PORTADOWN COLLEGE & KILLICOMAINE JUNIOR HIGH MAKE NEW BUILDS LIST

Carla Lockhart MP • April 4, 2022

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has said it is a good day for education in Upper Bann with the announcement of two schools being included on the new builds list announced by the Minister today. Portadown College and Killicomaine Junior High School has been listed by the Minister of Education in the Assembly today under the Major Capital Works Programme. This comes after extensive lobbying by the MP and her DUP MLA colleagues.

Speaking following the announcement Carla Lockhart MP said, “this is a great day for the two schools locally who have made it onto the Capital build list, under the Major Capital Works Programme. Both schools are in much need of new and enhanced facilities. I have made it a priority since elected as an MLA and latterly MP for the area to try and secure capital investment for our aging controlled sector estate. Portadown College has been to the fore with several Ministerial visits and meetings to highlight the dire state of the building. We were also proud to host a visit from the Minister to Killicomaine recently to highlight again the poor facilities. To have them included on the list today is a major step forward and one that I am proud to be associated with. This is just the start of a process in trying to rebalance the lack of investment over many years within our controlled sector estate. The Dickson Plan is a system of education that works and it is important that the schools involved get their slice of the pie when it comes to investment and support. Under a Sinn Fein Minister this sadly was not the case.


All new builds announced today will be subject to the level of capital resources available towards the end of this decade and into the next. However, todays announcement allows them to advance in planning. It really is a good day for education locally and I want to place on record my thanks to the Minister of Education, Michelle McIlveen and formerly Peter Weir for their efforts over the last number of months/years in helping secure this proposed significant investment across Upper Bann and indeed Northern Ireland. It is imperative that we invest in our children’s education. Today is about the children and future generations who will benefit from these 21st century facilities.”

Share

By Carla Lockhart MP September 28, 2025
Carla Lockhart MP has expressed her deep sadness following the sudden passing of Ian Milne.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 26, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has criticised the UK government for rubber-stamping and implementing EU red tape which is strangling the trade of used farm machinery between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for recognising Palestine without securing safeguards for hostages, minorities, or assurances that such recognition would promote peace.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has congratulated the staff and volunteers at the USPCA Charity Store in Lurgan after it was named Shop of the Year 2025 at the Charity Retail Awards in London. The store has also been shortlisted for the prestigious title of UK’s Favourite Charity Shop 2025. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised the organisers of the hugely popular Country Comes to Town event in Portadown, which once again brought thousands of people into the town centre for a day of music, entertainment, and family fun. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has presented her “Fix Our Roads” petition directly to the Minister for Infrastructure, calling for urgent action to address the poor state of Northern Ireland’s road network. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has congratulated Miss Muriel Mehaffey on reaching the wonderful milestone of her 100th birthday.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has warned that the unrestricted flow of illegal meat and dairy products into the UK is an existential threat to human and animal health.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the suspension of parking charges at Iceland’s Banbridge store, following problems with faulty payment machines that had resulted in shoppers receiving unfair fines.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed progress on the Northern Ireland Football Fund, which has seen four local clubs from Upper Bann move forward to the next stage of the process.