Cathy Mason
South Down · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The result is that pupils can still face barriers, whereas a straightforward legal entitlement would have resolved the issue once and for all. <BR /> <BR />Picture this: one of our daughters is sitting in a classroom during her period. She is worried about leaking through her skirt. She is anxious about standing up.”
“We have no new arts strategy in the North, while, in the South, serious efforts were made to rebuild the sector following COVID. Arts funding here has suffered real-terms cuts of around 40%, while funding per capita in the South is around four times higher.”
“I, too, welcome the fact that this important legislation has reached its Second Stage. Like the Chair of the Committee, I thank the Committee for its hard work, and I thank the Committee Clerk, the Bill Office and the legal team for getting us to this point.”
“I thank the Member for that, and, again, I could not agree more. Would any of us accept not being able to wear a coat in the pouring rain or the freezing cold when we walk in here? I do not think so. <BR /> <BR />A girl should not have to ask for permission to wear trousers.”
“When the Assembly returned, I had intended to introduce a private Member's Bill to make school uniforms more comfortable for pupils and more affordable for their families. The Minister, however, indicated that he planned to address the issue himself, so I was unable to progress that legislation.”
“Across the North, many girls still do not have the automatic right to wear trousers to school. Instead, they find themselves having to seek permission, request exemptions or rely on the goodwill of individual schools. I have heard the Minister use that as an excuse for why this legislation is not needed.”
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“My Sinn Féin colleagues on the Education Committee and I have taken the opportunity to challenge the Education Minister on his responsibility to identify and set out his priorities for his Department. As the party's lead on childcare and early years, I welcome the recent announcement of the initial £25 million investment that puts the wheels in motion to begin to make childcare more affordable for parents, support struggling providers and create more spaces for children with additional needs. Transforming childcare was a day-1 priority for Sinn Féin and the Executive, and, while there is much more work ahead, this is a step in the right direction. We now need to see clear plans to address educational underachievement and transform provision for special educational needs. The key is early intervention.”
“Funding for vital programmes was slashed, cutting the holiday hunger grant, ending the Healthy Happy Minds programme and stopping the provision of free digital learning devices for our most disadvantaged. In a system that is not resourced properly, it baffles me that officials would not seek to protect and prioritise the most disadvantaged. When we do not fund those wrap-around supports and we fail to invest in early intervention, we end up paying for it in the long run. The evidence on that point is clear. <BR /> <BR />Moving forward, however, it is hugely positive that we have an Executive in place, with locally elected Ministers taking decisions.”
“While the Education Minister has an important responsibility to prioritise the resources that he has, there is only so much that he and the Finance Minister can do, given the chronic underfunding of our public services by the Tories in London. I commend both Ministers for working together to try to find solutions, particularly on fair pay for our education workers and the outstanding pay and grading review. Those workers are vital to the running of our education system. The system cannot function without them, and they need proper pay and conditions to be sorted immediately. <BR /> <BR />I will refer to a couple of other issues in education that point to the short-sightedness of failing to fund the system properly. Sinn Féin was highly critical of the actions taken in the absence of an Education Minister.”
“When the Assembly returned, parties came together in agreement and acknowledged that the British Government have underfunded this place. That collective acknowledgement is hugely important, and that unity among parties strengthens our Finance Minister's hand when she negotiates with the British Treasury in the interests of people here. It is in that context of historical underfunding, however, that this discussion on the Budget takes place. <BR /> <BR />Although the Assembly has been back for only a short period, at the Education Committee, we have sifted through briefing after briefing with a similar message at their core: the system is not getting the level of resource that it needs to deliver the level of service that we want and expect for our children and young people and for those whom we charge with educating and nurturing them.”
“The Minister will be aware that children with special educational needs and their families are filled with fear and anxiety about getting their child a school place this September. Will the Minister outline the work being done in his Department and with the Department of Education to ensure that children are statemented adequately and have access to the allied health professionals that they require?”
“The Minister will be aware that GPs in rural areas, such as South Down, where there is no emergency department, are very often the lifeline for their community. Does he plan on giving the like of those surgeries any extra support to deal with the workforce shortages that they are dealing with now so that they can provide a full service to their large rural communities?”
“Let us move beyond treating children and young people with SEN as supernumerary when it comes to placements. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Speaker for the opportunity to secure this important debate, and I thank the Minister for his time this evening and for listening to the concerns that I have raised. I will work with everyone in the Chamber to bring forward solutions to ensure that every child has the right to education. Let us work together to ensure that every child is suitably placed, on time and with the support needed this September.”
“Try telling the parents of a child who has not yet got a placement and for whom every day spent trying to navigate the process is a nightmare that this is not a crisis. The reality for those children and their families is that it is a crisis. The Minister should acknowledge that, and so should the Education Authority. To tackle a crisis on this scale, families need to see a response in which they can have confidence. The Minister should consider redeploying staff and expertise to help deliver solutions for those children and their families. I also encourage the Minister to give proper consideration to a "SEN first" approach when it comes to school placements. <BR /> <BR />Let us demonstrate by our actions that children with SEN are, in fact, a priority. We can do that by ensuring that they are placed no later than their fellow pupils.”
“I urge the Minister to take another look at specialist provision in schools, and I would be more than happy to meet him to discuss the issues more thoroughly. <BR /> <BR />No conversation about special educational needs can take place without mentioning early intervention. It is at the heart of childcare and early years provision, so it is key that the Minister work directly with the Health Minister to ensure that lines of communication are open and that there is information sharing to allow for future planning. <BR /> <BR />In recent months, officials from the Department and the Education Authority have been keen to stress that the school placements situation is not a crisis. Tell that to children who do not know where they will go to school in September or whether they will have a suitable place at all.”
