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 agree that there needs to be a capacity of at least 30,000, not only to meet the conditions and criteria of the business case but to attract other events that were laid out in the business case and as part of the consultation. It would be an absolute tragedy if people decided to set their face against something, but they need to have an opportunity to talk about the difficulties that they have around planning. I hope that the 12-week consultation process will be an opportunity for people to do that.”
“The Member has pointed out the issues that were raised as part of the strategic outline business case for the all-stadia programme, in which the three sports were going forward together. We have a fantastic facility at the Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill, which is providing great opportunities not only for people on the field but for those off the field. The same will happen with Windsor Park, and I hope the same will happen with the redevelopment of Casement Park. <BR /> <BR />I anticipate the Ulster Council bringing forward a planning application in the autumn. They will use the summer to consult. They will consult widely and ensure that the comments that were made by Justice Horner in December of last year are fed into that consultation.”
“The project team and the IFA are striving towards delivering the required spectator capacity for the forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania on 13 June. On 20 April, it was agreed that the west stand should be demolished. After receiving approval from the IFA's insurer, the west stand has been demolished, and the details of the next steps are being developed between the IFA, the insurer and the project team.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Construction work at Casement Park has been delayed following the outcome of the judicial review in December of last year. Since the ruling, the GAA, DCAL and the relevant team members have studied the judgement to ensure that any new planning application fully addresses and takes into account the points that were raised by Justice Horner. There remains a strong resolve within the Ulster Council of the GAA to submit a new planning application. I anticipate that a 12-week planning consultation process to support the planning application process will commence in the coming months. <BR /> <BR />Windsor Park is under construction, and, notwithstanding the recent issues regarding the west stand, the project has progressed very well.”
“To be fair to the Member, he is normally one of the people who jumps up and asks for £10 million for this and £2 million for that, and that is his job — he represents a constituency. However, I will not take lectures from Kieran or anybody else on trying to protect those who are most vulnerable. If the Member has a specific question about something in his constituency that might need support — the Member writes to me quite a lot — I will be happy to respond, but I will not take any lectures from people who want to go into water charging, prescription charging and taking free travel from the elderly. I do not think so.”
“Not that I am aware of. I know that, for some time, some groups have very naturally worked together across the community. However, I am also aware that single identity work has been ongoing. We need to try to encourage mutual work across and between communities as much as possible. Certainly, most of the councils are very familiar with some of the groups. As I said in answer to the previous question, for a long time, the same groups have been applying for small bits of money to provide valuable festivals, but I do not think it is incumbent on councils to insist on cross-community work. When it is not there and there is no possibility of it being there, it is off-putting for groups that are trying to do it.”
“We rely on work involving local government, the Department and the Arts Council. There is a policy and guidance framework, and the councils work very closely with event organisers to make sure that they are aware of the conditions. That is also clearly laid out in a letter of offer that the councils provide. Councils provide DCAL with the evaluation. It is important that festivals consider what they are applying for from the very start and ensure that the conditions of their grant have been met. That should come out very clearly in the evaluation. It is fair to say that those small bits of money are normally applied for by the same groups every year, so it is in their best interests to come back with a very strong evaluation. To be fair, most of them do.”
“There will be a joined-up approach to that and other events. My money going through the councils means that it is joined up: that is DCAL and local government providing community festivals funding. The Ulster-Scots Agency has come back with a very positive response, so that is another joined-up event. I am sure that the Member is aware of other funding opportunities that he, others and the organisers can approach. Certainly, I think that that is an example of where joined-up government will have an outcome.”
“I thank the Member for his question. DCAL provides funding for festivals, and it is distributed through the community festivals fund. As the Member is aware, the fund is administered by local councils, which also provide match funding, set criteria and make individual funding decisions. I have been advised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council that the Scarva and District Cultural Society has been awarded funding for the Royal Thirteenth event in 2015 through the community festivals fund. In addition, the Ulster-Scots Agency has been approached by the organisers, and a meeting is to be held shortly, with a view to the agency providing some entertainment at the event.”
