To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) when the policy on the School Enhancement Programme was changed; and (ii) the rationale for this decision, given the money that the Education Authority may have already spent on consultancy and architecture fees.

There has been no change to the policy regarding the School Enhancement Programme (SEP). Funding continues to be available to progress SEP projects through the design stages to pre-tender. A decision to release projects to tender for a contractor will be taken on a case-by-case basis, dependent on budget availability at that time. I will continue to make the case for additional funding for education through the Executive.