Ministers provide timescales for school projects

TIMESCALES have been provided for key projects at two local schools.

Artigarvan Primary School and Castlederg High School will benefit from a new roof and 2G pitch surface respectively.

West Tyrone SDLP MLA., Daniel McCrossan, had asked the Education Minister, Paul Givan, for an update on the application by Artigarvan Primary School for a new school roof via a written Assembly question.

The Minister responded: "The Education Authority has advised that the roof upgrade at Artigarvan Primary School has been scheduled for the 2026/27 financial year, contingent upon the availability of capital funding.

"The project involves the removal of asbestos-containing materials.

"These works will be scheduled during the summer when the school is vacant to minimise disruption and ensure safety."

In another question, the local MLA had asked the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, to detail the timescale for a new pitch surface at Castlederg High School.

The school has been allocated £270,726 under the £3m Your School Your Club (YSYC) funding pot for the replacement of an existing 2G surface.

YSYC is a Department for Communities (DfC) funded initiative, delivered in partnership between Sport NI and the Education Authority (EA), that opens up school sports facilities for use by local communities and sports clubs outside of normal school hours.

The programme helps schools upgrade or adapt their pitches, halls and other sports spaces so they can be safely and effectively shared, increasing access to quality facilities and supporting greater participation in sport across Northern Ireland.

Providing an update on the project, Mr Lyons said the issue was an operational matter for Sport NI.

He continued: "I have sought the requested information from the chief executive, who has advised me as follows:

“Sport NI has made an award of £270,726 under the Your School Your Club programme for a replacement pitch surface at Castlederg High School and are currently in the process of appointing a specialist provider to manage the delivery of the project on behalf of the school.

“The expectation, at this stage and subject to any unforeseen delays, is that the project will be substantially complete by March 31, 2026.”