Daniel McCrossan
West Tyrone · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Member for giving way. She has raised some points of interest. Aside from the Bill at hand, the Department of Finance currently collects rates from property owners across Northern Ireland. I have found that there can be difficulties with that when properties have been lying vacant for a significant period.”
“That applies in particular to those who have been land-banking over a period of time — that happens everywhere, unfortunately — with the hope that the big cash cow will be coming and, ultimately, they will be relieved of their responsibility to maintain, look after and enhance the landscape in a town or village by spending the necessary f…”
“As is often the case when we speak in the House, it may be that some ratepayers or members of the public will take it as a given that the Bill will be the silver bullet that will resolve the dilapidation issues in towns. Depending on which area you are in, the scale is very different.”
“We need to be creative in how we can put the Bill to task. <BR /> <BR />Certainly, as I have said, it is good policy. I have no question that the Bill is well intended.”
“<BR /> <BR />Addressing dilapidation is not simply a matter for local government in isolation. The responsibility lies with the Executive as a whole. The Executive have had their eyes closed to this matter for too long, and many of our buildings have deteriorated significantly across council areas over a long period.”
“That encourages private investment, and there is natural enhancement from those investors. However, in areas that lag behind because of economic decline, underinvestment and general deprivation, many towns and cities can quickly become the poor cousin.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,822 lines we hold for Daniel McCrossan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 21 of 37.
“My fear was really that it had the potential to lead to some confusion in future without clarification. For example, it is possible that the reference to "different abilities" could lead to confusion over whether children can be streamed or banded in classes in post-primary schools. Legal advice may suggest that such a challenge is possible and could, for instance, give rise to a fresh call for an end to academic selection in bilateral integrated schools. Or, would it actually work the other way? Again, amendment No 4 is just a probing amendment to seek clarification from the Bill sponsor. I would appreciate that very much. <BR /> <BR />We are happier with the drafting of amendment No 5, tabled by the Bill sponsor.”
“That is not me being in any way critical; it is about seeking certainty. Every school across every sector, even grammar schools, will claim that they have pupils who come from various socio-economic backgrounds, albeit to differing degrees, so I seek clarification of the purpose of clause 1(1)(b). If the sponsor kindly provides sufficient clarification, we will be happy to withdraw that amendment. My amendment is by no means an attack on the notion; rather, the intention is to seek that necessary clarification. <BR /> <BR />The same can be said for amendment No 4, which would remove clause 1(1)(c). I did not really understand the rationale for having that either. Those clarifications would be hugely helpful.”
“She also includes references to different socio-economic circumstances and different abilities. In addition, she determines the ethos of integrated schools by referencing "diversity, respect and understanding". It is, without doubt, desirable that definitions are set out for us. I welcome the general approach of the sponsor in clause 1. As Members will see from my second amendment, the references to "socio-economic deprivation" and "different abilities" were taken directly from the Shared Education Act 2016. <BR /> <BR />My first two amendments are probing amendments to seek clarification. The Bill's sponsor has had conversations with me and party colleagues in that regard. Amendment No 3 seeks to remove clause 1(1)(b). I really did not understand the rationale for having it.”
“It was worth a try. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has been extremely patient with the process, but we have had considerable hurdles and challenges to overcome over the past few months. That is where my frustrations with the process lie. <BR /> <BR />It is the declared intention of the sponsor, Ms Armstrong, to define "integrated education" and integrated schools in clause 1. In doing so, she refers to "reasonable numbers" of children:”
“Shared sporting events and social pursuits are other such methods. <BR /> <BR />There are questions to be raised about the process of scrutiny. I found it very frustrating that, during Committee Stage, there was not sufficient time to properly scrutinise or evaluate the legislation. That is not the fault of the Bill's sponsor; it is the process that we have to endure. Education, particularly in the times that we are in, has many challenges because of COVID and other issues in schools.”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, the work of advocating integrated education is by no means new to the SDLP. It was the SDLP, along with the work of others, that ensured that integrated education was enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement. More than 20 years ago, Mark Durkan senior served as Finance Minister, and he backed our commitment to integrated education with financial support. This is not new for the SDLP. We have long sought greater integration of our children in education, of our society in housing and in life generally. It is worth noting that integrated education is not the only method that we must employ to bring our communities together. I have touched on the others. For instance, there needs to be meaningful action on shared housing, which would massively erode the barriers of the past.”
