Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Ulster Unionist Party) on Thursday, 1 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 December 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Thursday, 8 December 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Surplus School Places

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what strategic planning his Department has undertaken to address surplus school places in Northern Ireland.

Answer: Surplus places are removed from the schools estate through closures and amalgamations, and through the capital programme which provides schools to meet long-term demand when buildings are replaced. The education and library boards and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools are aware of the need to take action to tackle surplus places and I have offered some financial support towards the costs of bringing forward rationalisation proposals.Following a review of the procurement and delivery arrangements for the schools' estate earlier this year, the Department of Education has been examining how to improve the planning of school provision in future, including the need for rationalisation, and intends to provide guidance to school authorities on longer term planning of the estate.

Secondary information