Doug Beattie says he does not believe the Loyalist Communities Council’s criticism of a new Irish language school represents the majority view of the loyalist community.
He was speaking after the group called on the Education Minister to halt any proposal to build the school in “the mainly unionist area of east Belfast”.
Representatives from the LCC, led by chair David Campbell, met with Paul Givan earlier today and said they had told the DUP Minister that any proposed school “has no meaningful support from the local unionist and loyalist population and no consultation had taken place with local residents”.
The school rejected this, saying a public consultation was carried out via Belfast City Council.
Mr Beattie, the former UUP leader, hit back on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Threatened by: A temporary nursery, a primary school and a soft play area. I do not believe this represents the majority view of the loyalist community.”
In June, Belfast City Council gave the green light for a proposed temporary nursery and primary school, a soft play area, new access, parking, landscaping, and ancillary site works at lands adjacent and east of 44 Montgomery Road, east Belfast, with the applicant Bunscoil na Seolta of Glenmachan Road.
Temporary plans were passed by Belfast City Council for an Irish Language school in east Belfast in June
On a recorded vote, the application received 11 votes in support and five against the plan — the opponents were all DUP councillors.
The council had received just two objections from a resident and an elected representative and nine letters of support from the public.
The two objections raised concerns about loss of employment land, so-called “incompatible land use”, insufficient transport infrastructure and parking.
The objectors raised considerations over alternative sites, sustainability, and said there was “a lack of demonstrated need”.
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Language rights activist Linda Ervine, who founded Irish language group Turas, also appeared at the planning committee meeting to represent the applicant.
The LCC delegation meeting the Minister also said its objective was ending educational underachievement in loyalist areas and outlined some of its pilot projects that have supported school activities in north and west Belfast.
They said the Minister was asked if the ‘Fair Start’ education strategy that had been commissioned by previous education Minister Peter Weir was still on the table to be implemented and the Minister confirmed that it remained departmental policy subject to funding.
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One of the key findings of the Fair Start report was that underachievement in education was particularly high in young Protestant boys, but despite providing a costed action plan, little progress has been made in addressing any of the issues raised.
The LCC delegation also emphasised support for the early intervention measures in the strategy and stressed that no child should leave primary school without being competent in core literacy and numeracy skills.
Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison has hit out at the Education Minister over the engagement with the LCC.
“The LCC is an umbrella organisation for active paramilitary groups and organisations such as this should have absolutely no place when it comes to decision-making over the education of our children,” said Mr Mathison.
“Questions must be asked about the Minister’s judgement in this case. He should be seeking to remove all paramilitary influence over our children and young people, rather than giving their views a platform.”
The Department of Education has been approached for comment.