Cathal Boylan
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I also welcome Julie, wish her well in her role as a Foyle MLA, and extend my best wishes to Gary. <BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to highlight Autism Awareness Month. This year, Autism NI is using this month to celebrate the spectrum and colour and to highlight unique differences.”
“I agree with the reviewer, and what needs to be recognised across all Departments is that the changes needed to better support people with autism do not always cost a huge amount of money. However, the changes require a willingness to adapt.”
“However, it has been disappointing that, in my opinion, the Department of Health was not prepared for the establishment of the reviewer's office, even though it should have been aware of what was in the legislation. Had the Department been in a better state of readiness, the reviewer could have got down to work before now.”
“The delivery plan must see measurable targets that can be monitored and delivered to ensure that people with autism see impact on the services that they access. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to reading the reviewer's first annual report in the near future.”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. As the Minister is aware, one of the reasons why such schemes are so important is that nuisance parking can prevent emergency services or health and social care workers from accessing patients' properties.”
“I welcome the Minister's statement. <BR /> <BR />Minister, recent figures show that, in the last quarter of 2025, new house starts were at their highest level since 2018 and that the construction sector has hit a 15-year high, outperforming Britain.”
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“As my colleague said, recently, during storm Amy, 2,000 sandbags were delivered, and committed staff worked over the weekend to clear the unavoidable debris that that storm left behind. With 1,500 incidents having been recorded across rural and urban areas, it is clear that, with every best effort of the Department and other agencies, getting roads cleared of trees and debris is done as quickly as possible. It is also important to recognise the good work that is done by local community resilience groups in flood-risk areas. I know of the hard work that those groups do to manage the effects of severe weather and storms. <BR /> <BR />As with everything, however, there is always room for improvement and new ways of working. Additional resources would enable the Department for Infrastructure to do more.”
“Preventative actions, such as gully emptying and culvert screening, have also contributed to ensuring that disruption to public transport is minimised. The work of the Department for Infrastructure has shown that it is intent on ensuring that public safety is a priority, as well as on maintaining an efficient transport network during storms, particularly for some of our most valuable workers who rely on public transport to get to and from work. <BR /> <BR />While preparation is key, I commend the workers in the Department for Infrastructure, NI Water and the Loughs Agency and others who go above and beyond in order to ensure that the effects of a storm are dealt with as soon as possible.”
“Each of us knows all too well about the increase in the number of severe weather events, including storms, and the impact that those events have across our communities. Prevention is key, and, while the Department for Infrastructure has been hindered by its budget in the level of day-to-day maintenance that it can provide, I commend the Infrastructure Minister for recognising the importance of such works and backing up her recognition by allocating further funding in order to deliver additional cleaning and maintenance of drainage lines and manholes. The Infrastructure Minister has shown that her Department takes a proactive approach in preparation for storms. In advance of storm Amy, the Department undertook culvert screening maintenance work in a bid to ensure that countless homes were protected from flooding.”
“We in Sinn Féin will continue to support farmers and orchard owners, who are leading the way in building a cleaner, fairer food future. I look forward to the comments from the Minister.”
“I also welcome comments that were previously made by the Minister about his Department's working with the apple industry through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in the delivery of industry training and knowledge and technology transfer to meet its needs. <BR /> <BR />I know from conversations that I have had with those working in the industry that labour shortages are impacting on them at present. One person with whom I spoke put it simply: the shortage of labour since Brexit has been a disaster for the sector. There must be a concerted effort to support the industry to recruit the workers needed to ensure that the industry thrives. <BR /> <BR />I want to see the apple industry in Armagh and across the North flourish.”
