Naomi Long said: “I want to ask the Education Minister why she did not attend the flood emergency meeting this morning, and why she has not provided a package of funding to assist the schools in the South Eastern and Belfast Education boards which were severely damaged in the flood.
“Orangefield High School, Strandtown Primary School and Harding Memorial Primary School experienced the worst damage, and a number of others were also affected. I have seen firsthand the damage caused by the flood at Orangefield High School, and many floors and electrical fittings were destroyed, as well as vital teaching resources like books being rendered useless.
“The Education Department should have been prepared this morning to provide a funding package to help the schools hit by yesterday’s flooding.
“I would also encourage the Minister to come out and see the schools that have been most badly affected by the floods to get an idea of the funding needed to repair damage.
“The Education and Library Boards have done a massive amount of work to address this issue and need urgent support from the Minister. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to staff at the schools affected for their hard work in ensuring that they operate as normally as possible.”
ENDS