§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will describe the system of prioritisation and decision making in the allocation of capital funding for capital expenditure on education in Northern Ireland; [1109]
(2) what proposals he has to introduce medium and long-term planning and greater transparency into the allocation of capital funds for educational purposes. [1108]
§ Mr. AncramThere are well-established procedures for the planning of major capital projects in the education service. In the case of the schools sector, which has the majority of building needs, the system of prioritisation places each major works project in one to seven priority categories, based on an objective assessment of need. My Department reviews and updates and updates the capital needs of the education estate each year in consultation with the education and library boards, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and other education authorities.
300WThe medium and long-term priorities for the planning of individual major works are determined from these planning systems and the available resources are allocated to the highest priorities based on educational need. The available capital resources are reviewed annually in the public expenditure survey.