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.”
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“Minister, I have a brief point to make that follows on from what some other Members have said. Some would argue that C2k is largely no longer fit for purpose, given that it is 20 years old. That needs be addressed, and I know that the Minister has acknowledged that. Seesaw is worth considering. Some other Members and I have had a rundown on it, and it looks as though it is a very good and appropriate programme. <BR /> <BR />Can the Minister outline what analysis his Department has conducted on the impact of remote learning on children from a deprived background and whether mitigations have been sufficient to address educational underachievement?”
“Thank you very much to the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that the situation facing the SEN sector prior to COVID was beyond crisis mode and that what was happening to our children in vulnerable circumstances was criminal? Statementing forms were not being date-stamped, there were cover-ups in the Education Authority and vulnerable children were left in a very serious situation. That has now worsened. Does the Member believe that the EA and the Minister have got the message that something needs to happen now?”
“I thank the Member for kindly giving way. Does the Member know whether his ministerial colleague has put a bid in for further resourcing or funding for education, and, if that is the case, does he have any details on it? Given that almost £400 million is lying with the Minister of Finance, would it not be good if some of that money were to be directed to support those in education?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Will the Member agree with me that it is totally incredible that special schools have yet to receive a single penny from the Engage programme when all other schools have received it? Surely that is a shocking situation that should be addressed by the Minister.”
“This is a matter of urgency. The Minister is aware of it. He needs to step in now to ensure that adequate resources and protections are put in place to protect our staff and our pupils in those schools.”
“That is a regrettable trend that can only grow. The Minister must act today to resolve the issue.”
“There have been outbreaks of COVID-19 in special schools across the North. Data from the Public Health Agency (PHA) shows clearly that 70% of those infections relate to staff. That statistic only compounds the realisation that, so far, guidance and support have been completely and utterly inadequate. <BR /> <BR />I stress again that it is vital that we have expert-led and context-appropriate processes in place to protect both staff and pupils in special schools. If proper safety measures are not put in place, many special schools will encounter significant staffing shortages that will fully compromise their ability to look after the educational needs of some of the most vulnerable in our society. Indeed, that is already starting to happen. A number of special schools have had to reduce their provision without appropriate intervention.”
“All teachers and school staff, especially those in special schools, need to be prioritised during the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines. Although there are many things that the Minister and I have disagreed on in the Chamber, we share the concern of the need to prioritise school staff, particularly special school staff. Our special school staff should be vaccinated first, followed by a robust vaccination programme being rolled out across the board to all education staff. <BR /> <BR />The Minister should be using this time during the current restrictions to plan properly rather than waiting until all schools return, which will cause them unnecessary disruption. In that regard, I would be grateful if the Minister would divulge the latest updates on his request for the vaccination roll-out across the education sector.”
“Rather than taking on that very valid and important proposal, the Minister claimed that meetings with his Department's officials and special schools are taking place and that public health officials can be invited, if they want to attend. Given the importance of the issue and the fact that those schools have been expected simply to remain open without proper support, the Minister's position is absolutely reprehensible and unforgivable. The Minister must realise that special schools cannot operate or function in the same way in which mainstream schools can. They require staff to go above and beyond in order that pupils' educational and sensory needs are met. Their staff cannot wear PPE or socially distance and are being put in a very precarious position, yet they are expected to deal with it all without the support that they have demanded.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is not the case that the Minister is unaware of those concerns; they are very well made. Principals and teachers in special needs schools have highlighted their concerns privately to the Minister and, as a last resort, publicly in various media outlets, as a cry for immediate intervention. Indeed, the Committee for Education, as the Chair said, has spent months outlining the concerns. Indeed, the SDLP has continually urged the Minister to convene immediately a new working group, comprising special school principals and public health experts, who would be tasked with providing additional and improved safety measures for special needs schools.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is incredible that, almost 11 months into the pandemic, principals and teachers in special schools, and even parents, are still crying out for guidance, for support and for the appropriate measures to be put in place so that they can best protect their pupils. We need a complete sea change in approach from the Minister, who cannot afford to be a johnny-come-lately on the issue, which is one of the most serious in his brief. It is entirely unacceptable that there has been a severe lack of appropriate expert-led guidance and support provided to principals and staff at special schools. Teachers, classroom assistants and other staff are attending work with inadequate guidance on how to protect themselves and their pupils from the virus.”
