Plans to develop a new nursery unit in Portstewart have been rejected.

Education Minister John O'Dowd turned down the proposal for a 26-place part-time nursery unit at St Colum's Primary School.

Mr O'Dowd said: "My views on the value of pre-school provision for young children are well known. However, each development proposal for the establishment of new provision must be carefully considered on the basis of all the information pertinent to the individual case.

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"This proposal, brought forward by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools( CCMS), was predicated on the closure of the existing playgroup. The Education Authority has received no indication from the playgroup that they wish to remove themselves from the pre-school programme and indeed the playgroup has increased their level of provision for September 2015."

(CD/JP)