“I appreciate the Member's question. It is something that comes up usually before the summer recess or directly afterwards, and it is important. First, let me assure the Member, because it has been raised in this House on several occasions: any band that is in receipt of funding from the Arts Council, for example, and that has broken the law and may be subject to criminal proceedings, will not be a recipient of grant-aided funding. That is clearly laid out in the Arts Council's criteria. There has only been one band that that applies to, and it has not applied for funding this year. It is important that they not only sign up to but demonstrate good relations and mutual respect. That is part of cultural diversity that we all aim and claim to be part of. We need to see what that looks like.”
“In recent years, it is well over half a million pounds. In fact, it is probably well over £700,000 so far. Given the demand and the need for marching bands from all traditions right across the North, there is a demand for that funding pot to be increased. The June monitoring round will help to bridge a small gap, but, fundamentally, we need to look at not just the role of marching bands but music, even for young people and not-so-young people of our age, Sammy, who want to pick up a musical instrument and get involved in jazz, traditional music or other forms of music. I think that we need to look at the long term, acknowledging the roles and the importance of marching bands in the community, but other forms of music are also demanding pots of money.”
“The study is not recent; it is a few years old, but I suppose that it is something that the Department can rely on if it so wishes. It pointed up the amount of money that was invested, particularly around the Twelfth, but I would be loath to use it because the gaps in the study did not point up the amount of money that is potentially lost. However, I value the role that marching bands have to play, so I wish to separate marching bands from that study, if the Member does not mind. I do not think that the study lends itself to the cause of the marching bands, but I have made a very robust bid for June, and I hope that that is met.”
“I am still very supportive of the role that the culture in musical bands and the marching bands tradition has to play here, but given the situation that my Department is in financially, it is something that I hope will change in the not-too-distant future.”
“I understand that questions 3 and 4 have been grouped. I thank the Members for their questions. <BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, there is a shortfall in my Department's capital budget for 2015-16, which means that it must be restricted to meeting contractually committed expenditure only. The earliest that my Department can consider capital allocations beyond contractual commitments will be after the outcome of the June monitoring round is known. The musical instruments for bands scheme is therefore on hold, and I will submit a bid in June monitoring. In addition, the ongoing promotion of some pipe band contests and solo competitions and, for example, the all-Ireland fleadh, have been examples that I have used to try to bring additional money in.”
“That is to be welcomed, because, when local government and sporting bodies were talking about coming together at the start, they were always shy of a few hundred thousand pounds, which made the projects unviable. This is an opportunity to try to bridge that.”
“Yes, money has been set aside for each strand. For example, the single-facility strand has a budget of approximately £2 million, and that is primarily aimed at increasing participation in sport in community and club structures. That can range from anything from £10,000 to £100,000. I will definitely get all the details. The multi-facility strand has a budget of almost £7 million, and those awards are anything from £100,000 to £1 million. The performance strand has a budget of almost £9 million, and, while there are no limits on that, it would be for fairly big capital programmes. It will be done on the basis of the assessment of that capital project overall.”
“It is important that we look at where the gaps are and do our best to try to close them.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I know that he has been listening, and, as I said, district councils, the Active Communities programme and even Sport NI all work closely with a number of the sporting organisations and bodies. That is important. Some of the bodies include Special Olympics and Disability Sports NI, which has the 5 Star Disability Sport challenge. It is important that we work with all the governing bodies, and, in recent years, there have been very good examples of the three big sporting bodies working together to look, in particular, at older, more seasoned athletes and people who used to play and have maybe let it pass for other activities. There has been a participation gap for women, and all people with disabilities need to be included in the proposals as well.”
“I am sure that the Member heard my response to Ms Sugden, and, as he comes from the same constituency, he certainly will have seen the investment that went into Coleraine. We need to ensure that local government works collectively with Sport NI and any other potential sources of funding to have many needs addressed throughout the community but primarily to make sure that there is access and participation for all — not just in soccer clubs, GAA clubs and rugby. They make up a big percentage of sport on this part of the island, but we need to include as many other sports as possible and even people who just want to use it to enhance physical activity through walking clubs as well.”
“I understand that those discussions are ongoing. With the facilities management plans and with the identified need being detailed right across the North, it is better to get the spend where it is needed and where it can be spent quickly and for the benefit of the community. I am sure that the Member will agree with that.”