“As the SDLP education spokesperson, I welcome today's debate, and I support this important motion. I pay tribute to the incredible staff who are working tirelessly in the most challenging environments in special schools across the north of this island. They are supporting some of our most vulnerable people, and their dedication and complete sacrifice must be commended today in the Chamber. I speak also as the uncle of a child with severe complex needs. My sister's son, aged five, is non-verbal and attends a special educational needs school, Knockavoe. That school has been critical to his development at such a young age. The work that the staff do in the school to support him and my family — my sister, in particular — has been very much appreciated, and it has been of huge benefit to the child.”
“Will the deputy First Minister join me in calling for anyone who has information to come forward and help to ease that family's pain at the present time?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer and her commitment. The story of Noah Donohoe has touched the hearts of the entire community. There has been massive public support for the Donohoe family right across the North. I, too, fully support them in their search for answers about what happened to Noah. Last year, we held a minute's silence in Strabane. Just a few weeks ago, a large cavalcade arrived at the gates of this institution to call for action. Does the deputy First Minister agree that Noah's case is of such public interest among constituents right across the North that it is important that we must show support and intervene where possible to ensure that his grieving family finally get the truth that they have campaigned for?”
“Does the Member agree that it is entirely regrettable that we have had the recall petition today, we have heard the Minister — we have listened to him for 20 minutes — and we are still no clearer on any detail about what mitigations, protections or resources he is specifically putting in place to protect kids, classroom assistants, teachers, school staff and bus drivers? He still has not confirmed whether he will publish the advice that he has received.”
“Does the Member agree that, as a suggestion, the Minister could spend a week or two in a classroom, surrounded by 30 kids and with no protective mitigations or resources in place, just to see what our teachers and schoolchildren are going through?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that it is regrettable that the Minister of Education waited until yesterday to engage with the Minister of Health, the CMO and the CSA regarding reducing the risk of COVID in schools, particularly after warnings for weeks from the Education Committee and Members of the House?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he also recognise that the reason we are in this situation is that the Minister has not acted quickly enough throughout the pandemic to put in place mitigations, protections and resources so that schools can continue educating our children in a safe environment?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that we are in this dangerous position because the Minister has not put in place the necessary mitigations, protections and resources to ensure that schools can continue?”
“I take the Member's point, but how many times are we to call the Minister to the House? What will it take for him to actually listen and learn his lessons?”
“Will the Member please enlighten us as to what mitigations the Minister has put in place because no one can seem to find the detail?”
“I repeat, for the public, that this is not about closing schools, but anyone who thinks that schools will be safe to open on 4 January, which the Minister planned to do until 7.30 this morning, is mistaken. It is a serious failure on his part, and it would be a serious failure by us all were we not to hold him to account for it. <BR /> <BR />I also touch on resourcing. If the Minister were serious about protecting children's education, he would have acted sooner, but he has continued blindly to ignore the concerns of teachers and young people. <BR /> <BR />The Minister needs to get serious. Public confidence is at an all-time low, and, if he does not step up very soon, I will find myself on the same side.”
“That sounded lovely, but there was nothing behind it. There has been no communication with schools, teachers or principals whatsoever, and they have been left again to the last minute by this last-minute Minister, who flips around at the last minute leaving teachers two days, in some instances, due to his statement this morning, to prepare to open parts of their schools for nursery places or special educational needs children. Two days? It is totally outrageous, and it is a failure of the Minister to put the interests of our children first. <BR /> <BR />The House is largely united. I would even argue that people in the Minister's party disagree with his position and his dithering on these important issues.”
“Despite the record high rates of infection in communities across Northern Ireland and multiple schools and unions raising considerable concern, the Minister has failed to act. <BR /> <BR />In the Minister's statement of 21 December to the Ad Hoc Committee on the COVID-19 Response, he acknowledged that:”
“However, the Minister needs to put in place protections for the teachers, classroom assistants and others who will be in those rooms and will be directly exposed to the virus. <BR /> <BR />The situation is grave. We are back in the Chamber today because the Minister waited until 7.30 this morning to release a statement that practically repeated what the English Minister, Gavin Williamson, put out yesterday. Why cannot the Minister stand on his own two feet and listen to the teachers, principals and young people in our society and recognise that COVID is spiralling out of control? Even over the last week there have been hundreds of people under the age of 20 who have tested positive for the new variant of the virus. It is spreading throughout our community without control.”
