Minister's greatest strength is creating division and controversy

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has said that the Education Minister's decision to approve four new Irish-medium schools in a time of fiscal crisis raises questions as whether there are "different rules for different sectors".

"In June Caitriona Ruane announced that numerous new builds and improvement schemes would not go ahead because 'we simply cannot build schools without money'. There is also a £300m backlog in maintenance for our existing schools, meaning some children will be attending schools in September that are potentially unsafe and unhygienic.

"With today's announcement the Minister is clearly sending out mixed messages and people will quite understandably be asking if there are different rules for different sectors.

"The Minister has increased the capital budget of the Irish Medium sector by five fold over the past two and half years despite there being a clear under subscription of some 830 places.

"Today's announcement will do nothing to allay the fear that this Minister has no meaningful plan for dealing with a reduced budget and a need to rationalise the entire school estate. This is a fear that exists in all sectors.

"The Ulster Unionist Party respects the right of parents to educate their children in Irish. However, we believe that the best and most cost effective way to do this is through Irish Medium Units attached to mainstream schools. At this time of fiscal crisis we must all start thinking innovatively about shared facilities across all education sectors. The Minister appears to be going in the opposite direction.

"The Minister has a duty to explain how this decision fits in with her review of capital projects and her development of area based planning.

"At a time of unprecedented fiscal crisis we need leadership from the Minister for Education, however, she is yet again proving that her greatest strength is creating division and controversy by following her own narrow agenda and ignoring the needs of society as a whole."