“I understand that local authorities have been in discussions with Sport NI for some time. Most, if not all, local authorities by this stage — particularly before they amalgamated into the super-councils — should have prepared a facilities management plan for their area based on their facilities management plan, which is based on clearly identified need. They were entering into discussions about the potential and possibilities for any mergers in the future.”
“The investment will also contribute to DCAL's priorities, such as targeting social need and tackling deprivation through sport, by providing improved sporting and leisure access across our communities, including those who are in under-represented groups, such as females, older women and people with disabilities.”
“With the Deputy Speaker's permission, I will group questions 2 and 6. I thank the Member for her question. <BR /> <BR />On 18 May this year, Sport NI announced plans to invest £17·5 million of lottery funding in sports facilities projects across the North over the next five years, which will result in significant investment in sporting and leisure infrastructure and will help to increase participation in sport and physical activity across the communities. <BR /> <BR />The programme will be delivered through three strands: a single-facility strand, a multi-facility strand and a performance facility strand. Sport NI has indicated that £8·75 million — half of the total — will be allocated to single-facility and multi-facility strands, which will benefit sports clubs and communities.”
“They need to make an application on the basis that, if successful, they will need a further lead-in period to seek security of tenure, if they have not already got it, as well as planning permission in order to spend substantial capital moneys.”
“First, two of the criteria need to be around planning permission and security of tenure. It is important that groups and clubs that apply have a long lead-in period, particularly around planning permission, if they are going to look at developing facilities outside their current footprint. That, in itself, will take time, and we need to work with and support clubs through that process. I am happy to do that. The subregional programme was really going into the next mandate to be spent across that mandate, well in advance of the end of it. It is important that clubs get the information and support they need to make an application.”
“It is substantial money: £36 million is to be distributed among soccer clubs in the North.”
“I am sure the Member heard — maybe he did not — my primary response to Mr Anderson. Initially the subregional programme was not due to kick in until the next CSR, which I suppose, without the added year on the mandate, would have meant this year. Not waiting for that, I have already put money into a specialist in DCAL to continue the work on the subregional stadia programme. The outline business case is with DFP, and I imagine it will be approved sometime in the summer, although it is freezing in here and you would not imagine the summer has started. Hopefully, when we come back from the summer recess we will be looking at the consultation process, which will last 12 weeks. I imagine that, certainly before the end of the year, applications will be submitted and we will be considering them.”
“I thank the Member for her supplementary. Primarily, DCAL is responsible for the development of the subregional programme for soccer and additional facilities for the other two of the three big sports thereafter. In relation to consultation, as I said to Mr Anderson, it is important that all the clubs have as much information as possible. I am confident that the IFA will roll out a very robust consultation process that will probably last around 12 weeks in order to ensure that clubs right across the North have an option to get as much information as they need before submitting their application.”
“I assure the Member that, once that process has happened, the IFA will make recommendations, but, at the end of the day, the decision on which clubs receive funding as part of that programme is mine.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. As I said in my primary answer, the terms of reference and the consultation are being developed by my Department. Clubs that are interested in applying for subregional facilities will know of the workshops that will be planned as part of the IFA's consultation roll-out. They will get all the information they need in order to make a decision and help them shape up an application. If the Member has any particular clubs in mind, it is important that he contacts the IFA as part of that consultation to ensure that it gives the clubs all the information that they need. It is really important for clubs to have as much information as possible in advance of committing themselves to an application.”
“Programme-specific details — eligibility criteria, funding strands, funding limits — are currently being finalised. Plans for formal consultation with key stakeholders are under way.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Member for his question. <BR /> <BR />The Executive endorsed an investment of around £36 million for subregional stadia development for soccer as a priority in the next comprehensive spending review (CSR) period, and a resource budget of around £600,000 was allocated by DFP in February to allow my Department to start to the development of the programme. A strategic outline business case has been developed and was submitted to DFP for approval in February. <BR /> <BR />My Department has been developing the programme and has worked closely with the Irish Football Association (IFA) to ensure that it is aligned to the IFA facilities strategy and that the Executive and DCAL’s priorities have been fully incorporated into the programme.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, I thank Members not only for raising awareness of this important health issue today but for the opportunity to provide assurance that my Department will do all it can to play its role in supporting the development of a map-based register of defibrillators and making it a reality. I thank you all for the motion and the amendment.”
