Disappointment has been voiced by members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council after the latest delay to the Strule Shared Education Campus project in Omagh.
An estimated completion date has now been pushed back to 2027 after the only tender offer submitted to the Department of Education was significantly higher than its agreed budget.
The development involves the construction of new builds and a shared campus for seven local schools, with only one of those having been completed so far.
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The Regeneration and Community Committee meeting was informed while the works contract had gone out for tender only one offer was received which “exceeds the budget by some margin”.
The Department advised it is now engaging in a negotiation process around the tender, which will take some time . It is unlikely the contract would be awarded before September 2023 with construction not commencing before Spring 2024, thereby delaying full campus opening until 2027.
It was stressed the Department remain committed to the project and staff are “working diligently to maintain momentum.”
Independent Councillor Josephine Deehan described it as a 'disappointing development".
"My heart sank when I read it is going to be another five years before our pupils can enjoy the benefits a shared campus can bring," Cllr Deehan said.
"It’s not surprising the construction costs are rising and it’s also disappointing there is just one tender. What are these negotiations the Department is entering into to try to bring the costs down? Are they going to deviate from the original design? This doesn’t bode well.”
She also noted a separate communication from the Education Authority in relation to the provision of a hockey pitch referred to the Strule Campus as imminent: “So clearly there’s a lack of communication. It’s definitely not imminent.”
Councillor Deehan proposed writing to the Department expressing disappointment and encouraging matters proceed with utmost haste as: “This was a flagship project which should have been delivered 10 years ago but it’s turning into another A5 saga.”
Seconding, Councillor Errol Thompson, Democratic Unionist, recalled attending a site visit two months ago at which Education Authority staff were present:
“So to see them not knowing what’s going on is very disappointing. They were up to speed. If this project isn’t going to happen until 2027 we need existing schools brought up to standard.”
Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, CCLA said the situation is “genuinely shocking” as on-site work began in 2013 when it was hailed by the Northern Ireland Executive, but put off until 2020, then 2025 and now 2027.
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Councillor Emmet McAleer, Independent, agreed with the comparison to the A5 project adding the Strule Campus 'hasn’t progressed in the way it was supposed to. It’s shocking there’s only one tender and it’s way over budget.
"I’d request we enquire how widely the tender was advertised that only one applicant responded, after the process was delayed. To me it doesn’t stack up and it’s likely the costs will increase further. We’ve seen projects that have gone massively over-budget and who foots that bill? The tax-payer and the rate-payer.”
Final speaker Councillor Barry McElduff, Sinn Fein suggested members meet with Departmental officials including the Permanent Secretary as well from the Education Authority as 'they entered into an agreement to meet with us regularly but that hasn’t happened for a long time. There is a directorate (within the Department) with a single remit to deliver this project. It’s high time we had a round-table meeting with the individuals concerned.”
Members unanimously agreed to take matters forward with both the Department and Education Authority.
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