Cllr Haughey said, “Some months ago I wrote to Minister Caitriona Ruane to inquire about the timescale for the new school in Poyntzpass. At that time I was disappointed to receive a reply which did not indicate any timeframe for moving ahead with the plans for a new school build and I eagerly awaited the publication of the list of schools allocated funding from the Department of Education. I am now extremely disappointed and frustrated that St Joseph’s and St James’ Primary School is not on that list.
“I have written once again to Minister Ruane to highlight the real need for a new school build. Planning permission has already been granted and time will run out on it if the Department does not allocate the relevant funding. It is unfair that a school and an entire community are left in the dark about when this project will move ahead.
“St Joseph’s and St James Primary School is an amalgamation of St Joseph’s Poyntzpass and St James’ Tandragee. The school is well known for providing high quality education to local children and I have no doubt that this will continue, however the children of Poyntzpass and Tandragee also deserve first class facilities and I will continue to lobby the Minister on this matter until that promise is fulfilled.”