Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA has said he will continue to work with others to ensure ‘scarce’ public funds are fairly allocated.

He was speaking following an appearance from the Education Minister at the Education Committee today.

Pat Sheehan said:

“The decision by the Education Authority (EA) to allocate over £700,000 for a state-of-the-art pitch upgrade, while many schools struggle with basic necessities, raises serious questions about how funding is allocated.

“Today, the Education Committee challenged the Minister to be fully transparent and accountable in relation to the prioritisation of minor works projects.

“Unfortunately, the Education Minister was unable to answer many of the important questions in relation to this matter, instead attempting to play party politics. 

“This decision appears to have been a DUP pet project, smacking of cronyism.

“Sinn Féin will continue to work with other parties to hold the Minister and the EA to account in relation to the vital issue of fairly allocating scarce public funds.”