“I want to underline my commitment to seeing more people engage in a full range of sporting and leisure activities, and I will do all in my power to ensure their safety whilst participating. However, this is a wider issue for us all across the North, and the challenge exists on a number of levels, as we have heard today from all the Members who spoke. <BR /> <BR />I will also ensure that my Department gives the Ambulance Service full cooperation and assistance in meeting the requirements of the community resuscitation strategy. I encourage all Departments to deliver on their respective roles in extending the availability of and access to defibrillators and to provide the details of such provision to the Ambulance Service. We will take the lead on this and play our full role.”
“My officials recently met the Henderson Group to hear the details of a community-based initiative that will see the siting of 420 defibrillators at Spar and Vivo shop outlets, which, as Members will know, are largely based in rural areas. It is that type of initiative that demonstrates a desire at community level to make this emergency assistance available and accessible. I applaud the innovation behind the scheme, and I will continue to monitor that development and the opportunities that may emerge to make widespread defibrillator provision a reality. I am willing to play my part in extending access to provision across the North, not only for the benefit of sports participants who may suffer a cardiac arrest but for the whole community.”
“Dr McManus has expressed his desire to avoid duplication in the mapping of defibrillators. It is important that we do not have duplication and that the matter is sorted out as best we can, so we are taking a collective approach. <BR /> <BR />I am very supportive of these measures to protect life, as well as the activities of groups such as Defibs4Kids, which appeared before the CAL Committee in February. My Department has supported and encouraged Defibs4Kids because education and building confidence at a young age in the use of CPR and defibrillators are crucial. <BR /> <BR />Another bit of good news, which some Members mentioned, is the role of the private sector.”
“The IFA purchased 75 defibrillators as part of a health programme funded by DCAL through promoting equality and tackling poverty, and they were distributed to senior, intermediate and junior clubs across the North, along with the delivery of associated training. I know that, in the past 10 years, the GAA has invested significantly in buying defibs. They have been distributed to clubs, and arrangements have been made to train members in their use. Approximately 80% of clubs are now equipped. While progress has been made, there is clearly a need to continue to increase the number of defibs and the places in which we can get access to them. <BR /> <BR />Sport NI and DCAL have been represented on the group that is chaired by David McManus, the medical director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.”
“They envisage that those will be placed in the busiest locations and that two staff will be trained in their use in each location. Museums has four defibrillators across its sites for events that attract large audiences. It also engages with first-aiders from the Red Cross and St John Ambulance to ensure that defibrillators are available. Although Sport NI does not yet hold a list of clubs with defibrillators, it has agreed to support Defibs4Kids and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum and to undertake a mapping exercise of the provision of defibrillators across the sector. <BR /> <BR />As mentioned, the legacy from the 2013 World Police and Fire Games, in partnership with HeartSine, gifted 45 defibrillators for distribution across local schools.”
“DCAL has already made a start by providing defibrillators in some of its buildings and associated training, as well as providing funding for organisations to purchase defibs. <BR /> <BR />As Members know, my Department is responsible for a number of arm's-length bodies. Buildings used by three of those bodies are equipped with defibrillators, namely the Waterways Ireland headquarters, Armagh Observatory and the Sports Institute. Sport NI and Foras na Gaeilge have undergone a procurement exercise for the supply of defibrillators at locations including the House of Sport, Tollymore National Outdoor Centre and Foras na Gaeilge venues in Belfast. Libraries recently completed a procurement exercise to supply, deliver, commission and provide training in the deployment of 40-plus defibrillators in libraries.”
“I was recently at the launch of the IFA's child safeguarding app, which my Department funded. It provides coaches and parents with instant access to information and contacts to help them handle any type of incident. This is on the same principle: we need to know where the devices are, their details, how they can be accessed and how training can be made available. This is about safeguarding people as best as possible. <BR /> <BR />DCAL's role with other Departments and organisations should be to survey and gather data, as defined by the Ambulance Service, and provide it in a format that is compatible with the system being developed with the Ambulance Service. That is crucial.”
“We all agree that technology is a wonderful thing. It opens up all sorts of opportunities, not on the same theme but just in health promotion.”
