Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, Danny Kinahan, has called for the current area planning process to be 'suspended immediately' before the situation is allowed to deteriorate any further.

The South Antrim MLA was speaking after concerns regarding the process, which was originally intended to make the provision of education in Northern Ireland more sustainable, were once again raised during the first meeting of the Education Committee in Stormont.

Mr Kinahan, who is also Vice-Chair of the Northern Ireland Assemby's Education Committee, said: "The Ulster Unionist Party fully accepts that reform is needed – there are too many empty chairs across Northern Ireland, as well as too many schools which are oversubscribed or using buildings which are not fit for purpose.

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"It is therefore disappointing that from day one, schools all across the country have been raising concerns about the current area planning process. There has been no strategic vision and it is blatantly clear from the Minister that neither he nor his Department have any idea of what a preferred final model for education would even look like. The whole process should be suspended immediately.

"What makes the situation even more ridiculous is the fact that the responsibility for area planning might shortly be falling to a brand new body – the Education and Skills Authority - which, if the DUP and Sinn Fein get their way, will become an all-powerful, totally unaccountable body which may take a completely different road on the reforms.

"Since the Minister's original statement to the Assembly almost two years ago, what started off as a slightly flawed proposal has now deteriorated into absolute chaos. Schools have been dragged along with the process, fearful of what the future holds for them, being told virtually nothing by the Department and having to engage with badly handled viability audits and consultations.

"Instead of taking an even handed approach to this reform, the Department of Education led by its politically motivated Sinn Fein Minister, has ended up pitching school against school and sector against sector. The fact that shared education barely features in the process shows how little thought and importance has been placed on it."

(CD/JP)