Carál Ní Chuilín
North Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“To continue the theme of undermining public confidence and public effectiveness, I ask you this, Minister: why do you and your DUP colleagues continue to block the 'good jobs' Bill, particularly the measures for parents whose babies require neonatal care and, indeed, other measures that will support workers who are struggling with the cos…”
“At the end of the day, guns were used to kill Catholics — Davy Payne; surface-to-air missiles in South Africa and Paris and then some. I will give the deputy First Minister another opportunity not to deflect but to condemn her party's involvement in Ulster Resistance and with the red berets that they wore.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. I have a close family relative who is in need of a SPiMS unit in an Irish-medium school but cannot access one in North Belfast at all. Apart from access in P4 and P5, they will have to go to an English-speaking school, even though Irish is their first language.”
“You mentioned some of the issues that are important: trade union representation, the banning of zero-hours contracts and employees being able to have their tips and service charges. Anyone who cannot get behind these proposals needs to be clear — concerns for some, and hiding behind the industry for others.”
“First Minister, I know that, recently, you were in Ardoyne for the sod cutting of the new £3·4 million purpose-built youth facility for Ardoyne Youth Enterprise. Further to your response to Brian Kingston, can you give us an update on that project and, indeed, any others?”
“I agree 100%, Linda. That is something that we all agree on. We met many people. The Bill was published and was based on the report of the truth recovery process.”
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“I thank the Member for his question. I know about his interest in grassroots sport. I will, hopefully, get a bit more detail on that today or early tomorrow. The number of spectators has increased, but I think that the Member is asking me whether training and so on can recommence. I am still waiting on those regulations to be sorted out.”
“I am sorry to hear that, because having reserves does not exclude any charity from applying to this fund. If the Member has any examples, I will be happy to receive them. This is about how people try to raise money here for charitable purposes and to provide good outcomes for people. Charity fundraising has been greatly inhibited, almost to the point where it has ceased, so I would be really disappointed, particularly given the work that people are doing on our behalf, if they did not get any support at all.”
“Sorry about this; we are flying through these questions. <BR /> <BR />Our local charity sector is vital to us as a community, especially now. I know that charities have been struggling financially because fundraising is down. In June of this year, I put £15·5 million into the charity fund, and I am pleased to say that 501 successful applicants received a total of £8·8 million. I am acutely aware that charities still face significant financial challenges, and I am working on making an announcement shortly on a further phase of funding to support them.”
“I am not sure: is the Member asking about sanctions? This is not about sanctions. This is about a voluntary programme that, hopefully, young people aged 18 to 24 will avail themselves of. If they cannot — rather than do not want to — avail themselves of it, they will not be sanctioned, which was the problem, particularly for young people with educational challenges, those with mental health issues, and those who are leaving care or being looked after. They were in the bracket of young people who were more sanctioned than others. It is about the fact that some of them cannot make their appointment, rather than that they just did not bother turning up.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I am pleased to advise that we will be providing increased funding to help to remove barriers to work for people who receive income-related benefits. For example, in Scotland, the Job Start scheme payment is a grant of £250, or £400 if the recipient is the main carer for a child or children. That is available only to those aged 16 to 24. Here, the adviser discretionary fund can provide up to £300 to remove a barrier to work. I am increasing that limit to £1,500 in a 12-month period and expanding the range of supports that it can be used for.”
“I will give Advice NI a plug and say that it has been very good at publicising benefit take-up campaigns and publicising what is available. I know that anyone who is involved in the independent advice sector will be letting people know, as will Age NI, NICVA and many other organisations. The difficulty is that you will always find people who do not have access to social media and who may not be connected to those groups. The Department publishes information. If the Member or anybody else knows of groups or individuals who have found out about a benefit after the fact, they should come back to me so that we can close the gaps. I do not want anybody to be left sitting destitute or without.”
