Destruction of Drumrane primary roof by Storm Éowyn ‘heart-breaking’ but Burnfoot community are resilient, says Robinson

Transcript

00:00I want to put on record our support for Drumran Primary School who on Friday

00:06morning faced violent ones that ripped off large parts of its roof. This is a

00:13school in a stunning setting in the foothills of Benbrada Mountain in the

00:17village of Burnford, County Londonderry. It is a recently built school in 2008

00:23which saw the merger of three country schools. It has 140 pupils and five

00:27classrooms. Anyone in this chamber who represents a rural constituency will

00:33know that rural schools are the heartbeat of its area and when a rural

00:39school is impacted in a negative way it ripples beyond its children and teachers

00:44but it impacts the entire area and hinterland. To arrive on Friday to see

00:51the external and internal damage was heartbreaking but this is a strong area.

00:56The community of Burnford just outside Dungevan are at their best when they're

01:01under pressure and this community and its school will thrive once more. I can

01:05guarantee that. I want to thank the Education Minister who when I contacted

01:10him on Friday and on Saturday evening and on Sunday has taken a strong

01:14personal interest in ensuring assessments were made for debris

01:19to be cleared which will allow for significant repairs to be carried out.

01:23I do encourage the Department of Education to keep the focus as the

01:27Minister has that a full and speedy repair be carried out and I want to

01:33thank Drumran's school principal, school leaders and I applaud them for their

01:39patience. Rest assured you will have our support.