NI School Buildings Require 'Significant' Repair

Many school buildings across Northern Ireland require significant repair to meet safety standards, according to the latest report from the country's Audit Office.

The Northern Ireland schools' estate has been recognised as a valuable asset but substantial upgrades are required within it for sufficient accessibility and functionality, which the report believes is a result of funding constraints.

Responding to the report, Education Minister, Paul Givan said: "There has been historic under-investment in the schools' estate. We are now facing a twin crisis of an ageing schools' estate and requiring large numbers of additional specialist places for rapidly increasing numbers of children with Special Educational Needs.


"I welcome today's (November 11) report by the Audit Office which brings into sharp focus the maintenance backlog across the schools' estate and the challenges faced in managing the estate effectively including funding availability and rising construction costs."

He continued: "Children across Northern Ireland have the right to be educated in schools which are comfortable and safe, are of good quality and are properly designed and resourced to support their learning.

"This will require a significant step change in the level of capital investment by the Northern Ireland Executive."

The Department of Education have signalled they will work over the coming months to implement the recommendations of the report, which can be found here.