AQW 16589/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 11/10/2024
Answered On Date: 30/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether he plans to establish a capital fund for Irish-medium schools.

Answer:

My department is mindful of its statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education and works closely with the sector to identify emerging capital priorities.

Over the last ten years, the Department has invested significantly across Irish-medium schools, with announced major works projects totalling over £60.4million. Over £25million has also been invested in minor capital works, ranging in size and scale across the sector.An Accommodation Fund was established in 2010 with a grant of £2million to address accommodation deficiencies in the Irish-medium sector. This fund has been replenished on a number of occasions and its scope has been expanded to include enabling works, health & safety works and land purchases.

The Department is currently working with the sector on options for a number of Irish-medium schools that have outgrown their existing sites.