“Over the past number of decades, the work of schools in the maintained and controlled sectors has been fantastic. Huge divisions have been eroded by the positive engagement of schools and the shared plans that they rolled out in recent times. I pay tribute to the excellent work of all of the other sectors. I have already stated that I am a product of the controlled sector. I am very proud of that. I have friends from all walks of life. There will never be a person who will put me under a sectarian banner; I do not look at life in that way. I appreciate people for who they are and for what they have to offer our society. There are opportunities available in society for everybody. Our job is about lifting everybody up together and providing the necessary equality.”
“We should pay tribute to the sterling work of organisations that advocate for positive change here, as well as to the parents who led the way on that issue. <BR /> <BR />The truth is that we have much more to do. Indeed, this conversation is helpful. From my work on the Education Committee over the past number of months, I know that all parties have actively participated in the scrutiny process. At times, I expressed concern, and the sponsor responded to those concerns. I think that I have driven the Chair of the Committee to early retirement, but there has certainly been very healthy debate on the Bill. <BR /> <BR />To truly build a new Ireland, we must build a shared future and a shared home place for all our people. We can no longer focus on or be shackled by the divisions of the past. That cannot be said about our schools.”
“The Bill is not the silver bullet to do that, but it is certainly a very solid starting point from which we could truly move to affirming the solid view that integrating our children together in education will have massively positive effects for the future of this place. <BR /> <BR />I mentioned that we have seen remarkable progress over the past number of years. Since 2000, the number of pupils in integrated education has risen from 14,000 to 24,000. Sixty-five schools are now integrated, with more on the way; conversations are happening about that. More schools are participating in shared-schooling initiatives than ever before. It is clear that the social and cultural role of integrated education as a force for common good has never been more recognised than it is today.”
“<BR /> <BR />When I first joined the Assembly, I attended a number of meetings through peace and reconciliation events. There were people the age of my grandparents and parents at those events who, up until more recent years, had never engaged with someone from the opposite side of the community. That was said by both sides. There is a real division in our society that needs to be dealt with in a very positive and inclusive way. <BR /> <BR />It is especially absurd that we have not moved further and much more quickly when we consider the deep groundswell of support. It has already been mentioned that a key vision of the Good Friday Agreement was that we would see our people live, grow and be educated side by side, creating a truly shared future and society.”
“At the end of the day, parents will make the decision that is in the best interests of their children, and that will not in any way be devalued by the Bill, although I understand why concern has been raised around that. <BR /> <BR />It is simply not acceptable that, in 2022, our young people are still segregated according to their religion. Regardless of the debates and the different views on that, it happens in our society. Research has shown that 70% of our young people attend schools where there is less than a one in 20 chance of meeting a peer from the other main religious tradition. How can we say that we are properly preparing our young people to contribute to a society, as individuals and as a collective, when that is the case?”
“Absolutely, and I do not believe that the Bill does much to disturb that right. After considerable time spent on the Bill, we are satisfied that it does not undo parental choice. My parents made a decision when I was at a very young age that I would attend the local school. The decision was not that I would attend the local school because I was a Catholic or otherwise. I attended the local controlled school. I am a product of the controlled sector and have grown up, my entire life, knowing John or Sarah as John or Sarah; it did not matter what religion they came from. I was lucky to attend a school that naturally integrated children together, who then grew together. I saw the benefits of that in the controlled sector over many years. I do not think that the Bill undoes parental choice.”
“Most people whom you speak to in our society say that they would love to see children educated together and those barriers being eroded. It is simply not acceptable that —”
“It must be said that one of those inequalities is that, in the first month of 2022, we find ourselves educating our children according to their religion.”
“As the SDLP's education spokesperson, I too welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill today. I add my appreciation to the Bill sponsor and her researchers, who have obviously put a lot of work into the Bill over the last number of years and have been extremely patient in engaging with parties on it. I share Mr Sheehan's sentiments that, at all junctures where we needed clarification, sought reassurance or expressed concern, the Bill sponsor was more than willing to engage and consider our concerns. <BR /> <BR />I affirm the SDLP's long-held support for integrated education. Since our foundation as a party, we have been committed to addressing all the inequalities and injustices faced by our divided society.”
“Keeping schools open is the priority, and keeping them safe is the priority.”
“<BR /> <BR />The argument for air filtration is well made. We need those systems in our schools. There is no disagreement about that. We have spoken about that with the Department, the Minister, the Education Authority, teachers and schools. Those systems are needed. Let us get this done. I am not here today to fire buns around the House, but I have to say that there needs to be a greater collective responsibility in the House from those who have led this place for 15 years — 15 years. If, at this stage, a simple conversation about the education of our children cannot happen between the First Minister and deputy First Minister — or the joint First Ministers — of the Assembly, we are on a hiding to nowhere. This needs to change. Children's education is the priority.”