“I am genuinely sorry to hear that. I was, and am, keeping a close eye on the average payment time. It worked out at about four days, and I still felt that we should try to get a payment out as quickly as we could. I assure the Member that staffing and training have been increased, and the staff are dedicated and committed to ensuring that no one is left without food or money, particularly in these very cold days and in the run-up to Christmas.”
“Absolutely, and the contingency fund is available. People should not wait five weeks for their UC payment, and they should not be offered loans either. There is the contingency fund, and there is also discretionary support so that people can get a payment. No one should be sitting like that over Christmas. I remind people that, while a wait of a few weeks for universal credit is in the legislation, people should not be offered a loan first; they should be offered money from the contingency fund, and, if that does not suit, they should be offered money from the discretionary fund.”
“Both. FareShare has received money from my Department, and most community food banks, if not them all, work very closely with FareShare. In the Member's constituency, money has been coming to food banks from my Department through allocations made by Belfast City Council. I am looking at additional supports. <BR /> <BR />I want to put on record that, ideally, there should not be food banks. That is the bottom line: there should not be food banks. We need to put more money into people's pockets so they can make their own choices. However, while we are in this situation, I am sure that the Member will agree that, from right across the Executive, substantial support for bids has been provided through my Department for me to help people with food support and other essential items.”
“I thank the Member for her question. My Department has a range of initiatives to support people facing financial hardship over the Christmas period. In my answer to Karen Mullan, I gave a breakdown of the supports that are in place, including the winter fuel payment; the cold weather payment, if there are prolonged cold spells; a Christmas bonus payment of £10; an increase in discretionary support; and access to food and other supports that my Department funds through the councils. I hope to announce other additional supports very soon.”
“The Member probably heard what I said at the start of my answer to Mr Robinson. It is about affordability. For many families who are on low income and living in poverty, they are often dealing with a decision either to pay for house insurance or to feed their kids. It is the tenant's responsibility — it is in the tenant's handbook — and housing associations and the Housing Executive constantly remind tenants of it. When you are talking about families living in poverty, however, house insurance is not at the top of their list.”
“For anyone who has been subjected to water damage and leaks, particularly if a contractor has been in, once is enough. As I said to the Member for Strangford, Mr Mike Nesbitt, I will provide the Member with a breakdown of what has happened, even for 2019-2020, and I will share it with Mr Robinson, who asked the listed question, to determine whether the Housing Executive was responsible or the contractor was responsible, and what the outcome was, if any.”
“I will have to respond in writing, because I do not have that information. When responsibility is contested, the situation can become protracted, and it is tenants who are, unfortunately, caught in the middle. I do not think that anyone thinks that is a satisfactory position to be in. I will get the information in writing to the Member.”
“I will certainly have another look at it. The Member tells me that it needs cleared up, so I will need to have a look at it. I will write to the chief executive and the chair of the board thereafter. Any guidance on a departmental website needs to be as clear and plain as possible so that people can access the information and services that they need.”
“I thank the Member for his question. For a payment to be made in a public liability claim, some degree of negligence must be established. Depending on the circumstances giving rise to a water leak, in some cases that negligence may attach to the Housing Executive, while in others it may attach to the contractor. It is also possible that negligence could be established jointly against both the Housing Executive and the contractor. Tenants are advised to have contents insurance in place, but that is not always affordable. The Housing Executive provides useful guidance and information on public liability claims on its website, and I welcome comment on that content from anyone who looks at it.”
“All other jurisdictions and legislatures have been consulted. Not only have any Bills, Acts or pieces of work that they have brought forward helped to shape the framework, they will help to shape the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Not so long ago, I met with people who are deaf or partially deaf. I made a point of meeting as many people from the sector as possible, including parents who have children who have lost their hearing or who do not have hearing. I am more than happy to meet more people in that situation, particularly given that the framework is not on a statutory footing. There is therefore a denial of rights, particularly for families. People communicate through sign language, and we definitely need legislation to enable that.”