“I thank the Member for bringing the issue to the Chamber today. Those of us from the "Orchard County" know that apple-growing here in the North has huge potential not just for our economy but for our environment. Local orchards are part of our rural heritage, and they can play a real role in tackling the climate change crisis through carbon capture and reducing food miles. I and my party also recognise the challenges that come with the conventional farming methods used by the apple industry, such as pesticide use and nutrient run-off. That is why more and more growers are turning to sustainable practices, such as integrated pest management and organic methods, to protect biodiversity and improve soil health. Therefore, I welcome the recent announcement from the AERA Minister about the £300,000 investment that is headed for Armagh.”
“In closing, I commend the staff for their best efforts to ensure that the issues do not affect the learning needs of their pupils, who deserve a safe and healthy environment to learn and study in. The need for the Department and the EA to provide a comfortable environment is paramount, and I will continue to work with the school to achieve that development.”
“The heating in the school is primarily a one-pipe system, and it is inefficient to operate. The boiler and pumps are far away from the 1907 block, and it requires a large volume of water to be heated and fed through the system. Staff tell me that the radiators never get hot; they are tepid at best. <BR /> <BR />Following the meeting on 26 September 2025 with the architects, the design team and the Education Authority (EA), it was noted that the team had explored various options that will be issued to the DE for consideration. I am therefore using my Member's statement to call on the Education Minister to urgently review the recommendations that have been made and to work with the school to overcome the issues that it faces.”
“Last week, I met staff from St Patrick's Grammar School in Armagh. That school has a long history in Armagh, as it was established in 1838. The school building has been developed and added to over the years. It is now home to over 850 pupils and 120 staff. However, with any long-standing building come issues to do with maintenance and upkeep. St Patrick's is no different. Both the original school building and the two-storey wing that was added to the school in 1907 are uninsulated. Therefore, they are having an adverse impact on the school's interior. Areas of the external render are cracked, and moisture has subsequently been trapped and sealed in the walls, causing issues internally with dampness. The school's windows and heating system are in much need of major attention.”
“Where that requires us to invest in flood protection measures alongside improved drainage and other such measures, we must do so. <BR /> <BR />In reality, we need to learn to live with extreme weather events, including drought and flooding alike. The Bill would assist in that. I look forward to further scrutinising the "SuDS and floods" Bill further in Committee and working with all members, officials and the Minister to make sure that we make progress on this important issue.”
“Moreover, using more natural and sustainable drainage methods as a tool for living with water will ensure that we do not always use a concrete solution and instead integrate ponds and other drainage into new developments. <BR /> <BR />Other issues are covered in the Bill, such as the extension of the hosepipe ban. It is clear that those measures are to be used only in limited and prescribed situations. The Bill is another example of how the Minister is keen to meet the needs of a growing population and a stretched waste water network alongside an ever-changing weather pattern as a result of climate change. <BR /> <BR />I also welcome the provisions that enable the Department to provide grants for measures to protect domestic buildings from flooding. We must do all that we can to protect residents from the worst impacts of flooding.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am acutely aware of the pressures that face our waste water infrastructure and, by extension, NIW. I know that the Minister's intention for the Bill is, in part, to improve processes for NIW and allow for new ways to mitigate flood risk while supporting those who are impacted or potentially impacted by flooding occurrences. Collecting and storing rainwater in new and innovative ways by integrating natural drainage systems into our waste water infrastructure as the preferred drainage solution in new developments will enable water to be stored and released gradually into the network. That has the potential to help to address waste water overflows.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Second Stage of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill. I begin by thanking the Minister for bringing this important legislation to the Assembly. It is an important aspect of the Minister's three-pronged approach to address the issues around waste water infrastructure and how we live with water in the future. I know that the Minister is committed to doing everything that she can to find and implement solutions. <BR /> <BR />Addressing the challenge in waste water infrastructure is much more than an issue for the Infrastructure Minister; it is an issue that affects every aspect of public services from building new homes to hospitals to schools. The Bill aims to go some way towards making progress.”
“I welcome the new Chairperson to the Committee. I look forward to working with him. I also welcome Mr McNulty — he is not here — to the Committee. I extend my best wishes to Deborah and her family. Hopefully, she is watching, so I will give her a wee thumbs up.”
