To ask the Minister of Education for an update on (i) the proposed amalgamation of North Coast Integrated College, Coleraine High School and Dunluce College; and (ii) the sites being considered actively for the new school.

The Education Authority (EA) has been working in partnership with representatives of three schools, Coleraine College, Dunluce School and North Coast Integrated College (IC) on a joint proposal for non-selective post-primary provision in the Causeway area.

A steering group, the ‘Causeway Project Board’, which includes representation from the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), the Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC) and the Ulster University, has prepared a Case for Change (CfC).

The consultation document was considered at the EA’s Board meeting on 24 June 2021 and approval was given to commence pre-publication consultation on 13 September 2021 which will run until 15 November 2021.

My Department only becomes formally engaged in the process when the Development Proposals (DPs) have been published.

In the future should the DP be approved, the new school would operate from existing accommodation until such time as it is approved for major capital investment.

Only in the event that funding for a major capital investment is subsequently approved would an analysis of the site options available be considered.