EDUCATION Minister Paul Givan has admitted that there are "still issues to progress" before the new build for Enniskillen Royal Grammar School can progress past the planning stage. 

Speaking on Tuesday, the Minister Paul Givan said the final technical design for ERGS, pre-tender construction estimates, and decant plans for the former Devenish College, are currently being prepared by consultants. 

However, he said that no decision on a planning application, which was submitted in March 2023, has been made, and he admitted that progress beyond this point is subject to "available capital funding".

Minister Givan was recently asked for an update on the new build for the school by the UUPs Tom Elliot, who also asked if any finance had been ring-fenced this year to progress the school. 

"There is no ring-fenced funding for any school in that respect," Mr. Givan responded. 

"I was able to announce 15 projects that could advance to construction in the current financial year, but this school is still not ready to go to the construction phase. 

"It is important that it can get to that point. Then, of course, where finance can become available, it will allow me to move more schools into that construction stage process."

Mr. Givan added that he will continue to "make the case" for capital funding for the project, and called for the support of members during this process.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine then asked Mr. Givan to clarify timescales when the school completes the planning stage. 

"Decanting to the Devenish College site is not ideal either, given that the college moved to a new site and there are issues with that site as well", Mrs. Erskine added. 

"There are still issues to progress until Enniskillen Royal Grammar School can get to the construction stage," Minister Givan responded. 

"It is not there for bidding for capital, because it has not got to a shovel-ready state. We need to get the processes concluded: the planning permission is still working through the system. 

"Once that is all completed, the school can sit along with other schools in making the application for capital funding. Where capital becomes available, I will be able to announce more new builds. 

"At this stage, the announcements are for this year, but we need to get other schools to the point at which they can commence, subject to the availability of capital."