The Department of Education has announced that three major school projects which had been halted because of budget pressures will now proceed to the planning and design stage, signalling a significant shift for schools that have waited years for investment.
The schemes cover Belfast High School in Newtownabbey, Ballyclare High School and St Brigid’s College in Londonderry. The Department said the combined capital spend for the three projects, once delivered, will exceed £200m.
What has been paused and why it matters
The announcement comes after a controversial pause to a wider capital programme. In 2022 a tranche of school building promises was made; subsequently, in April 2023 funding for 28 of those schools was put on hold amid budget constraints. The decision to restore momentum for these three projects will be closely watched by headteachers, governors and parents who have argued for urgent attention to decaying buildings and inadequate facilities.
- 2022 – Funding promises made to multiple schools.
- April 2023 – Funding for 28 schools paused.
- February 2024 – Seven schools were moved forward to planning.
- September 2026 – Three further projects (Belfast High, Ballyclare High and St Brigid’s) advance to planning and design.
Special educational needs and local concern
St Brigid’s College has been a focal point in local campaigning. The school was among those reported to have been overlooked for a new-build that had been promised in 2022, and families have highlighted the condition of its premises and shortfalls in onsite facilities.
| Metric | figure |
|---|---|
| Pupil population (2025/26) | 854 |
| Number with special educational needs | 522 (61%) |
Because of limited on-site sports facilities, St Brigid’s has been reliant on council-run pitches and halls for physical education, an arrangement parents and campaigners have described as far from ideal for a school with a high proportion of pupils requiring additional support.
"I am pleased to be delivering the good news here at Ballyclare High School today that three major works projects will now advance in planning," the Education Minister said.
The minister emphasised the scale of the investment and the length of time some schools have functioned in poor conditions, saying capital funding would address buildings that had seen "little or no investment" for a long period.
Political reaction and local response
Local politicians and community representatives have responded cautiously but positively. SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood welcomed the green light for St Brigid’s College, describing the project as long-awaited and expressing relief that the redevelopment has finally been given approval to progress.
Campaigners and school leaders will now be seeking firm timetables. While movement to planning and design is a necessary step, it does not provide an immediate solution to day-to-day pressures in schools operating in substandard buildings. Parents and staff will want clarity on when demolition, construction and pupil relocation — where required — will take place, and how disruption will be managed for pupils with additional needs.
The decision to advance these three projects forms part of a broader conversation about how the Department prioritises capital across the region, how it assesses relative need, and how it balances fiscal constraints with urgent maintenance and rebuild requirements. For communities who have campaigned for years, the announcement offers hope, but also raises questions about delivery timescales and whether further schools on the paused list will follow.
As planning applications and designs are drawn up, attention will turn to the speed of progress and the detail of proposals, particularly for schools with large cohorts of pupils with special educational needs who require appropriately equipped, accessible facilities.
