Keith Buchanan
Mid Ulster · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, we watched a gentleman having his head nearly removed on the street. That is a problem, whether you think so or not. I referred to it as being like something that I witnessed in the slaughterhouse in my previous job. We have to address it. I am not radical; I am just a normal MLA who talks to normal people in the street.”
“It is always a privilege to celebrate sporting success in mid-Ulster. Today, we congratulate Nigel Davidson, a proud Cookstown businessman, on his outstanding achievement at the Hyrox world championships in Stockholm. To see him compete and succeed on the world stage is an achievement that makes all of us in Cookstown incredibly proud.”
“Minister, I was contacted on Friday by a lady whose brother was in Muckamore — a lady who did not tell her story. Now the report has come out and sparked a degree of need for her to speak. I use the word "need", but that is maybe not the best word. What can that lady do now?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. We are starting to see the impact of investment into local communities through funds from the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Arts Council. In the past, Sinn Féin has been critical about your priorities, complaining recently that consistent funding for Ulster Scots and bands was for "vanity projects".”
“Last Friday, I had the privilege of walking alongside the Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, his dedicated team and veterans as they completed a six-day journey: the Somme 110 walk. The final day coincided with the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Battle of the Somme is not just a story from the past but one that lives on in families, regiments and the hearts of those who continue to serve. It stands as a stark reminder of the sacrifice, suffering and bravery of those who fell and fought. Those men faced unimaginable conditions so that others might know freedom.”
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“<BR /> <BR />This project should be part of an overall strategy to improve the key transport and link corridors across Northern Ireland and would demonstrate the need to rectify regional disparity and reverse decades of underinvestment in infrastructure west of the Bann. Sadly, the former Cookstown District Council area was consistently in the lowest areas of capital investment in the last 10 years. The vital A29 Cookstown bypass project would help the region significantly not only from a strategic perspective and at local level, but would provide vital jobs in the local construction industry. It had been hoped that this would have been delivered between 2013 and 2018. I welcome the Minister's earlier comments, and I look forward to the project being developed.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the call for the much-needed Cookstown bypass as this would help to reduce travel times along the busy north to south, Coleraine to Keady A29 corridor. Unfortunately, sometimes it is quicker to travel between Dungannon and Belfast, a distance of 42 miles, rather than travelling the 20 miles between Dungannon and Magherafelt. The removal of through traffic from the town centre would assist in reducing the conflict between strategic and local traffic by approximately 10 minutes, thereby assisting in the reduction of congestion and in the risk of accidents. These benefits would be expected to improve the quality of life for residents and attract more visitors and shoppers to the historic town of Cookstown, improving our local economy.”
“The rural road network in Mid Ulster has had some improvements in recent time. The new Magherafelt bypass, which is due to open, I believe, on Thursday this week is a six-kilometre carriageway linking Castledawson roundabout with the Moneymore Road that is expected to carry 14,000 vehicles a day, thereby reducing traffic congestion in Magherafelt town centre. This significant investment will help to improve road safety, reduce congestion and improve journey times. The new road is welcome news, especially for those who use this route daily, and the DUP team of local councillors and I have welcomed this improvement and are committed to highlighting the need for further improvements to the road network.”
“While I am not saying that poor roads maintenance was a factor in any of those sad fatalities, we must ensure that our roads are up to the highest possible standards. Most road traffic collision fatalities happen on rural roads, and, of the 74 road deaths in 2015, 57% — 42 — occurred on rural roads. <BR /> <BR />Rural dwellers do not have the same access to public transport. In Mid Ulster, we have no railway services, and buses do not serve many of our rural communities; at least not on a consistent enough basis. Access to those services can be a big challenge, and it is vital that these communities have a properly maintained road infrastructure. Sadly, the road infrastructure of Mid Ulster has seen the lowest capital investment in the western division in the last 10 financial years.”
“<BR /> <BR />Every week, I receive complaints and enquiries from constituents about defects, grass cutting and general road maintenance. Our rural roads are essential links for our farmers, rural dwellers and those going to work or delivering their produce to market or to buyers. Those roads have a fundamental role to play in Northern Ireland's economy, and it is only right that specific attention is paid to maintaining them. <BR /> <BR />We must remember that a properly maintained road network helps to reduce potential fatalities or serious injuries on our roads. According to a report by PSNI statistics branch for 2015, the Mid Ulster policing area sadly accounted for the highest number of collision fatalities, with a total of nine killed in the district and a further 44 seriously injured.”
“The previous Minister, my colleague Michelle McIlveen, began to rectify the problem by focusing on the appropriate use of her remaining budget when she took office and by ensuring that internal efficiencies were made. She reviewed her Department's budget lines and areas of expenditure to ensure that as much money as possible was available for high-priority activities, such as patching and street lighting maintenance. She also announced that, from the beginning of January 2016, an additional £3·2 million of resource funding and £2 million of capital funding was reprioritised for essential maintenance activities. That was good news for everyone, and it helped the local economy. I hope that the current Minister will continue to improve the infrastructure.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to address the House. It was a great pleasure to be elected for Mid Ulster, to the shock of some, I might add. I will go straight into the debate. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to highlight the road infrastructure in my constituency and the need for additional resources to maintain and upgrade the network. Before I deal specifically with Mid Ulster, I welcome the rural roads initiative and the £10 million allocated to it. I have seen the evidence of that in my area and all over Mid Ulster. I thank the Minister for attending the debate. <BR /> <BR />In previous mandates, we all felt the brunt of budget cuts that resulted in grass verges not being cut, street lamps not being repaired, and cutbacks to essential road repair programmes.”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far; indeed, I commend her for giving some help to farmers. Unfortunately, it rains not only in Fermanagh but in Tyrone. I have just one additional point: is it possible for landowners who have surplus grass to allow other farmers to graze that land over the coming weeks?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer so far. What action is he taking regarding the overall funding pressure on and in relation to special educational needs (SEN)?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer so far. Just to highlight the point that the other Members referred to, I would like the Minister to understand the community concerns in relation to Cookstown's social security office and the jobcentre.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Can he also give me an update on the school enhancement programme project at Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt in my constituency? What future funding opportunities might there be through the programme for the school?”