SINN Fein's Phil Flanagan has “commended the leadership” by Fermanagh Trust in promoting shared education.

The Assembly Member paid tribute to the group's trustees and staff, as well as the school communities in Fermanagh.

“The principals, staff and boards of governors of those schools have shown tremendous leadership for their communities in articulating what the benefits of shared education could mean for our society.

“This is much bigger than any individual child, family or school community; this is about trying to build a better future for all our young people. The leadership shown by the organisations involved in developing and rolling out shared education has given us all an insight into how popular this area is and how much demand exists.

Speaking during a discussion on the Shared Education Bill, Mr. Flanagan told the House that it was “important to reflect on the success of the shared education programme in Fermanagh.”

“It is not just cross-community but cross-Border. A number of the maintained schools along the Border corridor regularly engage and share with minority Protestant schools on the other side of the Border. The shared education programme in Fermanagh has also helped to break down those barriers,” said the Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLA.

Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn added: “Fermanagh is a terrific example of what can be achieved.”

“We applaud the efforts of schools from different sectors to come together to share classes and facilities, whether that is in County Fermanagh or other parts of Northern Ireland,” said Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Danny Kennedy.