Seán Rogers
South Down · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I welcome the opportunity to speak at Final Stage. Coming from South Down, which has ports such as Kilkeel, Ardglass and the neighbouring port of Portavogie, I think that we should not underestimate the importance of the fishing industry, not alone for those areas but for the wider agrifood industry and our economy in general.”
“It quickly became apparent that the Committee did not have the full authority to interrogate the Bill and, due to that, there would be no time to scrutinise the Bill in its entirety.”
“<BR /> <BR />The issues that the Bill initially tried to tackle that could not be tackled due to time constraints and relevant Committee remits still affect our current practices.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, regardless of what the Fisheries Bill initially intended, or what it finally became, it will still deliver a better outcome for Northern Ireland at the end of this mandate. In the end, it may not be the catch of the day, but it is a good supper.”
“Maybe that is a model for us today. <BR /> <BR />Reference has been made to the work of the AERC, its various visits and work on women in politics. The key message for me, whether it is the Assembly or local government, is that we need to be a lot more family friendly, not just for the women but for the men as well.”
“They have made a major contribution to building bridges in this land. <BR /> <BR />On a day like this — the Member opposite spoke about this as well — we have to think of women who are suffering today. We think of the women in Nigeria who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, or in refugee camps in Syria, Calais or wherever.”
The complete record
Every one of 523 lines we hold for Seán Rogers, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 11.
“Many young people at age 16 decide to further their education in their local further education college rather than stay on in school. How will you ensure that they are not negatively impacted upon, as opposed to what may have been the case had they stayed in school?”
“Reason number two is that there is a relationship between the SDLP and St Columbanus'. Mr Larkin, who is now a priest, has written a great book on St Columbanus. Thirdly, and most importantly, this is a first-class school, a great example of shared education that really works and we need to get it up and running.”
“St Columbanus' can fill its 90 places from the five traditional feeder Catholic primary schools, therefore automatically excluding children from a non-Catholic background. However, that is not what the board of governors and school management want. They are determined that this cannot happen because the school would lose its unique nature and contradict the building of this shared future. <BR /> <BR />Minister, there are really two steps needed: a realistic development proposal that will increase the year 8 admissions from 90 to about 115 to keep the unique nature of the school and, of course, the new school. <BR /> <BR />Finally, you may wonder why somebody from south Down is here at 9.30 pm. There are probably three reasons. First, I declare an interest as an old friend of the principal, and that is important.”
“However St Columbanus' cannot develop this model of sharing because it is constrained. It is constrained by the Department — the very body that is supposed to be promoting shared education. <BR /> <BR />How is it constrained? I think that it is in two ways. There is no bigger constraint, as the previous Member to speak mentioned, than the building. The lack of a development proposal is also a major constraint — a development proposal that will take on board St Columbanus' unique shared atmosphere. This school is oversubscribed year after year. The Department has refused to give it a temporary variation on admission numbers, while it allows that to happen in neighbouring schools. <BR /> <BR />Let us do the sums.”
“I have no doubt that that is very important to the parents of St Columbanus'. <BR /> <BR />While St Columbanus' is considered as a core provider of Catholic post-primary education in the north Down area and is central to its further development, it prides itself on being a school that attracts half its population from other faith traditions. It is a model of shared education that works at the highest level — a model that we must encourage. That is something that was recognised in the 'Belfast Telegraph' Making a Difference award for best school in 2012. It is a really good example of young people of all religious denominations fusing together to form a vibrant learning environment where the academic, pastoral and spiritual growth of the students is equally valued.”
“One could say that that is throwing good money after bad, but we are where we are. Lessons must be learned as we future-proof the whole school estate. With the hundreds of thousands of pounds that are mounting up and the current number of announcements that are not shovel-ready, it is like trying to fill a leaking bucket, not to mention the added budgetary pressures that we are under as well. <BR /> <BR />While many in our society promote sector-based education, St Columbanus' is a faith-based school; its number-one aim is to instil Christian values in its students and prepare young people to deal with moral issues as they lead their lives. I am glad to see that in places like London there is now even a stronger desire for children to have a faith-based education.”
“To say that St Columbanus' needs a new school is an understatement. That was acknowledged, as the Member who spoke previously said, 10 years ago, and a new build was announced on 16 March 2006. After being taken through planning, various delays and so on, the project was pulled in 2010. <BR /> <BR />In anticipation of the 2006 announcement and subsequent appraisals, earlier proposed improvements were, as you would expect, put on hold to ensure the best use of taxpayers' money. The school estate has been well managed by school management and the board of governors, but basic health and safety requirements have resulted, as the Member who spoke previously said, in over £1·75 million being spent in the last three years to keep the school safe for staff and pupils.”
