Damning new report exposes ‘systemic failure’ in schools estate management with £800m repair bill

A damning new report by the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed what it describes as a “worrying picture of systemic failure” in the management of the region’s school estate — with the cost of outstanding repairs and maintenance potentially reaching £800 million.

The report, Managing the Schools’ Estate, follows an inquiry launched by PAC in May 2025, which heard evidence from officials at the Department of Education, the Education Authority (EA), and the Health and Safety Executive NI.

According to the Committee’s findings, many schools across Northern Ireland are in a state of disrepair, with maintenance backlogs posing serious health and safety risks and threatening educational outcomes for young people.

‘Unsafe’ conditions and poor governance

The Committee has called for urgent system-wide reform of how the schools’ estate is managed and maintained, making 11 key recommendations to address long-standing issues.

PAC Chair Daniel McCrossan MLA said:

“In the course of our Inquiry, the Committee heard that, 10 years on from the formation of EA, poor collaboration between it and the Department of Education has continued to undermine the effectiveness of estate management.

“During this time, these two organisations have operated without a clear plan and relied instead on a reactive, short-term approach. This is an alarming example of poor governance that has failed to deliver value for money, meet the needs of school users and has likely contributed to the deterioration of safety and quality across the estate.”

Mr McCrossan added that the situation has been worsened by the absence of reliable, up-to-date data, which he said prevents effective planning and improvement.

“There is currently no preventative maintenance plan, even though this could deliver significant savings in the medium to long term. There are also backlogs relating to statutory remedial works – estimated to cost around £29 million,” he said.

Calling for immediate action, the Chair said:

“A modern, safe and inclusive school estate is not a luxury – it is the fundamental right of every child in Northern Ireland. The Department’s current approach to estate management is unsustainable, ineffective and economically wasteful.

“There must be a new, collaborative working relationship between the Department, the EA and schools.”

Key recommendations and next steps

Among the Committee’s 11 recommendations are:

• The Department of Education must develop and publish a comprehensive estate management strategy by early 2026, supported by an annual delivery plan.

• A review of governance structures to ensure clear accountability and regular performance monitoring.

• A strategic plan within 18 months to ensure current Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision is fit for purpose before expanding SEN facilities across the school estate.

The report warns that the maintenance backlog — already up from £450 million in 2024 — could now range between £600 million and £800 million, depending on the accuracy of available data.

PAC’s investigation was informed by a 2024 Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report, which valued the region’s 1,100 schools at £4.6 billion in total capital terms.

Minister acknowledges ‘capital funding crisis’

Responding to the report, Education Minister Paul Givan said he welcomed the PAC’s work in highlighting the critical need for investment.

“The education system is facing a capital funding crisis that must be addressed without delay. I acknowledge the Committee’s concerns and share its commitment to ensuring that every child in Northern Ireland is educated in a safe, modern, and inclusive environment,” Mr Givan said.

He added that while planning frameworks exist, the key barrier remains chronic underfunding.

“The key issue here is not a lack of planning, but a lack of funding. Severe and unsustainable financial pressures have left my Department unable to carry out routine maintenance or invest in long-term improvements. Instead, we’ve had to stretch resources to cover only the most urgent, health-and-safety-related repairs — a reactive approach that, as the report rightly highlights, cannot continue.”

The Minister pointed in particular to the pressures on Special Educational Needs provision, where costs for emergency placements have risen dramatically.

“The cost of emergency SEN placements has soared from £9 million in 2019 to a projected £85 million this year, which is an 850% increase in just six years. That trajectory is simply not financially viable.”

Despite the fiscal challenges, Mr Givan said he remains committed to tackling the crisis:

“I have submitted a ten-year, £1.7 billion Special Educational Needs investment plan to the Executive. This strategic proposal is designed to address long-term infrastructure needs and ensure that children with SEN are supported in appropriate, high-quality learning environments.”

He called for cross-party backing to deliver the funding required to modernise Northern Ireland’s schools:

“Without action, our school estate will continue to deteriorate, with real consequences for pupils, staff, and communities.”

A formal response to the PAC’s recommendations will be set out in a Memorandum of Reply in due course.

The full report, Managing the Schools’ Estate, is available on the Northern Ireland Assembly website:

Read the report here.