Construction BUSINESS

The Strule Shared Education Campus, intended as Northern Ireland’s largest school construction project, faces significant financial challenges and delays. Originally scheduled for completion in 2020, only one of the planned six schools, Arvalee Special School, has been built so far. The project’s costs have surged to £374 million, far exceeding the initial estimate of £168.9 million, prompting concerns about funding sustainability.

Education Minister Paul Givan has highlighted the Department of Education’s inability to cover the escalating expenses alone. Givan stressed the urgent need for executive support during a recent address to Stormont’s education committee. Despite the campus being ready for construction and a potential contractor in line, Givan emphasized the importance of reinstating previously earmarked Fresh Start funding to ensure the project’s viability.

Several prominent schools, including Loreto Grammar and Christian Brothers Grammar, anticipate relocating to the Strule campus. However, uncertainties surrounding funding have cast doubt on these plans. With only £44.4 million allocated for Arvalee Special School and related infrastructure, concerns persist over the campus’s overall completion and the fate of schools awaiting relocation.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has reaffirmed the Executive’s commitment to shared education, portraying the Strule Shared Education Campus as a symbol of Northern Ireland’s envisioned shared society. However, without decisive action and adequate financial backing, the project’s future remains precarious, leaving Northern Ireland’s largest school construction initiative hanging in uncertainty.