Northern Ireland's Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has turned down a Development Proposal for the establishment of a statutory nursery unit at St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Keady.

Builders woun't therefore be getting any extra work after Minister O'Dowd commented: "The Department of Education faces significant financial pressures, particularly on its front-line schools’ budget. Given the current Budget restrictions facing the Department it is important that we maximise the impact of available pre-school resources and avoid unnecessary over provision or duplication."

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The Minister said he is legally bound to make a decision on any development proposal and considered each proposal on the basis of all the information pertinent to the individual case.

He concluded: "In this instance there are already sufficient pre-school places in the area, and on that basis and the restriction on my departmental budget I could not endorse this proposal."

(CD/BMcC)