Reports that large sums of money are being spent on 'paper exercises' in planning for schools that may never be built due to budget cuts, have prompted the current Stormont Education Minister to review the expenditure.

Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd, has this morning responded to reports on the level of costs incurred on the planning and preparation of school building projects.

"The expenditure reported today is in line with what would be expected for these types of projects and was necessary in planning for anticipated capital funding for Education of £3.5bn over a 10-year period.

"However, given the current financial climate, my Department cannot continue to accept and process plans for schools that may not be built, or may not be built for several years.

"I need to ensure that the limited public funds I have available are used to build schools rather than used to pursue 'paper exercises' on proposals which may prove not to be viable or possible.

"We need to fundamentally rethink our priorities for capital investment," he said.

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"All new build projects in planning have been suspended at the stage they are currently at until an assessment is made as to how the available capital funds should be most effectively deployed in the coming years," he continued.

"I intend to make a statement, setting out the way forward for a school build programme in the Assembly after the summer recess," the Minister concluded, effectively acknowledging that no more money should be spent on planning for projects that have doubtful funding.

Minimise Impact

He was speaking after his predecessor, Caitriona Ruane said in January that she had chosen to transfer money from the school capital budget to "minimise the impacts in the classroom".

The former Minister also revealed six months ago that new 'school builds' would be the main casualty in a bid to save hundreds of millions of pounds.

Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane said that she intended to shift £41m from the school building capital budget to pay instead for services and staffing.

The plans were outlined in the Department's budget plans for the period 2011/12 to 2014/15.

Now, her party colleague and successor, Mr O'Dowd said: "Since May 2007, 50 major school building projects have been completed, with a further 18 projects on site.

"These new facilities are helping improve the educational environment for thousands of young people; enabling teachers to deliver the curriculum in a modern environment," he said this morning.

However, in respect of the expense of planning new developments, he said, the costs to the Department reported "relate to those projects currently on the Investment Delivery Plan but not yet started and those at earlier stages of development".

He explained: "None of these projects would have been possible without up-front preparatory work seeking the necessary approvals and planning permission," but now they too are up for a review as the budget net tightens further.

(BMcC)