Minister announces further significant progress on the Lisanelly shared educational campus

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has highlighted significant progress in developing a Shared Education Campus in Omagh.

The Minister was speaking following the third meeting of the Lisanelly Shared Educational Campus Steering Group held in Sacred Heart College, Omagh.

The Minister said: "Significant work has been completed over the summer in moving this exciting project to the next stage of development. We have identified the preferred bidders for financial and legal teams to bring this project to life. The process to appoint an Exemplar Design Team and a Project Director is nearing completion. This work will ensure that we have a team that can work with the schools and the local community in developing their proposals for the site. I would thank all those involved to date who are bringing this important project to fruition.

“An intensive period of work lies ahead of us as the parents, pupils, schools, teachers and wider community engage with the design team to create their educational campus.”

Notes to editors:

1. On 22 April the Lisanelly Educational Campus Steering Group announced that some £2.1 million had been allocated by the Department of Education and Strategic Investment Board Ltd to be used for the development of a Shared Educational Campus in Omagh. Up to six schools may relocate to the new Campus.
2. A tendering process for the exemplar design, financial, legal and technical teams to develop the campus model is nearing completion. These teams will be appointed between now and mid-October. The design process is due to be completed by September 2010.
3. Media queries to the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.