Erne Integrated College, Enniskillen RMG04
INVESTMENT of almost £5 million has been allocated to two Enniskillen secondary schools in the Department of Education’s School Enhancement Programme (SEP).
Erne Integrated College is to receive £3.8 million while Mount Lourdes Grammar School has been allocated £1.1 million.
The schools were among 12 projects across the North to be given the green light by Education Minister John O’Dowd to proceed to construction as part of the £35million investment programme.
The Minister said this announcement was an investment in the future of our young people.
“The improved and new accommodation will provide better facilities for young people to learn in and an improved working environment for all the school staff,” he said.
“Ongoing investment in our schools’ estate is essential if we are to continue to provide a high quality education and today’s announcement has been made possible by an increase in the Department of Education capital budget of £46.9million or 32% in the 2016/17 financial year.
“Of course, this level of investment also provides a significant boost for the local construction industry and in turn, the local economy,” the Minister added.
The School Enhancement Programme (SEP) is a capital build programme targeted to meet the immediate and pressing needs in schools, through smaller scale works, where a new build capital works is not deemed deliverable. It caters for construction projects costing between £500,000 and £4m.
Welcoming the announcement, Mount Lourdes principal Maureen McKeever said: “The Board of Governors and management of the school are delighted with the announcement. The project will include improvements to the current canteen facilities, re-alignment of the main entrance and the provision of a covered walkway between school buildings.”
Principal of Erne Integrated College, Jimmy Jackson-Ware also explained how their funding would be spent:
“The programme will include a new purpose built three court sports hall, learning support base, drama/dance studio and a 6th form centre. In addition, there will also be a partial refurbishment of the main school building.
“I expect the contractors to be on site and the building works to start in June. This ensures that the children who attend the only Integrated College in Fermanagh have access to state of the art 21st century facilities.”