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11/03/2004
Magherafelt army base to become site for school
The site of a former army base in Magherafelt is to be made available for a new school.
NIO Minister Ian Pearson informed a delegation from Magherafelt District Council of the development proposal at a meeting held yesterday.
Following the meeting Mr Pearson said: “I very much welcomed the opportunity to advise the Council personally about the plans for the future use of the Magherafelt site. The Council has been involved in the decision making process from the outset and it was appropriate that they should be the first to hear the outcome.
“We considered a number of options, including using the site for both a new school and a wood working design centre. This latter proposal from the Magherafelt Business Forum (MBF) is not currently viable or sustainable, however, and we need to make progress.
“The Magherafelt area will benefit from the site being used to address an educational need which has been on-going for some time. I therefore propose to offer the site to the North Eastern Education and Library Board who will work with the Department of Education to take forward their plans for the relocation of the local primary and nursery schools and for a new pre-school facility.
The Minister added: “While I appreciate that this outcome may disappoint the MBF, I can assure them that Invest Northern Ireland will continue to work with them to explore both funding opportunities for their proposal and how the design centre can be accommodated within the Magherafelt area.
“I have also asked the District Council to consider options for the future use of the current primary school site once it becomes available, which would maximise the benefits to the local community. I hope to receive their proposals and respond positively to them in due course.”
The ownership of the former Royal Irish Regiment site will be transferred to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister as part of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative (RRI) announced in May 2002.
The purpose of the initiative is to provide a new momentum for infrastructure development which will be used to assist a programme of social and economic renewal.
(SP)
NIO Minister Ian Pearson informed a delegation from Magherafelt District Council of the development proposal at a meeting held yesterday.
Following the meeting Mr Pearson said: “I very much welcomed the opportunity to advise the Council personally about the plans for the future use of the Magherafelt site. The Council has been involved in the decision making process from the outset and it was appropriate that they should be the first to hear the outcome.
“We considered a number of options, including using the site for both a new school and a wood working design centre. This latter proposal from the Magherafelt Business Forum (MBF) is not currently viable or sustainable, however, and we need to make progress.
“The Magherafelt area will benefit from the site being used to address an educational need which has been on-going for some time. I therefore propose to offer the site to the North Eastern Education and Library Board who will work with the Department of Education to take forward their plans for the relocation of the local primary and nursery schools and for a new pre-school facility.
The Minister added: “While I appreciate that this outcome may disappoint the MBF, I can assure them that Invest Northern Ireland will continue to work with them to explore both funding opportunities for their proposal and how the design centre can be accommodated within the Magherafelt area.
“I have also asked the District Council to consider options for the future use of the current primary school site once it becomes available, which would maximise the benefits to the local community. I hope to receive their proposals and respond positively to them in due course.”
The ownership of the former Royal Irish Regiment site will be transferred to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister as part of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative (RRI) announced in May 2002.
The purpose of the initiative is to provide a new momentum for infrastructure development which will be used to assist a programme of social and economic renewal.
(SP)
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