AQO 9418/11-16 Oral question to the Minister for Employment and Learning
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning why there has been a delay in announcing a new build for the Northern Regional College.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 7 January 2016
- Answered
- Oral
- After due date
- Tabled
- 7 January 2016
- Answer due by
- 19 January 2016
- Answered
- 20 January 201613 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Employment and Learning
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Northern Regional College submitted a final Outline Business Case to the Department on 15th October 2015, proposing an estates solution for the college which focuses on provision in the Coleraine, Ballymoney and Ballymena areas.
Following assessment by my Department, I gave my formal approval to the Business Case on 23 November 2015. As part of the process it has now been passed to the Department of Finance and Personnel for their consideration.
Capital projects of this scale are subject to a very high level of scrutiny in order to ensure they represent value for money and it is critical that due diligence is exercised in such cases.
In this particular case, further information was required from the college on aspects of the Business Case. While this has been provided, DFP may require further clarification in the assessment process.
There can be no announcement on this project until DFP approval has been secured.