“There is the spectre of exams being disrupted and groups of children, including those with special educational needs, being treated unfairly as they face exams once again, which are quickly coming around the corner. The Minister and her Department could have had far more robust mitigations in place to avoid that shocking scenario, but she is playing catch-up again, and our children have become collateral damage. That is not good enough, and our children deserve better. Equally, the SDLP believes that there is a need to draw up similar shortlists for other educational school staff, and we have written in great detail to the Minister about that. However, despite my constant calls for these reserve lists to be systematically put together, we have had only token gestures towards supporting schools. It is simply not good enough.”
“Simply contacting retired teachers on the last day of term before Christmas was not the silver bullet for the Department. There are also issues for retired teachers, because, if they come back, their pension could be significantly affected, given the demands required of them. Could the Department not have planned this better, given the months and months of concern expressed by teachers, principals and Members of the House? <BR /> <BR />The negative effects of school and class closures not just on learning opportunities but, significantly, on the physical and mental well-being of our children are now well known. Reliance on digital learning is clearly a poor substitute. The Minister should have far more robust plans in place than those we see at present. Once again, our children and teachers have been failed.”
“That might as well be considered an intervention. <BR /> <BR />Up to now, many principals from across the North do not believe that it has been safe, and we have seen cohorts of children move to online learning due to the significant concerns expressed over the threat of the omicron variant in schools. Those concerns have gone largely unnoticed by the Department and the Minister. I feel that I am constantly repeating the need for an action plan for decisive action and leadership to ensure that schools can stay open and be safe. There are significant staffing shortages in schools, with many teachers off at the minute because they have caught the virus or are self-isolating due to being in close contact with someone who has it at school or at home. A proper plan has not been put in place to tackle staff absences.”
“No, I will not. I heard enough from the Member on Radio Ulster the other morning.”
“<BR /> <BR />I signed the recall motion to bring the Assembly back today because we have been highlighting for months the fact that there has been a severe lack of planning and action taken to ensure that our classrooms and schools were safe for reopening after the holidays. We have warned about that consistently at the Education Committee, in the House and through correspondence with the Minister. I totally agree that it is vital that our schools be kept open. No one in the House disagrees with that, but that should only be and can only be done —”
“We are talking about children and young people, their education, teachers, classrooms and all the things that are so important at this time. We are accused of signing a pan-nationalist motion. For the Member's information, all children, all teachers and all schools in Northern Ireland are affected; it does not matter what walk of life they are from. Do not try to turn something as fundamental as children's education into a sectarian argument or bun fight, because that is not what this is. This is about children's education and about protecting them. That message needs to ring out loudly in the House. How dare anyone accuse me of signing a pan-nationalist motion. That is totally offensive. I do not accept it, and I am sure that others across these Benches do not accept it either.”
“As SDLP education spokesperson, I welcome the opportunity to speak in today's debate, given the enormity of the issue and the need to ensure that children's education and safety in schools are brought to the top of the agenda in the House and to ensure the safety of all teachers and other staff, who have been dedicated to delivering first-class education against the backdrop of intolerable pressures on them over the course of the pandemic. I put on record my firm appreciation and that of the SDLP to all our teachers and school staff right across Northern Ireland who have been working tirelessly throughout to ensure that, despite the circumstances faced, all children can remain in school and stay safe. <BR /> <BR />I have to say at the outset that I am extremely disappointed at how this debate has gone.”
“I will be very brief, and I thank the Member for giving way. <BR /> <BR />In relation to attracting former teachers back temporarily to alleviate pressure, when the health service sought to bring retired staff back to alleviate pressure, it had the foresight to modify pension rights and pay scales to ensure fairness. At the minute, that is not going to be the case for retired teachers, therefore their pensions could be affected significantly. Does the Member agree that it is a great pity that the Department did not have the foresight to deal with that as well to attract people back? There is no incentive.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I have no doubt that the report is damning and points directly to the serious concerns that the Committee for Education and, indeed, the SDLP have had for some time about the function, or rather, dysfunction, of the GTCNI. Looking to the future, Minister, can you assure us that you and your Department will leave no stone unturned in putting in place a professional body that can represent the excellent teachers that we have in a way that befits the profession? What is needed is a professional body that all stakeholders can have confidence in. Minister, will you assure us that that is your objective for the days ahead?”
“I urge all those who are struggling in our communities and battling with their mental health, who need help, who need support and someone to reach out to, to do so. There is help out there. It is OK not to be OK; you are not on your own. Please, this Christmas period, as all of us sit down together, let us think of those who are struggling and battling in very difficult circumstances.”