“I start by thanking Alex for bringing the debate to the Floor today. I know that he has listed it with the Business Office quite a few times, so it is great to see it here today. <BR /> <BR />St Columbanus' College provides post-primary education for over 600 children and serves Bangor and the surrounding areas. The college was built in the 1960s and has proved very popular with Catholic students and with students of other faith traditions and none. Its enrolment has increased steadily and, year on year, it is oversubscribed. The school is highly respected in the community, with parents expressing high levels of satisfaction with the pastoral care and support that is offered, the good academic standards and, basically, simply how happy and content children are to go to the school.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers thus far. Minister, in the first year of operation of the new Education Authority, it is important that it works effectively. What budget has been set aside for the establishment and operation of the new Education Authority in its first year?”
“Thanks to the Minister for his statement. Minister, you talked about the strategic approach to area-based planning. That, no doubt, will be a major challenge for us as we move ahead. Do you agree with me that the vision for Irish-medium education, particularly post-primary education, would more easily be achieved by having a legislated seat on the Education Authority for the Irish-medium sector?”
“We simply cannot afford to waste anything like the money, time and resources that were fruitlessly spent on the ESA Bill. The Education Bill must ensure that the new authority is equipped to protect and enhance Northern Ireland's education system. This will not be possible without the relevant representation and input at strategic level on the board. The Education Authority must be constituted and supported to ensure a sustainable and efficient education system for all our young people, regardless of which sector they attend.”
“I do not know whether they have opted out or not, but I will go back to my original point: this is a strategic authority that will be the platform for the development of education in the future. All chief players should be at the table. Irish-medium, integrated and voluntary grammars need to be there as well. The Minister says that integrated and Irish-medium have a place at the area planning delivery body. However, this is delivery; it is not about the strategic future of area-based planning. <BR /> <BR />For this reason, the SDLP will table amendments to address these issues. We hope that they will ease the competition for the four community representatives and help to ensure that they accurately reflect the views of the wider community. Establishing a board that is truly representative of our education system is absolutely crucial.”
“The duties imposed on the Department under article 89 of the 1998 Order in respect of Irish-medium schools parallels that in respect of integrated schools under article 84 of the 1989 Order. The Department must facilitate Irish-medium and integrated education. <BR /> <BR />Over 40% of our children attend schools in the voluntary grammar sector. They have no input into these arrangements, and the Minister acknowledged that they did not have a lot of input into area planning. If we take another recent survey on the review of GCSEs and A levels, I do not have the statistics, but we will see that about 60% or 70% of our children who are doing A levels attend grammar schools. Should those schools not have input into the system at a strategic level as well?”
“<BR /> <BR />On Irish-medium education, there is no legislation that currently obliges the education and library boards to adhere to the Good Friday Agreement, which outlines a duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education. Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta has highlighted the deeply detrimental impact that this has had on the sector in terms of transport, area planning, support for governors etc. It was intended that ESA would have a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium schools by engaging with the sector and giving it true regard, as outlined by article 89 and the Good Friday Agreement. There is no reason why that should not be the case with the Education Authority. The best way to fulfil that is by ensuring that the sector has input at authority level.”
“I agree with the former Chair, now a Minister. He still has a keen interest in education. The Minister used the word "platform" on a number of occasions. This could be a platform for a future ESA. If there is going to be that platform, it is important that we have people with the right strategic view around that table. In the Minister's briefing on 30 September, he said that we could end up with a board with everyone sitting on it. That is possibly true, but a board without the guaranteed representation of the three sectors that I have mentioned, which have over 50% of our post-primary population, needs to be attended to.”
“That leaves the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and the voluntary grammars without specific representation on the new board. Instead, they will be forced to clamber for one of the four remaining places.”
“I am coming from a different place. I have been working closely with schools, and I see what is happening out there. The boards need road maps, the schools need road maps and the parents need road maps, so that we can move on and deal strategically with education in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />It is because of the delays and the money wasted that it is crucial that the new board is constituted to reflect accurately our unique educational landscape. As it stands, the 60 representatives who comprise the education and library boards are to be reduced to 20. A chief executive will oversee the board, with four transferors, three trustees, eight political representatives according to d'Hondt, and four community representatives.”