“That is a deplorable situation that we have been forced into by a Minister's inaction in the Assembly. I do not think it is enough. <BR /> <BR />To be clear, we do not want schools to close. No Member could safely say that they want that, but we want schools to reopen safely with the mitigations, protections and resources in place that the Minister has failed to provide. I heard the Minister commenting over the last few days about special educational needs (SEN) and vulnerable children. I share his concerns, and I am glad that he shares the concerns of the many people who have expressed them to him, particularly in the Education Committee. I also share the position that special educational needs settings need to remain open.”
“That Minister also made face masks mandatory. That Minister employed more teachers, That Minister made sure that the classroom environment was safe. This Minister has done absolutely nothing. If he wants to go round the houses, Scotland has put in place measures to protect teachers, staff and children. Wales has done the same. Even the Minister in England, Gavin Williamson, whom our Minister looks up to so proudly, has put in place mitigations and protections. <BR /> <BR />We are in this situation simply because the Minister has failed to act. The Minister has ignored warnings for months and does not seem to believe that the virus can be carried home by children to their families. He does not believe that teachers are terrified. We are now in a situation where we must decide between the protection of children's education and their lives.”
“<BR /> <BR />Yet, we look to the South for leadership. Do you know why? Because that Minister stepped up and listened to the school leaders in her community. That Minister used extra public buildings to ensure that social distancing could be enforced.”
“Minister, if you want to play about with us, people are watching today and they are very concerned about their children and their teachers. If you paid more attention to what they are saying instead of throwing balls across the room then maybe we would get somewhere. <BR /> <BR />The situation is very, very dangerous and serious and this Minister cannot compare with the South. Why? Because the Minister down there has shown great, profound leadership. She has put mitigations, protections and resources in place to protect children, teachers and classroom assistants and, in turn, their parents and families as well. However, this Minister is willing to die in the ditch for the transfer test — a glorious DUP agenda for which they were willing to sacrifice our grannies and grandas over the Christmas period when COVID has been rife.”
“Lives are at risk, Minister. Let me make a point; you cannot dare to compare with the leadership that has been shown by Minister Nora Foley in the south of this island. From the outset, she —.”
“I thank the Minister for the intervention. This is not a day to be playing with a table tennis ball. Lives are at risk —”
“You will have your chance in a moment, Minister. I am making my point, thank you. <BR /> <BR />This Minister has forced us into a position where the Assembly has been recalled on New Year's Eve. That is why we are in this situation. Teachers, principals, school staff, parents and members of the community have all spoken out in outrage and with considerable anxiety, but yet it has taken, once again, a recall petition for this Minister to change his mind. It has taken Gavin Williamson to determine the English position for this Minister to determine the Northern Irish position. It is a totally reckless situation and it shows a Minister who is not in control of his own Department or brief. It shows a Minister who is more willing to follow a Conservative Government instead of putting the interests of our community first.”
“How this Minister felt, at any stage, that it was appropriate for schools to return on 4 January, given that we knew that infection rates would spiral out of control over Christmas, and how he suggested and stood over 4 January, is the reason that we are in this situation today. Our hands were tied and we were forced to this position. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I want to say that we are in this position because of a Minister who continues to ignore everybody. We do not know who is advising this Minister, nor do we know what scientific or medical advice this Minister is following. I am pretty certain that all along, we have been told that the incubation period for the virus is up to two weeks, yet this Minister wanted to return at least 30 children into a classroom in front of a teacher, which puts people at huge risk.”
“This is not a new pandemic. We are nearly a year into this public health crisis situation and yet, our Minister of Education is spiralling dangerously in one position without taking heed of the warnings from school leaders, the unions, politicians, parents and children and the public. He has continued — until 7:30 am this morning when a statement was released — to persevere with 4 January as the opening date for schools. That was always a dangerous position and one that many people had profound concerns about. <BR /> <BR />The situation with coronavirus has got very, very serious. Our communities are rife with infection. Every part of our community is concerned about how dangerously the situation is spiralling out of control.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you to the Members of the House who joined the SDLP in signing a recall petition that forced today's meeting of the Assembly. I recognise that it is New Year's Eve, and there are many other places that many of us would rather be than in the Chamber debating an issue that we have warned about for many, many weeks, if not months.”
“It is always a great honour to speak about the A5, as it is something about which I feel very strongly. The SDLP strongly supports its development. Minister, your commitment to the A5 has been a cast-iron one, and the people of West Tyrone are grateful to your office for making it such a strong priority. Many people are looking forward to seeing boots on the ground. Have you any indication of when that might happen?”
