Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the publication of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report into the management of the schools’ estate, recognising that it brings into sharp focus the critical and long-standing issues of school infrastructure and funding.
The damning report from assembly members on the committee said the school maintenance backlog could pose a health risk to the health and safety of pupils and staff.
The report found that many teachers and children were working and learning in overcrowded conditions which were poorly heated and within ‘failing structures’.
Committee members stated that the Department of Education (DE) and Education Authority (EA) had relied on “a reactive short-term approach”, rather than having a “clear plan” for taking care of school buildings.
In addition, the report criticised the collaboration between the EA and the department with the committee citing the school maintenance backlog as between £600m and £800m.
In responding to the report, Education Minister Paul Givan said: “The education system is facing a capital funding crisis that must be addressed without delay. I acknowledge the Committee’s concerns and share its commitment to ensuring that every child in Northern Ireland is educated in a safe, modern, and inclusive environment.
“I value the report’s contribution in exposing the scale of the challenge, particularly the chronic underinvestment in our schools’ estate over many years.
“The key issue here is not a lack of planning, but a lack of funding. Severe and unsustainable financial pressures have left my Department unable to carry out routine maintenance or invest in long-term improvements. Instead, we’ve had to stretch resources to cover only the most urgent, health-and-safety-related repairs — a reactive approach that, as the report rightly highlights, cannot continue.
“Nowhere is the pressure more acute than in Special Educational Needs provision. The cost of emergency SEN placements has soared from £9 million in 2019 to a projected £85 million this year, which is an 850% increase in just six years. That trajectory is simply not financially viable.
“Despite these constraints, I remain committed to improving the condition of our school estate. In line with one of the PAC’s key recommendations, I have submitted a ten-year, £1.7 billion Special Educational Needs investment plan to the Executive. This strategic proposal is designed to address long-term infrastructure needs and ensure that children with SEN are supported in appropriate, high-quality learning environments.
“I am calling for urgent, cross-party support to secure the investment needed to modernise and protect Northern Ireland’s schools. Without action, our school estate will continue to deteriorate, with real consequences for pupils, staff, and communities.”
A formal response to the PAC’s recommendations will be provided through a detailed Memorandum of Reply in due course.