“This week, I saw that with the Three Rivers Search & Rescue group, the Community Rescue Service and Foyle Search and Rescue. In very difficult circumstances, in torrential weather, they searched day and night for Michael's remains. That brought considerable comfort to his family. Thankfully, his body was found on Saturday. <BR /> <BR />This week, there is a great sense of sadness and heartbreak in the Strabane community as this is the third young person who has died. Aaron Harkin, who was 26, died in a car accident. He had a young family. Emma Harpur, who was 10 years of age, sadly, died with cancer, and also Michael McGinty, who was found on Saturday. This is a tremendously difficult time of the year for people.”
“His mummy and daddy died not so long ago, and they were both quite young. Michael had clearly struggled and battled. Unfortunately, on Saturday a week ago, he went missing and was found just this Saturday. There have been dire consequences and effects on local people. Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in the levels of suicide in our communities and people who are struggling and battling every day. What I have seen in Strabane over the past week has been heartbreaking, but we have also seen the community come together in their search for Michael's body. <BR /> <BR />The local search and rescue groups do fantastic and invaluable work and make a huge contribution to help and support families in the most difficult of circumstances. The same can be said of all our communities.”
“I will speak about the mental health pandemic that is having dire consequences throughout each and all of our communities and that is having a particularly severe impact on young people. Many people are struggling. Particularly at this time of year, we can see how much people have found, and are finding, life tough. Even in more normal times, and, in the midst of the pandemic, we are far from being in normal times, people struggled. <BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, on Saturday 4 December, young Michael McGinty went missing in Strabane. He was 20 years of age.”
“I put on my record my thanks to the Minister's Department for the swift way in which it is has been responding to our offices. It has been very useful and, on many occasions, quite swift. This week, reference was made to the fact that 3,000 phone calls relating to concerns around the scheme are made to the Department each day. Aside from the cost of the cards themselves, what is the actual overall cost of administering the scheme?”
“As legislators, we have the privileged position of being able to change legislation to help and protect people, and save people's lives. I would hope that the House would unite to ensure that we, too, review the safeguarding mechanisms that are in place, respond to the call for greater funding to ensure that there are mechanisms in place, and ensure that no child ever suffers as that poor child did last year.”
“His daddy was supposed to take care of him but he left him to suffer incredibly horrific abuse. <BR /> <BR />Arthur was found to have 130 injuries after being routinely beaten, forced to stand for hours on his own, starved and dehydrated. Concerns were raised by his paternal grandmother to social services. There were found to be no safeguarding concerns at that point, even though his body was beaten, battered and bruised. <BR /> <BR />As I stand here, I wonder how many other children there are who have dropped below the radar and we do not know about? How many children in Northern Ireland are in homes where they suffer such horrendous abuse? In the House, we disagree on many things politically, but I know that we stand united in full support of that poor child and his wider family and that we offer them our thoughts and prayers.”
“When I listened to the news report, I was disturbed to hear that child's cries for food — "Pease, someone, feed me. No one is going to feed me" — and that he thought that no one loved him. The abuse that that child suffered at the hands of his father and his partner was beyond words; absolutely brutal. The six-year-old was tortured and killed. Arthur died of a head injury on 17 June 2020. Emma Tustin, who was his father's partner, shook him and banged his head on a hard surface after poisoning him with salt. I have never seen anything quite like the details of that case. I spent Saturday with two of my nephews, one aged 4 and the other aged 6. I looked at them and thought, "How on earth could anyone harm such an innocent, helpless child?". He was one of the most vulnerable in society.”
“I raise the heartbreaking story of the death of young Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. It is a case that has gripped the nation, caused severe heartbreak and resulted in immediate calls for action from authorities across these islands.”
“I thank the First Minister for his answer. He covered the question about the apology well. First Minister, will you undertake to work with the commissioner to ensure that you reach out to the many victims and survivors out there and that that is done appropriately?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, for taking questions and for his quick response to the variant over the last number of days. Given the significant increase in transmission in our communities, the uncertainties about this variant and, coming into Christmas, the increase in connection and interaction between people, are we looking at a potential circuit breaker in the new year? If so, Minister, at what point do you make that determination?”
“Minister, how swiftly do you intend to conclude this review with dentists and ensure that they have adequate funding to survive?”
“— and responds to the needs of that child.”
