Education Minister Defends £710k Funding Award for NI School Amid Controversy
The Education Minister clarifies the funding process for Lisneal College’s new football pitch, emphasizing its long-term planning and necessity.
Lisneal College, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Football Pitch, Education Authority
Belfast: Last week, the Belfast Telegraph reported that Lisneal College received a £710k grant for a new football pitch. This decision followed a private meeting with DUP ministers.
Over the weekend, the Education Authority stated that the funding was not influenced by recent discussions. They clarified it wasn’t a response to any funding application.
On Good Morning Ulster, Mr. Givan explained that this was part of a minor works scheme. He mentioned that £29 million was allocated to the Education Authority for various projects.
He noted that the funding for this specific scheme began in 2019. It went through a business case in 2022 and received planning approval in 2023.
Mr. Givan emphasized that these processes were standard and predated his time as Education Minister. He urged people to get the facts straight regarding the funding.
He also mentioned that Lisneal College had been unfairly represented in the media. He described it as a great school supporting a thousand children in the northwest.
Mr. Givan expressed concern for the school, which felt upset by the media coverage. He believed many owed the school an apology for how the story was framed.
On Friday, the Education Authority explained that many minor capital projects are undertaken each year to benefit students. They receive an annual budget for these projects.
For 2024/25, the Education Authority received £29 million to support hundreds of projects. The funding for Lisneal College is typical for such initiatives.
A health and safety inspection in December 2019 identified the need for a new football pitch. It was deemed a priority due to the risk of serious injury, and the pitch has been out of use since then.
A feasibility report was conducted in May 2022, followed by a business case in June. Planning permission was granted in November 2023, and a construction tender was awarded in December 2024.