AQW 48342/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 10/06/2026
Answered On Date: 01/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 45810/22-27, to detail the projected timelines for the project to deliver additional accommodation at Oakwood School and Assessment Centre, Saintfield.

Answer:

The Education Authority (EA) is currently progressing two separate schemes at Oakwood School and Assessment Centre, Saintfield.

The first involves the proposed acquisition of land adjacent to the school to support the expansion of Year 1 capacity. This is at an early stage of technical assessment, and I am therefore not in a position at this stage to confirm the nature of the accommodation which may be delivered. It is currently anticipated that the business case and land acquisition will be completed by April 2027.

The second scheme is the acquisition and refurbishment of the former Little Sunbeams Pre-School modular unit located on the site. It is currently anticipated that this will be operational for nursery provision by September 2027.