AQW 6251/22-27
Mr Robbie Butler
Ulster Unionist Party
Lagan Valley
Tabled Date: 13/02/2024
Answered On Date: 01/03/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on outstanding capital projects for schools in Lagan Valley.
Answer:
There are currently three Major Capital Programme projects, two Fresh Start Agreement projects, one School Enhancement Programme project and a number of minor works projects in the Lagan Valley constituency, the current status of these projects is detailed below. Major Capital Works Dromore High School, Friends’ School and Lisnagarvey High School were all announced to advance in planning in March 2022, however, were subsequently paused in April 2023 due to the current funding position. In my Statement to the Assembly on 12 February I advised that seven of the projects announced under the Major Capital Programme in March 2022 would be restarted and would progress in planning, this included Dromore High School. Unfortunately Friends’ School and Lisnagarvey High School were not included in this statement and thus these projects remain paused at this time. Fresh Start Agreement Projects Fort Hill Integrated College, Primary School and Nursery Unit is one of the 10 remaining former Fresh Start projects that are not yet in contract which I have placed into my Department’s conventional major works programme to continue to advance in planning. The project will proceed to construction when affordable within the wider education budget context. Rowandale Integrated Primary School project commenced on site in early 2024 and is anticipated to complete in Autumn 2025. The project will deliver a new build 14 class primary school. School Enhancement Programme Projects Beechlawn School was announced in May 2018. The proposed project aims to extend and refurbish the current school building to address accommodation deficiencies, access and security issues. The design team is currently working towards the completion of the spatial co-ordination stage of the design (RIBA Stage 3) and a Report is anticipated to be lodged in late March 2024. Minor Works Projects Details of minor works projects in Lagan Valley are as follows: School Name | Minor Works description | Stage | St Joseph's Primary School | 1. Traffic Management2. Roof Upgrade | In planningOn site | St Aloysius Primary School | 1. Traffic Management2. Surfacing Works3. Double Nursery Unit | 1. In planning2. On Site3. In planning | Holy Trinity Nursery School | Upgrade room partitioning | On site | St Patrick's Academy | 1. Potential Acquisition of land2. Foyer Security | All in Planning | Rowandale Integrated Primary School | Security Gates/Fencing | In planning | Friends' School | 1. DDA Scheme 2. Security Works | All in Planning | Carr Primary School | Replacement Wastewater Treatment Plant | In Planning | Knockmore Primary School | Traffic Management Scheme | In Planning | Ballymacash Primary School | Secure entrance/lobby | On site | Lisnagarvey High School | 1. Additional Changing facilities 2. Three Additional Classrooms 3. SEN Pupil Specific | All in Planning | Laurelhill Community College | 1. Replacement Mobile2. Redesign of lobby to enhance security | All in Planning | Beechlawn Special School | 1. SMA Extension and refurbishment2. Additional Classrooms | 1. On site2. In Planning | Parkview Special School | 1. Urgent Additional Accommodation 2. Additional bus car parking | All in Planning | Dromore Central Primary School | Traffic Management | In Planning |
Due to the current capital budget position the Major Capital and School Enhancement Programme projects currently in the design stages will continue to RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design and Pre-Tender Estimate), however projects will not be permitted to progress to the construction stage. The other two projects announced under the Major Capital Programme in March 2022 cannot be progressed to appoint an Integrated Consultant Team at this time. It is not possible to provide a timeline for delivery for Minor Works schemes not currently on site as they will be prioritised for delivery in line with available budget and other schemes on the minor works programme when they have progressed to a stage when they are ready to go to tender. As I have referenced on a number of occasions I will be bidding for additional capital funding to deliver all of these very much needed projects.
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