The Welsh Government's programme to create a new generation of 21st century schools across Wales will now aim to be completed in 2018-19, two years sooner than expected thanks to a £200m funding boost, Finance Minister Jane Hutt has announced.

The £1.4bn 21st Century Schools programme, which complements the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan, is a major, long-term and strategic capital investment programme which focuses resources on schools across Wales, for early years through to post-16, with funding jointly provided by the Welsh Government and local government.

The programme is being accelerated following a decision by the Welsh Government, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and local authorities to extend the Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI) – a scheme which significantly increases the ability of local authorities to fund major infrastructure projects – to cover schools, as well as through the provision of additional capital funding.

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The new £200m package of investment is expected to create or support around 23,000 jobs over the period of construction. Through the Welsh Government’s community benefits approach, the investment will also provide training and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as creating new local supply chain opportunities, especially for smaller organisations, and positive environmental impacts.

Ahead of the Assembly debate on the Welsh Government's Final Budget for 2014-15, the Minister visited the brand new £7.9m 21st Century Awel Y Mor Primary School in, Sandfields, Neath Port Talbot, which opened in September 2013.

Finance Minister, Jane Hutt said: "Despite the real terms cuts to the Welsh Government’s capital budget since 2010, I am determined to ensure new and innovative ways are found to invest in our infrastructure and public services.

"I'm pleased to announce that we are accelerating our flagship 21st Century schools programme by extending the Local Government Borrowing Initiative to cover schools. This allows us to pump an additional £200m into the programme, which means we will deliver the £1.4bn investment to create a new generation of 21st century schools across Wales by 2018-19, two years sooner than previously planned. This will ensure that across Wales, we will see investment in the right schools, in the right places, at the right time.

"We expect this investment will create or support around 23,000 much needed jobs in the construction industry, while fostering growth in the local and wider economy."

The funding boost is in addition to the £617.5m capital investment package the Minister announced in the Draft Budget to support the Welsh economy, which is expected to create or support more than 11,000 jobs over three years.

(CD/IT)