Northern Ireland's education boards have published merge and closure plans for post-primary schools, designed to beat empty desks.

Falling death rates have left 85,000 school places unfilled across the five boards.

The proposals include merging Movilla and Nendrum schools in County Down, merging Orangefield High or taking other action urgently, closing Ballee High in Ballymena, merging Devenish and Lisnaskea schools in County Fermanagh and merging three schools in the Southern Education and Library Board area – City of Armagh High, Markethill High and the Royal School.

The education boards and the Catholic sector worked together to produce the ideas, which will be put out to public consultation until October 26.

In March, an audit revealed that 84% of secondary schools were having trouble with pupil numbers, budget deficits or exam results.

In recent years there has been a drive to save money across the education system, which is split between state schools and Catholic Church schools.

Education Minister John O’Dowd said: "Too many of our schools are experiencing stress in some form. "The impact of this is that increasing numbers of schools are focussing on survival instead of the delivery of a high quality education. That is why the publication of draft area plans by the Boards today is of such significance. It marks the first step in transforming education provision here. By restructuring our service, we can develop a network of strong schools, able to meet the needs of pupils in the 21st century."

(NE)