Rural schools to come together in new £1.54m building

Chris Donegan • Published 12 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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After years of delicate negotiation, campaigning and planning the children in a rural area of east Fermanagh are to get a new £1.539 million primary school. It will mean the eventual closure of two small rural primary schools, Corranny and Cornagague, between Lisnaskea and Rosslea, with pupils from both coming together under the one roof.

The long-awaited new school was one of 13 given the go ahead by Education Minister Caitiona Ruane as part of a £23 million building and maintenance programme for the remainder of this year.

Her party colleague and Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew, welcomed the news. She visited both schools earlier this year to lend her support to the campaign for the new building.

“I am delighted for the staff, pupils and parents, and the Board of Governors of both Cornagague and Corranny,” she stated. “They have all worked very hard to put together a sustainable programme and business plan and their hard work has borne fruit,” she stated.

“I recently met with some of the teachers and pupils of both schools, and they all spoke passionately of their desire to avail of a new school building, which would cater for both schools. I promised them I would fight ‘tooth and nail’ for them and I am very happy with this outcome,” said Ms Gildernew.

“This new school will ensure that this rural community will continue to avail of the excellent education curriculum currently being delivered for many years to come,” she added.

She also welcomed last week’s announcement by Environment Minister Edwin Poots that Enniskillen Model Primary School is not to be made a “listed” building because of its architectural importance, allowing it to be demolished and the site used for a new school. Although the plan meets Department of Education specifications no approval or date has been given for the construction work to begin.

Ms Gildernew’s comments were echoed by her party colleague Brian McCaffrey, who represents the Erne East area on Fermanagh District Council.

He said: “I wholeheartedly welcomed this news and I congratulate all associated with the two schools for their tireless work over recent years. This funding award by the Minister of Education will result in what I believe will be an excellent new facility, which, I am sure will continue to provide a first class education for all the children of this area.”

The CCMS(Council for Catholic Maintained Schools) is involved in the provision and management of Catholic schools.

Its Head of School Planning and Development, Gerry Lundy, said: “I would like to congratulate Corranny Primary School and Cornagague Primary School for securing funding. They will be delighted that they can now start planning for a future in new, fit-for-purpose buildings. Continued investment in our education infrastructure is essential to ensure that our children are taught in modern, well equipped facilities to enhance their learning experience. This announcement is also good news for the school communities that will see the benefits from this building programme at a local level.”

Announcing the building and maintenance programme the Education Minister explained that she had received £13 million towards capital projects as a result of a spending review agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive. A further £10 million has been identified to tackle the maintenance backlog in schools.

The Minister said she had put forward a strong case for greater investment in schools.

“To ensure we can spend this money before the end of the financial year we have identified projects which are well advanced in terms of financial, planning and tendering processes. We need to make rapid progress to realise the full potential of this allocation and are working closely with the schools and managing authorities to resolve outstanding issues,” she explained.

“We are able to allocate almost £8.5 million for work to start on 13 new schools and the site acquisition for another. In addition, around £4.5 million will be provided for minor works projects across the schools’ estate. This essential work will address statutory and health and safety issues and help maintain the fabric of the buildings,” the Minister stated.

“Some schools will be disappointed that they are not included on this list. I can assure them that I will continue to lobby for more money and if and when I receive funds I will drive forward with the school building programme,” she promised.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 12 Aug 10

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