Planning and Development

The Planning and Development Branch is concerned with monitoring and reviewing the available educational facilities and where appropriate bringing forward schemes which will result in a more effective and efficient service.

Planning and Development is an effective partnership involving Educational Services, Architects Department and Educational Providers and Users. The Educational Services Department provide the educational planning expertise with the Architects Department provides the building planning expertise.

Detailed Information
The particular focus of the branch is to identify and quantify both shortages and spare capacity in provision and to develop solutions to ensure the SELB has educational facilities in place to adequately meet the needs of children and young people growing up in the 21st century

The functions of the Branch include

(i) The development and implementation of an organisational plan for current and future provision including:

a. the development of existing educational facilities through the planning for extensions, major refurbishments or replacement buildings

b. the establishment of new provision particularly in such areas as special education, pre-compulsory school age education and post 16 education

c. bringing forward rationalisation schemes which involve the closure of one or more schools, the replacement of a number of schools with a central school or the establishment of consortium management arrangements involving a number of schools


(ii) The co-ordination of initial equipping of new or refurbished educational facilities

(iii) The co-ordination of arrangements for furniture and equipment reallocation, disposal at schools that are closing

(iv) The publication of development plans

(v) The identification of minor and major capital works proposals for educational facilities

(vi) Negotiation with the Department of Education to have schemes placed on and progressed through the Department of Education Capital Priority List 2003

An over-riding focus is to ensure that the funds secured for development are utilised for maximum benefit to the service.

Click to view Current Approved Major Capital Projects