“<BR /> <BR />When we engage with local section and divisional offices, we often hear about staff shortages. I welcome the initiatives taken by former Minister O'Dowd and Minister Kimmins to increase the number of people joining DFI. In January of this year, 29 newly qualified trainee civil engineering assistants started at DFI. That positive initiative creates opportunities for people while helping to address the workforce shortages that the Department has experienced. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion. I support the Minister in her bid to improve our roads. I will continue to work with her to deliver investment in our local road network, particularly in Newry and Armagh.”
“We have to ensure that we use every method available to us so that road maintenance is timely, efficient and sustainable. The introduction of new technologies, AI in particular, could enable a more targeted approach where roads are deteriorating and show what the best method of maintenance is. I would welcome any information that the Minister can provide on the role of new technologies in road maintenance. <BR /> <BR />We cannot avoid the biggest issue when it comes to this matter: funding. After decades of British government austerity decimating public services here, we have to recognise that it is imperative that we are funded at our level of need to ensure that investment is possible. As I said in the Chamber last week, the ongoing duplication of public services on this island due to partition does not help the matter.”
“I speak as Sinn Féin's transport spokesperson. I thank the Members for tabling the motion. I am sure that none of us around the Chamber, as constituency MLAs, are any different when it comes to the volume of roads-related casework that comes through our offices. There is no denying that some roads across the North are in very poor condition. However, I acknowledge recent progress in my area, including a £590,000 resurfacing scheme on the Armagh to Keady road. Investment in rural roads such as that one shows the Minister's commitment to improving the road network, which is vital for connecting our businesses and our communities. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the motion and believe that we need a different approach to road maintenance to that which we have seen in recent decades.”
“Projects such as the A5 and the all-Ireland rail review will enable us to spread wealth and jobs and benefit the economy as a whole. It is time to plan, discuss and prepare for change. It is time for the Government in Dublin to establish a citizens' assembly or assemblies on Irish unity to prepare for our future. This is a decade of opportunity, and we must seize it.”
“Consolidating infrastructure development across the island would lead to more coordinated planning and greater connectivity, boosting trade for businesses. <BR /> <BR />During recess, on a visit to Leinster House, I took the opportunity to engage with our TDs and Senators about the challenges we face and the opportunities that exist to overcome them. It is no secret to anyone in the House that we in Sinn Féin believe that the interests of people on this island would be best served in a new Ireland, and it is our desire to achieve that goal through referenda, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. We need to be ambitious and look towards the future to invest in infrastructure, and this vision is not coming from the British Government. We need to do things differently, and Irish unity will allow for that.”
“The appetite and desire for change has grown across this island among people from various backgrounds and walks of life. We have seen directly, through our party's commission on the future of Ireland, the positive vision that people have for Ireland. Whether you are in Keady or Kildare, Armagh or Athlone, Tyrone or Tipperary, many of the issues facing our communities are the same. Duplication of public services on an island of this size is, in many instances, inefficient and therefore ineffective in delivering for the people whom we represent. We have seen in recent years the growth in cross-border trade, together with greater collaboration in infrastructure development and health service provision. However, those are only glimpses of what is possible in the event of Irish unity.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Will she confirm that the funding that was allocated to Queen's University will allow the Momentum One Zero project to proceed?”
“What does the spending review mean for the future of Go Succeed, which has become a core part of the local enterprise ecosystem?”
“In your statement, Minister, you indicate that there is an additional £11 million for NIW. That is welcome, but how much has been invested in NIW in this financial year?”
“I appreciate the answer, Minister. Following on from that, will you give us an outline of how any of that spend will be measured?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and welcome his reassurance. Will the Minister admit that it is vital that we move forward with the project to ensure that more lives are not lost on the A5 road?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far, particularly on behalf of the families who have lost loved ones on the road. <BR /> <BR />Minister, there have been three legal challenges to the scheme in 18 years. Will you outline the cost of the delay?”
