Ulster Unionist Education spokesperson Basil McCrea has welcomed the decision by the Planning Service to speed up the planning process for school build projects at Tor Bank Special School and Lagan College.

Commenting on the issue, Basil said: "The Department of Environment should be commended for their actions in speeding up this process. I have been to both schools, met with both parents and teachers and I have witnessed first hand what is required to improve the quality of service and education that these children are receiving.

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"In Tor Special School teachers were working in extremely difficult surroundings without the facilities they desperately needed. In Lagan College, they had simply outgrown the number of pupils it had to facilitate.

"At a time of fiscal constraints it is important that money is spent on the necessities. I do believe however that it is essential for all departments to provide adequate facilities to each individual child. The built environment within which our children study is crucial to their educational experience and their ability to learn. Schools should be inspiring places that children and teachers can flourish within."

(BMcC/KMcA)