Education Minister John O'Dowd announced the approval of 22 new school building projects worth a total of £220 million, on 22 January 2013.

Fourteen of the projects of the projects are for new primary schools and eight post-primary.

The minister explained that these projects were to be "advanced in planning" and their construction would depend on the level of capital funding available.

Mr O'Dowd said 14 of the projects were required to deal with "previous or planned amalgamations or rationalisation within the estate".

He also announced the launch of a Schools Enhancement Programme of up to £4m for refurbishing or extending schools.

The minister said his announcement had the potential to secure some 6,200 jobs in the construction industry.

Education Committee chairman Mervyn Storey of the DUP welcomed the announcement.

However, as a governor of Ballymoney High School he expressed disappointment that despite meeting all the criteria for a new build, "10 years later and it is still not mentioned".

Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy welcomed the announcement of a new build for Parkhall Integrated College in Antrim.

Sean Rogers of the SDLP asked what the minister meant when he said this was the last capital announcement to be made in the medium term.

The minister explained that he was not ruling out another announcement but did not expect to be making one.

Trevor Lunn of Alliance welcomed the inclusion of four integrated primaries and two Irish-medium primaries on the list, which he said were currently operating in Portakabins.