“I welcome the Minister's statement. Did NIW breach 'Managing Public Money'?”
“I will continue to work with my colleagues and the school's principal and staff to ensure that that is the case.”
“Those issues, coupled with an ever-growing population, mean that the school is stuck for space and faces the prospect of not being able to hold whole-school events because there is no suitable space for pupils and staff. The fact that the school is in line for a new enhancement scheme is welcome, but that will only address the short-term need. Ultimately, in the long term, Lisanally Special School needs a new build. <BR /> <BR />Finally, there is the issue of the communication between Education, Health and their agencies, which has been highlighted. From respite care to short-break provision, mental health support and clinical psychology, it is clear that we need to listen to the staff on the ground, who are crying out for more and improved joined-up thinking and action. More must be done to support Lisanally Special School.”
“<BR /> <BR />In addition, Lisanally Special School, like other schools, has to navigate an ever-ageing building that repeatedly presents maintenance problems, such as a leaking roof, blocked drains and overflowing guttering.”
“I take the opportunity to highlight ongoing issues that impact on special schools in Newry and Armagh. I recently visited Lisanally Special School and met its principal, Siobhan Scowcroft, staff and pupils. First, I record my thanks to and continued support for the school and its staff for the fantastic work that they do. As I mentioned, however, like other special schools, Lisanally faces issues, many of which I will not have time to highlight today. Issues such as recruiting and retaining appropriately trained staff are almost daily challenges that the school faces. In the words of those whom I spoke to, "School leaders did not create the workforce crisis in SEN schools, but they are the ones who are left to deal with it". That is an untenable position for school leaders to be in. They should be better supported.”
“Minister, how do you determine whether active travel funding is being fairly distributed?”
“Minister, what steps are being taken to provide NI Water with multi-year funding?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, will you outline your approach to clusters more generally, including how it relates to all-Ireland clusters?”
“I urge those who are crafting these proposals to take a step back and engage meaningfully with our farmers. They should not lecture them or penalise them but work with them, because, if family farms are lost, it is not only a way of life that will disappear but a key part of our food security, our rural economy and our environmental stewardship. Let us not allow good intentions to be undone by poor execution. Let us work together for a future that protects our —”
“If local food production declines, we will simply offshore it to countries with lower standards and less oversight. That is not environmental leadership; it is environmental hypocrisy.”
“That means that even minor errors in paperwork or location disadvantage could see a farmer lose their derogation or face more restrictions. Compliance should not be a game of chance. <BR /> <BR />We need policy that recognises the good work that is already being done. Programmes such as the soil health scheme, funded slurry innovation pilots and voluntary investment in low-emission equipment are all examples of how farmers are leading change. They are not looking for excuses; they are asking for practical, science-based support. Environmental progress must not come at the cost of rural collapse. The idea that we can achieve sustainability by hollowing out the most sustainable food-producing sector that we have is not just flawed but dangerous.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also hear the argument that reducing fertiliser use is essential, but the proposed limits could drastically reduce grass yields. For many small dairy farms, that means having to feed more concentrates, which not only increases costs but could lead to greater phosphorus run-off, completely undermining the intended environmental benefits. Real-life case studies and farm trials show that meeting the new phosphorus-balance target will be nearly impossible for high-yielding dairy herds without either cutting stock numbers or expanding land, neither of which is realistic for most family farms, which are already stretched to capacity. Let us not forget that more than 90% of the North's farmland lies within 7 kilometres of a protected habitat.”
