Coláiste Dhoire near Dungiven in Co Derry is due to open this September with just 15 new pupils.
Education minister John O’Dowd had been advised to turn down the proposal. His departmental advisors warned that the new school would quickly find its budget in the red. They added that enrolments would not reach sustainable levels in the medium term, if ever.
Mr O’Dowd is coming under fire for approving the proposal at a time when the education budget is facing massive cuts.
A motion in the Northern Ireland Assembly called on Mr O’Dowd to review his decision “on the grounds of rationality, affordability and sustainability”. This motion fell, however, after failing to win the support of Sinn Féin and the SDLP.
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