Long-awaited St. Brigid’s College redevelopment green-lit by Education Minister Paul Givan
The long-awaited St. Brigid’s College redevelopment project in Derry has been green-lit by the Education Minister Paul Givan who announced it was among three post-primary schools to advance to design and planning stage on Wednesday.
Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed that three major school works projects, previously announced in 2022 but paused due to budget constraints, will now move forward to the planning and design phase.
Alongside St. Brigid’s College in Carnhill in Derry, Belfast High School, Newtownabbey and Ballyclare High School, Ballyclare, have also been given the go-ahead.
Paul Givan said: “The capital investment across the three schools when the projects are delivered will be over £200m.
“These schools have been in need of significant capital investment for a number of years. Their buildings are in extremely poor condition and have seen little or no investment. We are now a step closer to the development of modern school facilities that are fit for purpose and that will better support the learning and development needs of young people in these three schools for generations to come."
The Carnhill school was among 28 shortlisted to advance to planning for redevelopment under a £794m investment allocation in the schools estate announced by the former Education Minister Michelle McIlveen in 2022.
The St. Brigid’s development was given an indicative estimate of £22.7m four years ago, however, the project was paused due to funding constraints in 2023 and the cost is likely to have risen substantially in line with inflation.
Speaking as he announced the progression of the project in Wednesday Mr. Givan acknowledged other schools are still waiting for much-needed new accommodation.
“Whilst this is welcome progress, I recognise that there are many other schools in need of significant investment. The education system is facing a capital funding crisis that must be addressed.
"I will continue to manage capital expenditure very carefully and prioritise those most in need. Decades of underfunding has left much of our schools’ estate in very poor condition.
“I will of course continue to make the case for increased and sustained capital investment across our schools’ estate,” said the Education Minister.