DUP Education Spokesman Mervyn Storey has warned the NI Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane not to block or delay key capital projects, which have been identified as necessary.

Speaking ahead of an expected announcement to the Assembly on the review of capital projects Mervyn Storey said: "As we await news of a Ministerial announcement on capital development plans, I fear the Minister may use financial pressures as an excuse to prevent key new school builds taking place, rather than deal with the waste in the education sector and extravagant spending on her individual pet projects.

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"The evidence up to this point has been that the Minister will do all she can to direct funding to areas such as Irish Medium schools, Irish language translations within her Department and prioritizing community relations which ultimately is not her responsibility."

He continued: "The Executive’s Investment Strategy identified several crucial projects, including a number of special schools such as Tor Bank in Dundonald and Castle Tower in Ballymena in my own constituency. We will be watching carefully to see that the progress of such projects is not slowed in any way by the Minister, with her unique version of equality of provision."

NS