“I welcome the statement from the Minister. I welcome the review and the opportunity, on behalf of the SDLP, to engage with the panel on educational underachievement. It was very useful. <BR /> <BR />Minister, why is your Department and the Education Authority (EA) outside the scope of the review, considering how vital those organisations are to the effective operation of the education system? Surely DE and EA should have been part of strand 3. Is EA separate? If so, why? Surely it should have been part of the review, particularly given the trail of chaos to date in relation to aspects of its remit on SEN and other matters.”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. Minister, in order for your Department to engage in evidence-based policymaking for these examinations and recognising the potential for differential adverse impact, it will be necessary — this is the view of the Children's Law Centre — for your Department to screen the policy and carry out a full equality impact assessment of each available policy option, including having proper consultation with affected young people and their family, educators, exam bodies and other affected stakeholders. Have you done that, Minister? A human rights impact assessment and a rural impact assessment should also have been conducted. Have you done those also?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. Will she give an absolute assurance that, regardless of the ongoing negotiations and Tory politicking at Westminster, her office will categorically and absolutely oppose any land border on this island?”
“What work is being done with the sectors that will be most impacted on by tariff rises, such as car dealers, in the event of no deal?”
“I welcome the question and thank the Member for bringing it and for the Commission member's answers to them. Has the Commission given any consideration to a lasting monument or memorial to the late John Hume as a key architect of these power-sharing institutions?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer to the question. I am very concerned — I have put my concerns firmly on record — about examinations going ahead, particularly given what happened in the summer and the impact that that has had on the mental health of our young people and teachers in schools. Minister, you are in the bad books of a lot of students and teachers, and I think that you know that very well. Given the situation and that the Commissioner for Children and Young People and the mental health champion have spoken out, will you now cancel examinations this year?”
“West Tyrone is somewhat worse, but I understand that we have to defend our constituents. Can the Minister outline whether any assessment has been undertaken with her colleague the Minister of Education on the impact that Project Stratum will have on boosting broadband connectivity in rural schools?”
“I thank the Member for being so generous in giving way. Will he agree with me that, while intervention is absolutely essential to help support businesses through this very difficult time, the Eat Out to Help Out scheme may have been too generous and far too early an intervention, given that it has absolutely fed into the levels of infection in our communities?”
“I appreciate the strength with which the Member delivers his message about the importance of ensuring that we adhere to the regulations. Has he given such advice to his colleague Sammy Wilson?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I absolutely acknowledge that the Meenbog slippage was a catastrophe. It affected Killeter, Aghyaran, Castlederg, Ardstraw and the surrounding areas quite significantly. The meeting between Minister Poots and Minister McConalogue was very effective and showed a great sign of strength and unity on that cross-border issue. <BR /> <BR />Minister, one particular business was impacted on very badly by the slippage. I am not sure whether you will be aware, but will you update us now or at a further stage on whether there is any form of compensation that could help with the pressure that has been put on that business?”
“Before I ask the Minister a question, I wonder whether Pat Catney would bring his e-bike to Stormont and give us a demonstration going up and down the mile a few times. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for her very useful statement and also for her huge efforts over the past number of months to support communities during the pandemic. I know that COVID-19 has had a particular impact on services. Can the Minister tell the House what impact the restrictions have had on Waterways Ireland?”
“I do not envy the Minister, but I put it on record that he has my support and that of my party in overseeing a difficult and challenging task ahead. I also put firmly on the record a thank you to our healthcare staff, who have led the battle against the virus.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. It is clear that we are all in this together. A single life lost is one too many. We all face a huge challenge as we work together to get the vaccine rolled out and to support those with responsibility for overseeing it. That is why, across these island and this island, we need to work with our counterparts to ensure that we have a united approach to battling the virus. <BR /> <BR />After that, we face big challenges. The battle does not end when the vaccine is rolled out. Work will then start to repair the damage that the virus has left in its path in mental health services, investment in rural services and the health service, as Mr Sheehan rightly pointed out.”
“As to logistics, I represent rural West Tyrone, and my constituents will be asking themselves how far they will have to travel to access the vaccine. We should also remember that many in my constituency and in other rural parts have no access to vehicles. Therefore, where the vaccine is to be provided will be critical to them in alleviating any anxiety that they may have. That is why ensuring that it goes to the hearts and hubs of communities is important.”