“To me, that answers Mr McCallister's question from earlier, when he said that accelerated passage should be used only in extreme circumstances. <BR /> <BR />You have to acknowledge what is happening in the education world. Our boards are depleted. They can no longer deliver high-quality teacher development and so on. They just simply have not got the resources.”
“However, one major aspect of the EA's strategic management in upcoming years will have to be area-based planning. It is essential that the Minister gives due consideration to area-based planning and critically reassesses the 2006 Bain proposals. <BR /> <BR />The Minister said:”
“With the education and library boards set to dissolve next year, uncertainty and lack of direction has seriously affected their capacity to operate and deliver the services that they are tasked with to the highest standard possible. The ESA Bill has been abandoned after seven long years of hard work, and, as was mentioned earlier, £17 million of public money has been squandered. I find it hard to believe that, in the Minister's summing up, he talked about the ESA being a collective failure. It was very difficult for parties other than the DUP and Sinn Féin to know what exactly was going on between the Bill and heads of agreement. <BR /> <BR />Area-based planning proved contentious in the Education and Skills Authority Bill. With false starts and ambiguities surrounding the previous Bill, it would not have been right to pursue it.”
“First, I acknowledge all the people who deliver education to our young people; our teachers, our boards and everyone who makes this a better place for all our children. However, after seven years of an education system shrouded in uncertainty, the SDLP welcomes the development of the Education Authority. Young people, their parents and everyone employed in the North's education system have been subject to too many delays. After what NIPSA recently identified as almost a decade of procrastination, we are now faced with a rush to ensure that an education board is in place in time for the establishment of the new super councils. <BR /> <BR />Since the Bill for the now defunct ESA arose, the five existing education and library boards have been left in the dark.”
“As a South Down colleague, I welcome the Minister to his first Question Time. <BR /> <BR />Minister, in terms of the pressures on services at the Ulster Hospital, do you believe that enhanced GP services and opening more beds at Downe Hospital would help to alleviate some of those pressures?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, and, as he said, this was agreed a number of years ago. In the budgetary discussions that are about to take place, is any consideration being given to the possibility that more money might be needed to smooth the transition?”
“Further procrastination in the education sector is not an option. We will support the accelerated passage, but the authority must be representative of all in the education community. I trust that the new authority will help to reduce the bureaucracy in the management of our education system by reducing duplication and streamlining management structures.”
“It is a shame that £17 million has been wasted over the years. Think of it simply as this: you could have employed another 140 teachers over the last five years. What a difference that would have made to raising standards. <BR /> <BR />We would have liked to have the opportunities to scrutinise the Bill in Committee, and we would have expected the impasse with ESA to be recognised earlier and for the Bill to be brought to the House a bit earlier as well. Let us face it: too much money is wasted in five parallel education authorities. I look forward to one authority. We in the SDLP will support the idea of accelerated passage. As the Minister said, this is a platform for potential future reform, but the platform must be fit for purpose and we must all leave from the same platform.”
“I declare an interest as the chair of the board of governors of Grange Primary School. The preamble on the Department's website is still for ESA, but it holds very true for the Education Bill. It states:”
“Minister, we talk about farmers; what discussions has your Department had with DARD with respect to the idea of an active farmer? How will that inform future planning policy?”
“I call on my colleagues from South Down to stand up and join me in sending a message to our Ministers in the Executive and to Westminster that we are united in ensuring that the constituency will receive a fair deal in all decisions going forward. Under our watchful eye, we must collectively ensure that South Down is safeguarded against further disparities. More has to be done to allow the constituency to develop and grow its economic potential. Finally, I ask the House for its full support in moving ahead with an agenda to set up a preferred public sector development area, as I outlined earlier.”
“How many of the recent job announcements have been about jobs in locations outside Belfast? There is increasing gridlock in the city, whilst our rural areas are allowed to wither. My children, like many others, have had to leave the area to find work. Emigration affects every family. The lack of employment is attacking the social fabric of the countryside. As George Bain indicated many years ago, we need to give our rural dwellers opportunities for local employment if we are really concerned about health and well-being and building a vibrant economy. <BR /> <BR />The mindset of those placed at senior decision-making levels needs to change.”
“The partnership hosted the First Minister and many of his Executive colleagues, but the project needs a little financial support from the Executive to make the vision a reality. <BR /> <BR />Far more needs to be done to ensure that South Down is offered a fair chance to address the economic disadvantages it faces. We are primarily a rural constituency. Our farming and fishing industries need ongoing support to market their products and realise the potential of Going for Growth. I acknowledge the improvements in broadband infrastructure, but there are still many "not-spots", particularly in rural areas. <BR /> <BR />The announcement of 800 PwC jobs is very welcome, but why are such announcements only ever for jobs in Belfast? Why is that not an option in South Down?”
