The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and the Integrated Education Fund, which raises money for integrated schools, have welcomed a decision by the Northern Ireland Minister for Education to recognise and fund three new integrated schools.
Mr John McFall announced recognition for: Oakwood integrated primary school near Dunmurry, Co Antrim; Spires integrated primary school in Magherafelt, Co Derry, due to open next September; and Strangford College, a secondary school near Newtownards, Co Down.
The Integrated Education Fund expressed regret that a second integrated secondary school, Ulidia College near Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, had not been recognised because its pupil numbers and religious balance do not meet current government criteria.
Ten days ago the NICIE strongly criticised Mr McFall for saying that the Northern Ireland Office had saved nearly £1.3 million by not funding Oakwood, Strangford and Ulidia.
Oakwood, which now has 89 Protestant and Catholic pupils, with nearly 40 enrolled for next year, opened in September 1996. Strangford, with 144 students and over 220 applicants for next year, and Ulidia, with 127 students and 110 more enrolled for next year, opened in September 1997.
Mr McFall said yesterday: "Where a new integrated school is able to attract sufficient numbers of pupils, achieve the necessary religious balance and will not undermine the viability of existing schools, the government will support it.
"The government accepts that the integrated sector has an important contribution to make to pluralism in our society, but there is an equally important role played by all other schools."