An official sod-cutting ceremony has marked the beginning of construction on a £4.9million project at Kilronan Special School, Magherafelt in County L'Derry.

Cookstown-headquartered Bell Contracts will deliver the School Enhancement Programme (SEP) project which includes a single storey extension with new specialist classrooms, social areas and support accommodation.

Welcoming the start of the project, Education Minister Paul Givan said: "This is an exciting day for everyone at Kilronan, marking the start of a very important programme of construction.

"The investment of nearly £5million will deliver many benefits for pupils, school staff and local families. This project will provide modern facilities which will help children and young people at Kilronan to grow, thrive, learn and achieve their full potential."

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Construction is due to be completed in late summer 2026.

The Minister continued: "I recently established the SEN Capital Investment Programme to ensure SEN pupils have access to quality education settings and that our teachers and non-teaching staff have access to the resources needed to support the excellent work that they do.

"This project marks the first of ten special school SEP projects to proceed to construction and represents my firm commitment to delivering quality accommodation for children and young people with special educational needs."

Kilronan School Principal, Sharlene Deehan, added: "On completion the SEP should provide equality for our leaners with their mainstream peers in terms of resourcing and experiences, providing a modern, bright building which will vastly enhance the day to day running for the ever changing profile of pupils, our dedicated and caring staff and indeed the whole school community."

Kilronan School was announced in the second tranche of 16 schools to progress from the second SEP on January 21, 2019.