A development proposal to expand Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh in Strabane has been rejected.

The Western Education and Library Board, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, published a development proposal seeking to expand the school through the establishment of an 'off-site unit' in Castlederg. The unit was to be a conversion of the existing, independent Irish-medium provision in Castlederg, Gaelscoil na Deirge.

Education Minister John O'Dowd, who turned down the proposal, said it was "not financially viable".

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He said: "Approval would potentially see the school fall into a deficit position which in turn may threaten the viability of the host school.

"Furthermore, a new-build project for Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, close to its existing Strabane site, is currently progressing in planning. The new-build project does not factor in the costs or implications associated with establishing an extension of the school in Castlederg and would inevitably need to be reassessed should the new unit be approved.

"I would also highlight the many practical issues that would arise from establishing and running what would effectively be a split-site school with locations some 13 miles apart. There is a risk, for example, that pupils at the Castlederg location would experience a lack of peer socialisation with their counterparts on the Strabane site."

(CD/MH)