Since the publication of the Investment Strategy, over £780m has been invested in improving the estate that supports our skills sector. Some of the key achievements are set out below.

Since 2008

•  40 major capital school projects have been completed representing an investment of approximately £427m in the schools estate across the region including Ashfeld Girls School, Bangor Academy, Belfast Girls and Boys Model Schools, Grosvenor Grammar School, St Cecilias College, St Mary's College in Londonderry~Derry, Holy Cross College in Strabane; Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh; Brookfield Special School in Moira, Lisbellaw Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School in Carryduff.

•  A new Technology & Skills Centre at Killyhevlin, Enniskillen was opened by the South West College in June 2009.

•  The South East Regional College opened phase one of Downpatrick and Newcastle campus upgrades in mid 2009, and a new build campus in Lisburn opened in April 2010. The final phases of these projects were completed by May 2011. A new motor vehicle workshop and construction centre at South Eastern Regional College campus in Newtownards completed in June 2010.

•  A new £10m extension at Northern Regional College's Newtownabbey campus was opened in December 2010.

•  In June 2011, the North West Regional College officially opened the £18m new build and refurbishment at its Strand Road campus.

•  The new campus for Belfast Metropolitan College in Titanic Quarter was completed in August 2011. It caters for 2,000 full-time students and replaces out-dated facilities in Brunswick Street and College Square East.

•  The McClay Library at Queen's is complete and funding has been provided to assist the University of Ulster with the strategic redevelopment of its York Street campus.

•  Investment in a number of libraries has been undertaken in the last three years. These include new libraries at Antrim and Dungiven and major refurbishments at Bangor, Carrickfergus, Newtownstewart, Newry and Whitehead.