ballyhackett Primary School was published by the EA on 3 September 2019. This proposal was initially delayed as the school decided to bring forward a proposal to Transform to Controlled Integrated status.

DP 644 for Ballyhackett Primary School to ‘Transform’ was published by the EA on 24 March 2020. The Department has extended the statutory objection period for this proposal until 9 November 2020.

DP 616 to increase the admissions and enrolment number at Drumrane Primary School with effect from 1 September 2020 was published by the EA on 25 February 2020. The Department has extended the statutory objection period for this proposal until 12 October 2020.

Decisions on these DPs will be made as soon as possible after the conclusion of the respective objection periods.