Working group for Strule Campus to be appointed

Minister for Education, Peter Weir confirmed his intention to establish a working group to look at best developing the campus for the local community.

Yesterday at the Assembly, the minister revealed his intention to set up a working group that will look at how to best develop the Strule Share Education Campus, ahead of its full opening in 2020.

The body will examine how the site can developed in order to benefit fully the local community and economy.

Responding to a question from West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan in the chamber yesterday, the Minister Weir was asked: what did the Department plan to do with existing sites on the campus after schools had started to relocate there?

Crucially, the SDLP assemblyman also wanted to know : what plans were there to utilise the sites for the benefit of the local community and the local economy?

"The existing local sites have different ownership arrangements," he responded.

"My Department has arrangements in place for the disposal of school sites that are owned by the EA in line with the guidance for disposal of public assets in Northern Ireland. Disposal of the other sites will be a matter for trustees. However, I am acutely aware and take on board what the Member has said. The future use of these sites is of strategic importance, particularly to the wider economic development of Omagh town," he said.

It was to this end, the DUP minister announced plans for a working group on the issue "to examine the issues ahead of 2020".

He also announced the possible make-up of any such group.

"The group will be made up of representatives including the owners of the sites and people from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the relevant government agencies," he confirmed.

"We are conscious that, while we have a very exciting project at Strule, we also want to make sure that the best possible use is made of the available land because that can also create economic regeneration for the wider community. That is something that all of us would embrace and move forward on in partnership," he added.