Twenty-eight post-primary schools in Northern Ireland which were earmarked for new buildings have been told the process has been "paused".
The Department of Education (DE) has blamed budget pressures for the decision.
The former education minister Michelle McIlveen approved new buildings for the 28 post-primaries at a cost of almost £800m in March 2022.
At the time, she admitted construction would depend on future funding.
But Ms McIlveen's announcement allowed the planning and design process for each new school to begin.
The move came just before the dissolution of Stormont ahead of the 2022 assembly election.