“Many of those defibs are held in vending machines to address problems relating to access for the general public when an emergency occurs. We need to learn lessons from other places that not only have done it well but are exemplars. Last year, my health colleagues' community resuscitation strategy, which was mentioned by many Members, considered public access to defibrillation. The Ambulance Service has been tasked with carrying out 10 actions regarding objective 6 of that strategy, one of which is to assess the feasibility and potential value of establishing and maintaining a register of defibrillators. I have been asked in this instance to take a lead, and I am happy to do that. It is important that I work with colleagues across the Executive. The first place I would go to is Health and, after that, Education to see what we can do.”
“It is important that we break down any myths and that people feel confident and have access to this training and these devices. We are making progress. More and more devices are being provided and installed in clubs and venues, but we have still some way to go to catch up with other countries. For example, in Japan, a change in the law to allow the use of defibrillators by the general public led to a countrywide installation in public places.”
“Given that diversity, and the range of places where the defibrillator can prove useful and lifesaving, it is right and proper that there is a strategy for their provision and a database which shows where each device is located and information regarding who can use it. That is critical. <BR /> <BR />With regard to the use of defibrillators and the ability to perform CPR, we must not forget about the importance of providing proper training. Again, this has already been mentioned. It is critical. Anna is not on her own; I have had CPR training, including training in the use of defibs. Many people are frankly afraid to use them but, as David Hilditch has pointed out, some of the more modern ones actually take you through each step.”
“Immediate action, through the defib and CPR, can improve the chances of survival following a heart attack. Every Member who has spoken thus far has mentioned the rates — in the region of 1,400 people — that this has affected. The need for the defibs, and the knowledge of how to use them, is an issue not just for my Department but for everybody involved in sports and arts groups. The need exists right across our communities, and access is critical as people go about their daily lives, should it be in shopping centres, cinemas, the workplace, places of worship, school buildings and, indeed, as has been mentioned, government buildings and those of arm's-length bodies.”
“However, I also want to do all I can to ensure that there is safety for people when they participate in activities which, at times, involve strenuous exercise. <BR /> <BR />We have also to bear in mind that training in the use of defibrillators, and keeping them maintained — I think that that was raised by David Hilditch and other Members — is very important. We have also to be very mindful of the issue that has been raised of their geographical spread across the North. That applies to urban areas but, perhaps, as some Members have said, it is more critical in rural ones. <BR /> <BR />We have a simple and affordable device, invented by one of our very own citizens, Professor Frank Pantridge, which can quickly help people if a heart attack happens.”
“Incidents in sports, or among those attending sporting events, where people suffer heart attack or cardiac arrest, are, thankfully, not that frequent, but when they occur great distress is caused to everybody involved. When tragedies happen, they raise public awareness and generate debate about the need for different defibrillators and proper provision of CPR training. <BR /> <BR />Most of the Members who spoke today raised high-profile examples. Many people, including sports clubs and the governing bodies — primarily the Ulster Council of the GAA, Ulster Rugby and the Irish Football Association — and the work that they have done, in conjunction with many health charities, have to be commended. As Minister for sport, I want to see more people engaged in sport and leisure activities: that is a given.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl daoibhse as an rún. Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don rún agus don leasú. <BR /> <BR />I thank both the Members who brought the motion and those who brought the amendment, both of which I fully support. I have listened very carefully to the views expressed. It is delightful to see not only cross-party support but a genuine collaborative approach to tackling an issue which many Members have spoken very well on. <BR /> <BR />I would also like to congratulate the many Members who have paid tribute to the work that is already under way, particularly, though not exclusively, that which has been pioneered by families who, regrettably, were urged on by the loss of a loved one or, probably, the near loss of a loved one.”
“I am not being flippant: I do feel the pain of the festival organisers, because the festival is one of the brands that we have had going back decades. There is an onus on the community. I have spoken to people who have gone to the Queen's festival. They are very resilient and are very adamant and very determined that it continue, albeit in a different form. I am sure that the Member will agree with me that it is important that we give them all our support, but I cannot fund the gap.”
“It is not my responsibility to fund the Queen's festival. The Queen's festival receives a substantial amount of money from the Arts Council, and that contribution remains. It is regrettable that Queen's University made its decision.”