“<BR /> <BR />What about something like a cable car up Slieve Donard? Oh yes, we are expert at finding reasons why things will not work rather than being open to all the possibilities. <BR /> <BR />I repeat my earlier statement that this is not a debate that centres on handouts or subsidies. There are numerous examples right around our constituency of success stories, from the sole trader to large-scale employers. Just look at one of those that you are familiar with, Minister: the Kilkeel Strategic Partnership, which supports business development, creates employment and increases tourism opportunities. Local businesses have put their money where their mouth is to create a vision for Kilkeel harbour in 2020.”
“That has been a game changer, whereas in South Down we are in the second division. It took millions to create the Titanic project, but the beauty and unique landscape of the Mournes and St Patrick's country is free. Where we differ is in the marketing strategy. The Titanic project's marketing strategy is up there with the best, whereas, despite the best efforts of our local councils, the marketing of South Down is minimal. Take, for example, Saint Patrick's Trail, which starts in Armagh and transverses the constituencies of Newry and Armagh and South Down before ending up in Downpatrick. That project has the economic potential to be our Camino, but we do not even have signs on the motorway to indicate where the trail is. We have the product in the St Patrick's Trail, but again we fail to market it.”
“Each time that project is mentioned, we hear the inevitable blame games beginning, much talk of those from other Houses letting us down and shallow announcements of commitment and support being bandied about. Just let me remind you of the figures: South Down was denied €14 million on that occasion. That was at a time when our economy, particularly the building industry, was on its knees. <BR /> <BR />When we speak of tourism and acknowledge some of the great work that has had the support of the Executive, we are not on the same page as other tourist destinations on this island, never mind further afield. Maybe we have something to learn here. There is a marked difference between how the two kingdoms in Ireland are promoted: the kingdom of Kerry versus the kingdom of Mourne. Take one of the success stories here, namely the Titanic project.”
“Together with the local community, I am eager to ensure that we maximise the potential return of that event in our local economy, but it concerns me that the Executive do not seem to have a joined-up approach to this prestigious event. Recently, I asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure about the support available for groups and for fringe events. She told me that that was the first time she had been asked about that, and I look forward to taking that a wee bit further with her when I meet her in the near future. <BR /> <BR />Thirdly, I bring to you the most scandalous failure to the people of South Down in the history of the House: the Narrow Water bridge.”
“The Somerset hills have seized the initiative for next year. <BR /> <BR />The second is the Irish Open 2015. There is no danger of me overstating my excitement and delight that the Irish Open will be played at the prestigious Royal County Down course in May 2015. Once more, I place on record my unreserved appreciation to the official hosts, the Rory Foundation, and to Rory McIlroy himself, whose brainchild it is, for making this dream event a reality. I also thank the foundation for its support for the Cancer Fund for Children and for the beautiful new Daisy Lodge in Newcastle. That is a charitable cause that is close to my heart. That is a true example of Northern Ireland bringing together one of its finest resources — Royal County Down — and one of its finest citizens — Rory McIlroy — and creating a world-class event.”
“<BR /> <BR />Not only has the constituency of South Down been unfairly treated in the distribution of public sector jobs, it has been overlooked by many of our Ministers at the Executive table. Opportunities have been denied that would have allowed South Down to develop and showcase its offering. The first of one or two examples is the Giro. South Down, particularly the Mournes, has proved to be one of the most desirable cycling regions in Northern Ireland. The natural beauty of the landscape, together with the unique contours of the road infrastructure, played a large part in hosting successful events such as the Etape Mourne in 2012. Like many others, I believed that the inclusion of the Mournes on the Giro map was inevitable. I look forward to the legacy of the Giro — the Gran Fondo. Could such an event eventually come here?”
“<BR /> <BR />The child poverty unit in the Department for Work and Pensions told us that, in August 2011, there were 4,660 children aged nought to 15 living in poverty in South Down. That equates to almost 20% of the children in our constituency. The statistics on child poverty are not simply numbers that we can allow ourselves to glance past, and any small or limited reference that I make to child poverty can only begin to skim the surface of the chilling reality and the consequences that it has on individual lives. For the purpose of the debate, however, I ask whether the long-term economic well-being of Northern Ireland can be on track when one in four of our children lives in poverty.”
