AQO 2308/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 01/09/2025
Answered On Date: 09/09/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to outline the status of School Enhancement Programme applications for primary schools in North Belfast.

Answer:

There are two primary schools with projects announced to advance in design under the second call of the School Enhancement Programme (SEP2) in North Belfast. The status of each is as follows:

Firstly, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School is at RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design) and a submission from the design team is with my Department for review. Design work on the project is completed, however, construction costs exceed the standard SEP2 funding threshold. My officials are currently considering how to progress the project and whether it may be appropriate to exceed the SEP funding limits in this instance.

Cliftonville Controlled Integrated Primary School is currently in business case development.

Additionally, there are two post-primary schools announced under SEP2 in North Belfast:

The first of these is St Malachy’s College, which I have previously announced to proceed to construction. Design work has been completed on this project and construction procurement is due to commence shortly.

The second post-primary SEP project in North Belfast is Belfast Royal Academy which is at RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design).

Funding continues to be available to progress SEP2 projects through the design stages to pre-tender. However, aside from those projects which I have previously announced to proceed to construction, such as St Malachy’s College, any decision to release projects to tender for a contractor will be taken on a case-by-case basis, dependent on budget availability at that time.