10 March 2004
MAGHERAFELT SECURITY BASE TO BECOME SITE FOR NEW SCHOOL
The former Royal Irish Regiment base in Magherafelt is to be made available for a new school, the Economy Minister, Ian Pearson, MP, told a delegation from Magherafelt District Council today.
The ownership of this former Royal Irish Regiment site transferred to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister as part of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative (RRI) announced in May 2002.
Following his meeting with the delegation, Ian Pearson said:
"I very much welcomed the opportunity to advise the Council personally about the plans for the future use of the Magherafelt site. The Council has been involved in the decision making process from the outset and it was appropriate that they should be the first to hear the outcome.
"We considered a number of options, including using the site for both a new school and a wood working design centre. This latter proposal from the Magherafelt Business Forum (MBF) is not currently viable or sustainable, however, and we need to make progress.
"The Magherafelt area will benefit from the site being used to address an educational need which has been on-going for some time. I therefore propose to offer the site to the North Eastern Education and Library Board who will work with the Department of Education to take forward their plans for the relocation of the local primary and nursery schools and for a new pre-school facility.
The Minister added: "While I appreciate that this outcome may disappoint the MBF, I can assure them that Invest Northern Ireland will continue to work with them to explore both funding opportunities for their proposal and how the design centre can be accommodated within the Magherafelt area.
"I have also asked the District Council to consider options for the future use of the current primary school site once it becomes available, which would maximise the benefits to the local community. I hope to receive their proposals and respond positively to them in due course."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The purpose of the RRI is to provide a new momentum for infrastructure development never before seen in the region. The transfer of former military sites is an important element of the Initiative which will be used to fuel a programme of social and economic renewal.
- For further information on the RRI please visit www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/rri
- Media enquiries to OFMDFM Press Office, tel. 028 9037 8106/7.
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