“The Member will be aware that I brought forward the framework in my last year in DCAL. That framework was widely consulted upon, and it touched on different sectors. That sign language framework will help to inform the Bill. This has been widely consulted on, and, if we have heard anything from the sector, it is that we should, "Just get on with it".”
“Yes, I recall that. A draft framework and policy proposals for legislation on sign language were consulted on prior to the publication of 'New Decade, New Approach', which committed us all to introducing a sign language Bill. I hope to introduce a sign language Bill very soon, within this mandate. My officials are engaging with the Office of the Legislative Counsel with a view to establishing a timetable and preparing instructions.”
“The payment is for anybody on pension credit, higher rates of disability or higher rates of PIP, and it includes the children. People who are currently in receipt of any of those, never mind what they are transferring to, meet the criteria and should receive the payment. If the Member has examples of where he feels that that may not be the case, he can drop them up to my office.”
“It is for one household. The COVID heating payment is a one-off, and the household is the applicant. It is on top of the winter fuel payment, which is anything from £100 to £300. This payment is in addition to what is already there. Given that people have had to isolate for a lot longer than we thought in March would be the case and the fact that we are going into a very, very cold spell, I am sure that the Member will agree that it is important that people stay not only warm but safe and well.”
“I thank the Member for her question. It was a pleasure to meet, along with the Member and Martina Anderson, the many workers from across the community in the Foyle constituency. It is important to put on record — this is also in response to the previous question — that Edwin Poots, Nichola Mallon and I are working on the revitalisation fund for councils; and Naomi Long, Robin Swann and I are working on supporting people, particularly in relation to homelessness. From an Executive point of view, I have enjoyed the full support of each Minister for every substantial allocation of money that has gone to sports and arts. It is important that we use public money to get better outcomes for people. I reassure the Member, and other Members, that I will continue to take that approach.”
“I have allocated £750,000 to councils to provide access to food. My Department has also allocated a further £3·5 million to support access to food, and I hope to make an announcement in the not-too-distant future about our warm, well and connected policy, which will operate throughout December and January.”
“I thank the Member for her question. My Department has a number of supports in place, including an automatic one-off COVID-19 heating payment of £200 to people who are in receipt of pension credit or the highest rates of disability benefits; a £10 Christmas bonus, which is paid to people who are in receipt of a qualifying benefit; a winter fuel payment of between £100 and £300 for eligible older people; and a cold weather payment of £25. The universal credit allowance has also been increased. I have increased the annual income threshold for discretionary support and introduced a self-isolation grant for people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />The provision of food support remains a priority for me, so I have provided almost £800,000 to FareShare, which is a food redistribution charity.”
“I hope that that is the case across the board and look forward to ensuring that it is.”
“I thank the Member for her question. That is why I was a bit surprised to hear Michelle McIlveen's concerns. The onus was on Edwin Poots, Nichola Mallon and me to ensure that those schemes, unlike others, got out as quickly as possible through the councils, which have been funded by my Department to ensure that they in turn can provide front-line services as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />Unlike with other schemes, the councils, to be fair to them, have acted very quickly. We have made the application as simple and straightforward as possible while respecting and honouring due diligence and ensuring that each council was as flexible to the needs of their local businesses as possible. Again, as each tranche is rolled out, we have ensured that speed has been of the essence.”
“I do not have that detail to hand, but I will write to the Member. When I was talking to some businesses about how they were hoping to avail themselves of support, they were looking at additional sanitisation and infrastructure for safe social distancing. A number of them were looking at outside heaters, street furniture, awnings, gazebos and things like that in order to help to bring customers in safely. Again, I do not have the details to hand as to what each council got, but I will get them for the Member.”