“I accept the Member's point. <BR /> <BR />As the Ulster Farmers’ Union has said, the latest proposals feel more like enforcement than partnership. There is too little emphasis on education, collaboration or real-world feasibility. That is a dangerous direction in which to travel. <BR /> <BR />Take hill farmers, for example. The idea that every field is accessible for trailing shoe or injection slurry spreading is simply unrealistic. They are not flat, open lands with large gates and gentle gradients. They are sloped and rugged, often with wet conditions, making it impossible to use machinery without putting safety, animals and soil at risk. A blanket rule applied to all farms without exception will leave many unable — not unwilling — to comply.”
“It proposes to make low emission slurry spreading equipment mandatory, to impose tight phosphorus fertiliser restrictions and to introduce more buffer strip requirements on arable and horticultural land. Those changes are not minor, technical tweaks; they are a fundamental shift in how farms operate, and they come with serious costs. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: family farms are not the problem; they are part of the solution. For more than two decades under earlier NAPs, farmers have changed their practices. They have invested in new infrastructure, they have adapted and they have worked with government. They cannot be expected to keep absorbing the financial and operational burden of every new regulation, especially when the support to do so is either insufficient or non-existent.”
“I rise to voice the growing concern shared by thousands of farming families across the North, including my constituency of Newry and Armagh — concern not just about policy but about the future of their livelihoods, their communities and the land that they have cared for across many generations. We are all united in the belief that water quality in our rivers and in Lough Neagh must be protected and improved. Pollution must be tackled — no one disputes that — but, when the solutions proposed are far removed from the realities of family farming, we must ask who exactly is being listened to. <BR /> <BR />The latest nutrients action programme, for 2026 to 2029, has landed like a hammer blow to small and medium-sized farms.”
“Following on from the previous question, will the deputy First Minister detail what the Executive are doing to secure a fair funding model for delivering public services?”
“In your statement, Minister, you mentioned EV charging infrastructure. Do you have any plans for cross-pavement solutions so that people can charge electric vehicles at home, which is a key part of the just transition?”
“Will the Minister provide some detail on the proposed road maintenance strategy?”
“I have nearly finished, sorry. <BR /> <BR />I make a direct appeal to anyone who is listening to the debate: each of us, as drivers, can do more to improve the safety of our roads. Slow down, stay focused and ignore mobile phones. Let us all play our part to make our roads safer.”
“Whether it is advertising, reducing the speed limit outside schools, amending existing legislation or bringing forward new legislation, we should all be focused on what will improve our children's safety on the roads.”
“The safety concerns around children when they are getting on and off a bus are worse in rural areas, where buses make a number of stops on roads without paths or bus shelters. I hope that people will take stock of the messaging campaign and ultimately change their behaviour on the roads. Moreover, I recognise and welcome the Minister's commitment to bring forward legislation to improve road safety around school buses. I am sure that she will wish to set out her position during her remarks in this debate. <BR /> <BR />Our amendment clearly states that any legislation should be modelled on best practice in other jurisdictions in order to ensure that we are introducing the best possible measures to improve our children's safety.”
“While that is a reduction on previous years, one life lost is one too many. We must do all that we can in this place to make sure that road safety is a priority across all our communities. <BR /> <BR />Our amendment therefore seeks to highlight work that has already been done. Given all the issues that we face, we must make a start somewhere. The Department's implementation of 20 mph zones outside schools goes some way towards getting people to reduce their speed in those areas. I also note that the review of the current scheme recommends that a third tranche of schools be included, and I hope that the Minister can say more about that in her remarks. The most recent development in relation to school buses and road safety has been the launch of the campaign around the safety of children around school buses.”
“First, I welcome the motion and send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in incidents related to school buses and all those who have been affected in any way. Recent tragic events have refocused minds on this issue. Campaigns on the need for increased driver vigilance near schools and school buses are important for further improving the safety of all our children. <BR /> <BR />Like other Members, I welcome the families who have joined us in the Public Gallery today and send them Sinn Féin's full support. We should all be doing more to improve the safety of all road users and of children in particular. Too many families have had to endure the heartbreak of losing a loved one on our roads. Eighteen lives have been lost on our roads in this year alone.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.”