To ask the Minister of Education whether the threshold cost of capital works to qualify as Minor Works has been changed.

In October 2017 the Department increased the Education Authority’s (EA) capital delegation from £500k to £1m. This effectively meant that from that date, all EA capital projects below that threshold were carried out by the EA without reference to the Department. The EA is responsible for determining its own minor works priorities and for planning, managing and carrying out these works. Projects above £1m can still be undertaken but require approval by the Department’s Finance Director.

Similarly, all capital projects above £1m in the non-controlled sector, which are managed by the Department’s Investment and Infrastructure Directorate, are subject to approval by the Department’s Finance Director.

All capital projects are subject to a value for money business case and relevant statutory approvals. Costs associated with the schemes are reviewed and assessed by Quantity Surveyors to ensure value for money.