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Minister cuts first sod at Stranmillis Building Project

Employment and Learning Minister, Angela Smith, today cut the first sod on a £6.5million building project at Stranmillis University College.

The project, known as the Orchard Development, is being funded by the Department for Employment and Learning under the Reform and Reinvestment Initiative (RRI).  It will lead to the demolition and replacement of two existing buildings with a teaching block and sports hall block.

The new build will provide accommodation for the Art, Technology and Design, Physical Education and Health and Leisure Departments.

After viewing the plans for the development, the Minister said:  “These new facilities will ensure students will have the learning environment necessary to get the most out of their time at Stranmillis.  They reflect Government’s commitment to investing in the Higher Education sector, through the Reform and Reinvestment Initiative and will benefit future teachers in nursery, primary and special schools.”

The Minister was welcomed to Stranmillis University College by Mr. Steve Costello, Chair of the Governing Body and Professor Richard McMinn, Principal who briefed the Minister on the new Orchard Building.

The planned opening date for the new facilities is March 2008.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Stranmillis University College is a co-educational Teacher Training College (TTC) which has been in existence since 1922.  As a result of the Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, Stranmillis College is a legally incorporated higher education institute. The College is accountable to a corporate governing body appointed by the Minister with responsibility for Employment and Learning.

2. The Department provides funding for both Teacher Training Colleges. Capital funding is provided for a range of capital works of which the most significant is currently the Orchard Development project.

3. Funding for the project was initially announced by Ian Pearson in 2003. The funding was made available as part of the Strategic Investment Programme under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative (RRI). The funding was allocated to address the under spend in infrastructure in Northern Ireland and was made available to Department’s over and above normal capital budgets.  

4. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7790.