Ciara Ní

Fascinating development. Few facts about school funding in Derry as facts are important when it comes to journalism and properly informing the public. I've done the same when it comes to figures about uni investment in Derry and that concerns the Economy Dept (just pointing that out for the numpties and trolls who like to sling mud). DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the petition was the latest outworking of their response to Sinn Féin's "arrogance" over the Drumcree parading dispute. That's linking it directly to Drumcree rather than the merits of the Bill itself and education. UUP leader Jon Burrows said he would be minded to support the DUP's petition of concern. He said there was "no need" for the bill and argued it "gives preferential treatment to one education sector over the rest". "So I am minded that that fits the bill for petition of concern," he added. TUV leader Jim Allister described the private member's bill as a "disproportionate tilting of funding in a very partisan and selective way". So now let's look at Derry specifically, but the examples I have in Derry and elsewhere show that a thorough, government-led or NIAO investigation may be necessary. No Catholic Maintained or Irish Medium school in Derry has got funding for a new build for at least 14 years — as far back as records go. Two traditionally Protestant secondary schools have received millions more in funding than 8 majority Catholic secondary schools in Derry, as far back as records go. Indeed, Paul Givan approved funding for Lisneal's pitch shortly after meeting the school principal — a pitch the school hadn't submitted an application for. He also approved millions for an extension at Lisneal. Catholic schools in Derry had applied for funding for roofs back in 2017 and those structures were found to be 'unsafe' and even 'at risk of collapse' in St Eugene's case. The junior school closed and pupils will remain displaced for 900 days, according to the department's own estimate. Minister Givan refused to visit St Eugene's as the principal spoke of the health of pupils and staff being damaged as they are squeezed into huts/classrooms in the senior building. While schools can't get the basics, and thousands of applications from the 2017 list have not been progressed, Mr Givan also wanted to know how legal constraints 'might be overcome' to build a sports dome at Lisneal. His colleague had already refused such a project because, unsurprisingly when schools are crumbling, sports domes aren't in the building handbook. Mr Givan is also currently embroiled in controversy as he wants to give £30,000 to a football team called Richill AFC. It has been said a DUP politician is linked to Richill (more will be revealed on that shortly). With thousands of applications from the 2017 list not processed, and schools being allowed to skip the queue, I revealed that the department and Mr Givan would like to scrap the 2017 list of ranked projects. Back to comments at the top. Why have the UUP and TUV leaders never spoken of preferential or partisan investment for controlled/traditionally Protestant secondary schools in Derry? Or about the plight of young St Eugene's pupils whose health is impacted while they've been displaced from their school building for hundreds of days? In fairness, there's barely a Foyle politician who has spoken out on their behalf. MLAs from west Belfast have shown more passion when it comes to highlighting the issue.