“The Minister of Health and the Western Trust need to intervene to ensure that Ben can be looked after close to home, where there is support in place and his mum can see him as often as she would like. It is also important to note that many children like Ben who are non-verbal cannot express how they feel or what is annoying them, or communicate. Indeed, that is a form of communication. Where those children are voiceless, we need to be their voice. That is why I am asking in the House that the Minister of Health hears that mother's pleas —”
“It is unacceptable for trust officials to simply come to the family of a disabled child and tell them that they plan to move their child so far away. It must be addressed. In correspondence with the Health Minister, we have asked that he intervenes immediately to ensure that proper, full facilities, care and support be provided to Ben and his family. <BR /> <BR />As an institution, we must ask ourselves whether we are doing our best to look after the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society. Indeed, the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. When I delved into the matter further, I found that quite a significant number of families in Northern Ireland are affected in this way. It is not good enough.”
“<BR /> <BR />His distraught mother has told me that she was absolutely shocked and heartbroken when officials from the Western Health and Social Care Trust approached her to tell her that the only facilities that are available to her son Ben are in either Dublin or Meath, hours away from where they live in Victoria Bridge. That has absolutely floored Ben's family, particularly his mother. To be honest, I was quite shocked to hear the details of that particular case, and about the trust's plans to relocate Ben, a vulnerable child, hundreds of miles away from his family, friends and support network. The proposal would even move Ben hundreds of miles from his school, Knockavoe School in Strabane town — a school that I know well — which is delivering for many disabled children across the wider area.”
“I rise to give voice in the Chamber to a young constituent of mine. I do so with the full permission of his mum, Ciara. Members, especially those from West Tyrone and Foyle, will have seen in local newspapers today the outcry and pleas of a mother from Victoria Bridge whose disabled son Ben needs permanent residence in a care facility. Ben is 13 years old and has Kabuki syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder that results in learning disabilities as well as many physical difficulties. He is non-verbal, incontinent and has a number of behavioural issues. Ben has spent the past few weeks in short-term respite facilities in Omagh and Derry. His family have now been told that he needs longer-term care in a care home facility.”
“Minister, can you provide an update on the impact that COVID infections are having on teaching and non-teaching staff in special schools? Do you have an exact figure for the number of teachers who are off at present?”
“In her call, as she paid tribute to her father, she asked that that family receive those remains so that they can lay their loved one to peace. On behalf of the party, I offer my condolences to the family. May Austin rest in peace. We thank him for his contribution to this island.”
“She made strong reference to Columba McVeigh, who was killed by the IRA in 1975 and who is:”
“Ultimately, he was a peacemaker who helped to forge a path from a divided society to a reconciled and shared future for us all. It is clear that Austin Currie had an instrumental impact on Irish politics on both sides of the border, which is evidenced from the many tributes paid to him over recent days. <BR /> <BR />I will finish on this. His daughter stood at the funeral, thanked everyone for their attendance and said:”
“Overcoming that for the greater good of peace needed significant levels of personal sacrifice and conviction, not least by his wife, Annita, who suffered incredibly difficult attacks during that time. His family suffered for over 30 years as a result, just because he stood up for what was right. <BR /> <BR />Austin went on to represent East Tyrone as MP until 1972, and he was heavily involved in the early iterations of power-sharing in the North through the 1970s and 1980s. He then moved South and was elected as TD for Dublin West in 1989. He was appointed Minister of State for Children and even stood for the Irish presidency in 1990. He has a long-lasting legacy from his beginnings in Tyrone to being a part of the Government in Dublin.”
“He believed that everyone should be treated equally, and he was completely right in that view, but it was not always easy for Austin and his peers, who were all young leaders of the civil rights movement. He was a very young elected representative, and now, today, it is very easy for many to take power-sharing, democracy and equality for granted in certain aspects, but it was all hard-won, and that battle continues. <BR /> <BR />It was not easy for Austin's family either. Since his death at the weekend and during his funeral, it was a sore reminder to hear at first hand the accounts of the assaults, attacks, threats and abuse directed at Austin and his family by loyalists and republicans alike.”
“<BR /> <BR />Austin was first elected for the Nationalist Party in East Tyrone, where he stood up against the great injustice facing Catholics and others in the allocation of social housing. That sparked a sit-in occupation in Caledon in 1968, which, ultimately, ignited the civil rights movement. Austin was vehemently and wholeheartedly opposed to violence and was a strict advocate of protesting fully and only by peaceful means. It was no surprise that, along with John Hume, Ivan Cooper, Paddy Devlin, Paddy O'Hanlon, Gerry Fitt and many others, he came to form the SDLP in 1970. Austin fiercely advocated equality and was a proud Tyrone man who wanted an end to discriminatory practices facing Catholics.”