Education Minister attends opening of Lisneal College

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane today attended the official opening of Lisneal College in the Waterside area of Derry.

The Minister said: “This new, purpose-built school will serve the local community well and is excellently equipped to enable it to deliver the curriculum, and meet the needs of its pupils, for many years to come.

“The opening of Lisneal College represents a substantial investment by the Western Education and Library Board and the Department of Education with a total capital cost of £17million. Pupils have come together to form a learning community where both pupils and teachers can share best practice and learn from each other’s experiences.

“I am conscious, however, that there is still much work to be done across the schools’ estate to improve the accommodation in which our young people are being educated. I will do all that I can to address this need and will continue to press for additional funding to bring about a reduction in the backlog of work required.”

Lisneal College is an amalgamation of Clondermot High School and Londonderry and Faughan Valley High School and work was completed on the site on 31 August 2007.

Whilst in Derry the Minister also visited Dove House to discuss the 2009-2010 budget allocations for the Department. The Minister highlighted, in particular, the extension of the current grant scheme which assists parents on low incomes with the cost of school uniforms to include parents of primary school children.

The Minister said: “These times are difficult for everyone but particularly so for those in our community with young families who will struggle to meet the cost of basic every day needs such as the cost of school uniforms. I have extended the current grant scheme to cover primary school children as well as post-primary school children and means parents may be eligible for approximately £30 per child to help towards the cost of school uniforms. That represents an investment by my Department of over £1million and demonstrates my commitment to helping those most in need throughout our society.”

Notes to Editors:

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