“I am sorry to hear that. The Member will be aware, given her previous role, that I am responsible for townlands and villages with a population of 5,000 and over. Edwin Poots — I wish him the very best — and I did this scheme jointly to ensure that no one was left out. I will find out what happened and write to the Member. Hopefully, whatever happened, whatever gaps there are will be closed. I will get the detail and talk to the Member personally.”
“The total value of the grants across all councils is approximately £6·9 million.”
“I thank the Member for her question. My Department's COVID-19 recovery revitalisation programme has already allocated £17·6 million to councils to enable them to create a safer environment for shoppers, visitors and workers. It includes contributions of £5 million and £2 million from the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, respectively. The programme was designed to be as flexible as possible to ensure that each council delivers a plan that addresses the specific needs in its area. Every council plan has included a small grant scheme to help businesses to provide a more COVID-secure environment for their customers. The eligibility criteria and value of the grants were determined by each council in consultation with local stakeholders.”
“I will take the Member's last point first. I did not see it, so I will look at it. The start of his question was about why people have waited for so long. Going by his and others' responses, I think Members will agree that it is quite appropriate that intimidation points are kept for people who have been subject to domestic abuse and violence.”
“I thank the Member for her question. As she will be aware, as part of the recent statement that I made here about the overall housing transformation, the case of the fundamental review was certainly highlighted. The changes outlined in that statement need to be made within this mandate, and I am, with others, progressing work in that regard. I hope that, in the coming months, we will have a completely different system for the allocation of points, which will include intimidation points for victims of domestic abuse and violence.”
“I thank the Member for her question and supplementary. As she knows, in my constituency, some people are sitting on 240 points without intimidation, with no prospect of going anywhere. I think that there was a broad assumption that people who were subject to domestic abuse and violence were allocated intimidation points. That is not the case. The issue did not come up in the consultation as strongly as I felt that it would, but it certainly came up once people realised that that was not the case. After I publish the consultation report next week, I will move straight to options with officials, and, hopefully, I will have something in the coming months. It is really important that that is changed.”
“That may require the establishment of an independent body, once options have been developed. <BR /> <BR />It is unacceptable that victims of domestic violence are not currently treated with the same priority as those who receive intimidation points. I want that to change as soon as possible.”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 1 and 10. <BR /> <BR />I will publish a consultation outcome report on the fundamental review of social housing allocations next week. That will include a preliminary time frame for the implementation of the proposals. I have publicly stated that I will not proceed with the removal of intimidation points. I want to retain those points for those who really need them. There is a strong perception that the intimidation points system is being abused, and I want to see alternative mechanisms implemented to strengthen the verification process and put an end to that abuse.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. They are good questions — not that the Member ever asks questions that are not wonderful. It is a matter of public record, so we need to know why the minutes have not been on the website. I will certainly ask about that. <BR /> <BR />The COVID-19 money that the Assembly and Executive have given to groups is spent in the North. If the Member is suggesting differently, he needs to bring examples to me.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I expect all those positions to be filled early in the new year and those people to have had their governance training, orientation and everything else before the next NSMC sectoral meeting.”