“<BR /> <BR />South Down is the most beautiful constituency in the North, and it continues to bear the brunt of the economic disparities highlighted in the Bain review. With a population of 108,000 recorded in the 2011 census, the latest economic and labour statistics for the region make grim reading. In the 16 to 64 age group, employment is about 66%. The median gross wage in Newry and Mourne is £427, which is 7% lower than the figure for Northern Ireland as a whole; in Down district, it is £341, which is a staggering 25% lower than Northern Ireland as a whole. With figures like that, it is not surprising to learn that Newry and Downpatrick were identified by Professor Bain as places that require investment.”
“We lost DVA jobs recently, and the ongoing haemorrhaging of services at Downe Hospital is having a major effect, as is the loss of the tax office in Newry. <BR /> <BR />Down District Council proposed during its presentation that the district, along with other areas with a low economic activity rate, be designated a preferred public sector development area. The new designation would be non-statutory, but it would be adopted policy for the public sector in Northern Ireland. I add my full support to that sound proposal. If adopted and utilised, it would assist in managing balanced economic growth across all regions. It cannot be right, for example, that departmental jobs are available in south Belfast at a ratio of one job for every 12 people, whilst in South Down the ratio slips to one job for every 227 people.”
“Therefore, I declare my intention to continue the debate on the basis of the knowledge that the argument has been made and won on the urgent need to relocate public sector jobs fairly. <BR /> <BR />This year, along with my colleagues from South Down Chris Hazzard and Jim Wells, I had the privilege of hosting an event in Parliament Buildings. Headed up by Down District Council, it was specifically on the issue of public sector jobs in South Down. During the event, Mr Gerry McBride, the assistant director of customer relations at the council, highlighted the fact that Down District Council, along with its partners, was trying to encourage indigenous investment and create jobs in this difficult economic period. Those efforts, he said, could be undermined if the council continued to lose public sector jobs.”
“One such major government spend is public sector employment. Like many places in western Europe, Northern Ireland has traditionally directed the majority of its spending to capital cities. The issue of relocating public sector jobs to peripheral regions has occasioned much debate over recent years. The Bain report of 2007 found that public sector employment in Northern Ireland accounted for 31% of employee jobs and 13% of the overall population. Bain went on to conclude that, on balance, there is a strong case for the movement of some public sector jobs in Northern Ireland. He added that that would help to create a better regional economic balance by encouraging wealth creation and reducing economic disparity. We also believe that relocation has the potential to reduce social deprivation.”
“Due consideration must be given not only to the immediate benefit of any spend but to its potential long-term economic return.”
“The injection of public money into any constituency continues to be a major economic driver and crucial to the success of that local economy. It is, therefore, imperative that the distribution of public funds is carried out in a way that is fair and equitable.”
“It is about ensuring that the constituency of South Down is brought to a level playing field, enabling it to maximise its full economic potential. It is about ensuring that the constituency has access to the economic tools and levers that will allow it to contribute to the long-term economic well-being of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />We believe that South Down has a distinct role to play in the development of a sustainable Northern Ireland. Magnificent landscapes, a proven culture of entrepreneurship, a highly educated workforce and a reputation for hard-working people are only some of South Down's many strengths. There is, unfortunately, no getting away from the economic realities of this time. We continue to be overdependent on the stimulus brought about by public sector employment and investment.”
“In line with the current Programme for Government's key goal to develop the Northern Ireland economy, I welcome this opportunity to focus on how the objective is materialising in the constituency of South Down. I thank the Minister for being here to respond. <BR /> <BR />It is widely recognised that the growth and development of the private sector in Northern Ireland is much needed as we endeavour to build a strong, sustainable economy. Freeing ourselves from the shackles of public sector dependency to realise a more vibrant economic reality is, without doubt, our shared ultimate goal. The local economy in South Down is no different. At the outset, I place on record that this is not a debate centred on handouts or subsidies.”
“I thank you for that. Minister, do you not think that smaller rural schools are particularly under added pressure because they have limited hardware and space to put computers but also lack fast broadband?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers thus far. Minister, given the strong emphasis on factors such as floor area and pupil numbers in determining eligibility for minor works, how do you ensure that small schools get the right allocation of the minor works budget?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. The south-east coast master plan includes proposals for the development of sports and leisure facilities throughout the towns of South Down. What input has your Department into those proposals?”
“Minister, given the cuts that AFBI, like other organisations, is experiencing, what is the Department prioritising in its budget to ensure maximum delivery for the economy of Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers thus far. Minister, some universities in the South have put in place interim measures. What steps are you taking to ensure that students who want to do high-quality courses that are available in the South but not here have good opportunities do so?”