Sinn Féin Seek Interventions Over Ardnabannon Closure

South Down Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has urged the acting Head of the Civil Service to overturn a controversial decision to close the Ardnabannon Outdoor Education Centre.

                         South Down MP Chris Hazard.

The South Down MP also revealed that Sinn Féin will be submitting a formal complaint to the Equality Commission over the handling of the closure process which sees Killowen OEC also negatively affected.

Chris Hazzard said: “I have written to the acting Head of the Civil service to outline our very firm opposition to this decision which is yet another example of poor policy making on behalf of the Education Authority (EA).

“It is the staff and young people who will pay the price for this mistake and I have asked the Head of the Civil Service to take that into account and intervene on the decision.

“It is also Sinn Féin’s strong view that the closure may be in breach of Equality legislation and have made a strong submission to the EA on that basis.

“I am very disappointed with the manner in which the EA have handled this and will also be making a formal complaint to the Equality Commission.”