Caitriona Ruane has spoken out in advance of attending a fundraising event at an Irish-medium nursery school in Downpatrick tonight.

The Minister will have to juggle her aim along with multiple school closures and amalgamations due to be implemented as a result of a dramatic decline in the school aged population.

It is also likely to lead her onto a collision course with the Education Committee chairman Sammy Wilson - who has been strongly critical of expansion of the two growing minority school sectors at a time when pupil numbers are falling.

Ms Ruane told the Belfast Telegraph: "One of the challenges facing me as future Minister for Education will be to take forward the idea of sharing within and between schools. Irish-medium schools offer a valuable educational environment.

"I want to support parental choice and to continue to develop both the Irish-medium and integrated sectors.

"As with other sectors it is also important that the Irish-medium sector challenges itself by listening to others and discussing possible future opportunities."

Among the items under the hammer at tonight's event are single malt whiskey - one a limited edition to commemorate John Hume's receipt of the Nobel Prize, and another similar bottle to commemorate Mary McAleese's election as President of Ireland. There will also be a football and a Down jersey, both signed by all the Down All-Ireland winning captains, which will be presented to the buyer by Down Gaelic football legend Paddy Doherty.

Other lots are a Bobby Sands biography signed by the surviving hunger strikers, a copy of the Belfast Agreement with John Hume's signature, a flight from Newtownards airport over Downpatrick and Lecale, two nights' bed and breakfast and dinner for two in the Slieve Russell Hotel and a Manchester United shirt signed by Diego Forlan and Ruud van Nistlerooy.

The gala dinner and auction event at Russell Gaelic Union Clubrooms in Downpatrick will raise funds for Naíscoil Dhún Pádraig - the Downpatrick Irish-medium Nursery School.

The school is a recognised charity and the money raised in the auction will be used to sustain and develop Irish-medium pre-school education in the Downpatrick district.

The night begins at 7.30pm and the auction starts at 9.30pm. The cost is £25 for dinner (including wine), the auction and entertainment. Or just £5 to attend the auction and entertainment only. Anyone interested in attending the event can telephone Pádraig Mac Thiarnáin on (028) 44613709 or mobile 07712 667518.