“There has been substantial financial loss, but I want to put it on record that both agencies have gone above and beyond to try to keep, as much as possible, the links to the groups that they have worked with for years and have done their best to keep communication going in very difficult circumstances.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Each of us will have looked at the overall impact of COVID-19. That is why I brought forward money for the Ulster-Scots Agency and, indeed, for Conradh na Gaeilge and the Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge. A lot of the work that those groups do, particularly with youth groups, normally happens in halls, so the halls have lost money, the caterers have lost money and the freelances involved in those events have lost money. They are all part of the fabric that makes up Ulster Scots and, indeed, the Irish language. That is why it was critical that, when we were investing money in arts, culture and heritage across the board, those two were not left behind.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As it is almost identical to his colleague's, I will give both sets of breakdowns to both Members from the Ulster Unionist Party.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Had the development of the Irish language been part of the NSMC, it would have been in the statement. In response to another question, I know that the Irish and British Governments are, as we speak, fulfilling their NDNA commitments with regard to the funds that are coming forward. My Department has responsibility for the Irish language and Ulster-Scots culture and heritage strategies, and I assure the Member that I am making good progress on them. That is a question that the Member needs to ask TEO. Had it been discussed at the sectoral meeting, it would have been in the statement.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Early in the new year, if not sooner, corporate and business plans will be brought forward by the bodies. The next sectoral meeting is in the new year, and we will have a full NSMC, so outstanding documents such as those can maybe be brought forth. My information is that, because we had to clear a lot of the retrospective documents, both agencies have been working on their business and corporate plans. I anticipate that those will be almost good to go.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He probably knows from work in his constituency that there were festivals, face-to-face classes, dance and music tuition, work on historical documents, heritage classes, events and seminars that all had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic. The face-to-face work at least had to be cancelled. As far as was possible, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge did a lot of virtual stuff with groups. An Cultúrlann in west Belfast has lost a lot of money as a result of the restrictions, and other events have been hit financially. I felt that it was important that the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Irish language were supported out of the money for arts, culture and heritage because their financial loss as a result of COVID needed to be reflected in the overall arts, culture and heritage package.”
“I thank the Member for her question. There were places that needed to be filled on some of the bodies, and that has been done. They are filling the rest of the places, so that is the accountability. While Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency's chief executive officers report directly to the NSMC sectoral meeting, they are held to account by their board. Once their board membership is completed, that will ensure full scrutiny.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It was not discussed. Had it been discussed, it would have been in my statement. I know that Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency are working on a programme for 2021 and beyond, and I have absolutely no doubt that it will be included in their forward work programme.”
“I thank the Member for her question, but that was not covered as part of the NSMC meeting. The NSMC, last Friday, took a retrospective look at the work of both bodies from 2017 to 2020. Perhaps the Member should ask TEO to answer her question. In my response to Mark Durkan's question about the legislation, I said that I am responsible for the strategies for both. I am working on those and trying to make as much progress as possible, because it is quite clear that legislation is needed to protect both.”
“No bother. I will get the Member that as well.”
“I do not have all those details to hand, but I will write to the Member. Just to be clear: the Member asks what each of the groups in Ulster Scots got under that funding. I do not have that information, but I will certainly provide it to the Member.”
“That was not discussed at the meeting on Friday. As the Member will appreciate, a lot of the items for discussion were retrospective and related to the recent absence of the Assembly. The Irish and British Governments are sponsors of New Decade, New Approach agreement. We will be bringing forward legislation very soon. <BR /> <BR />The Member also knows that my Department has responsibility for the Irish language strategy and the strategy for Ulster-Scots culture and heritage. Those panels have been appointed, and they will be brought forward soon.”
“That relates to the question that was asked by the Chair of the Committee, which I have responded to. The numbers that both bodies had in through their premises and, indeed, in some of their groups have obviously decreased. A lot of online and virtual events have taken place, including Irish language classes, musical tuition for the Ulster-Scots Agency and lots more. It has been very challenging, and fair play to both bodies, which have done their best throughout the pandemic and worked very hard to support the groups and the sectors within each body throughout the pandemic. All the feedback that I have received, from groups on the ground during the pandemic, about the work of the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge has been positive. They were heartened to hear that at the meeting on Friday.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The COVID pandemic has been a challenging time for the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge. The figure for the Ulster-Scots Agency is slightly higher — it is £850,000 — and everything is on track. I will be talking to the Ulster-Scots Agency, Conradh na Gaeilge and Ciste na hInfheistíochta. Foras na Gaeilge did not administer the Irish language funding because it said that it could not deliver on time, which would have meant a bigger delay between Ulster Scots getting funds and the Irish language getting its funds. The other two groups were therefore supported by Foras na Gaeilge to deliver. I look forward to getting a report when the applications have closed to see what additional support, if any, they need.”