Planning permission has been approved for a range of temporary mobile classrooms in the grounds of St Patrick's College in Banbridge.

This will facilitate the transfer of pupils from the nearby St Mary's Primary School site later this year to allow work to commence on a new school approved last year at the St Mary's site.

Planning approval for the new St Mary's Primary School, with an estimated investment of more than £5m, was granted in November 2013 and entails the demolition of the existing school premises in Reilly Park.

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Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "This is further evidence of my commitment to prioritising development proposals for community facilities and infrastructure.

"To assist the Department of Education's tight deadline, the application for the mobile classrooms was prioritised and turned around in under two months – something I would applaud the local planning staff for. Once again this demonstrates that my planning reform agenda is delivering real change."

(CD/JP)