“We know that there are schools ready and willing to step up and open up specialist provisions to provide the much-needed places this autumn, but they require the necessary investment for facilities, appropriately trained staff and the proper resources to be able to deliver specialist provision effectively. I am aware that a number of schools have come forward with the capacity to open specialist provisions, but the Department is not taking them up on that. It has not properly engaged with the schools, and that represents a missed opportunity. When we are dealing with such a crisis and facing a situation in which many children and young people with special educational needs may be without a place in September, we simply cannot afford to miss such opportunities.”
“<BR /> <BR />Schools like St Malachy's Primary School in Castlewellan, with its dedicated learning support units where exceptional staff deliver amazing results for children, or St Brigid’s Primary School or Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School in Downpatrick, which have shown fantastic leadership with specialist provisions that they have facilitated, and, of course, Knockevin Special School, which was recently given the green light for its much-needed new build, like many others in South Down, go above and beyond for the children and young people whom they are responsible for but are under relentless pressure and need to be properly supported.”
“However, today, we need to hear directly from him what is the plan and what is being done to ensure that children with special educational needs are suitably placed, on time and with the support and resources that they are entitled to. <BR /> <BR />Going back to my constituency, I am inspired by examples of outstanding SEN provision, and I am mindful of the incredible staff who truly are the backbone of special educational needs provision. I want to give particular mention to the classroom assistants, who, as we know, are not yet getting the pay and conditions that they deserve but who turn up every day to care for and support the education of some of our most vulnerable children. Those professionals must be properly valued and get the fair pay that they are entitled to.”
“I have brought the Adjournment debate to the Assembly today to give a voice to the young people with special educational needs (SEN) in my constituency, their families and their schools. Several weeks ago, members of the Education Committee were advised that Education officials were working on the basis that up to 1,000 additional spaces would be required for children with special educational needs. For me, it is difficult to understand how, year after year, that situation persists. The Department and the Education Authority (EA) have access to a range of information, statistics and trends that should enable them to prepare accordingly, but it just does not seem to happen. This is not a criticism of the Minister; I accept that he is only in through the door. He has said that special educational needs is a priority, and I welcome that.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does the Minister agree that the completion of the project would allow us to completely rethink Ballynahinch and include more active travel routes in the area?”
“I welcome the deputy First Minister's confirmation that work is ongoing at pace with Executive colleagues to develop and agree a Programme for Government. Will the deputy First Minister confirm that the provision of affordable childcare remains a core Executive commitment?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. How does the Civil Service, as a large employer here, support working parents?”
“The Minister has outlined some of the supports available, but will she provide an overview of the main supports that are available currently to assist businesses here?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I am asking the Minister for Communities to publish the housing supply strategy at pace, and to work to deliver the Executive's commitment, as outlined in New Decade, New Approach, to ensuring that every household has access to a good-quality, affordable and sustainable home that is suitable to its needs.”
“We need creative solutions to develop affordable and social homes in Downpatrick, Castlewellan, Newcastle and across South Down. Working with housing organisations and other groups is key to building more affordable and social housing. We must do all that we can to help housing associations like Clanmil Housing to transform the old Downe Hospital site into much-needed family homes right in the heart of Downpatrick. We also need to see the urgent revitalisation of the Housing Executive, in order to enable it to begin building at scale.”
“The harsh reality is that young people and families across South Down and the North are being locked out of having a home of their own. The prospect of, one day, owning or living in a home in the community in which they grew up is becoming increasingly unlikely. Rural communities across South Down need access to affordable and social housing. As of March 2023, there were just under 3,900 on the social housing waiting list in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. Housing is a human right, and we must work to deliver safe and decent social and affordable housing as a priority.”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. It is welcome news that priority has been given to special educational needs, specifically with the much-needed investment in Knockevin Special School. Schools across the North are willing to use their current space and facilities to deliver the much-needed specialist provision that we are talking about, but, for some reason, they do not seem to be considered. Some even say that they are being ignored. That does not stack up. I am talking about rural schools in my area; we heard about St Mary's Primary School, Fivemiletown this morning. Will the Minister give an assurance that schools that are willing to step up and provide support for children with special educational needs will be supported and given the tools to do so?”
“<BR /> <BR />Childcare costs are currently far too high and unaffordable for many. At a time of rising living costs, childcare costs place more and more financial pressure on families, providers and childcare workers. A bespoke childcare model must meet the needs of all children and young people. It must cater to the acute needs of children with special educational needs, children with physical disabilities and children who speak English as a second language. Delivering high-quality, affordable childcare is absolutely essential to ensuring that our young people get the very best start in life. I look forward to working with all parties, childcare providers, workers and families to help shape the much-needed new childcare strategy.”
“The £25 million investment in childcare by our Minister of Finance, Caoimhe Archibald, now puts the wheels in motion to deliver high-quality and affordable childcare. Funding to kick-start the initial actions that a cross-departmental working group on childcare proposed shows the Minister's commitment to working with all parties to deliver high-quality and affordable childcare. It is a positive first step by the Finance Minister that reaffirms the Executive's commitment on childcare, but that commitment must also be a priority for the Minister of Education and his Department. We now need the Education Minister to move urgently and introduce his plans for a bespoke childcare scheme that provides good-quality, affordable and sustainable childcare for families and providers.”
“Too many young people and their parents are being failed by the current system. Each of us will have had anxious and worried parents come through our office doors at breaking point, because, after sitting on waiting lists for months, sometimes years, they have been told that there is no place for their child. That is not acceptable. <BR /> <BR />Young people with special educational needs and their families in South Down and across the North must have access to properly funded first-class services. We have consistently called for an overhaul of the SEN system to ensure that it meets the needs of children and families. We ask the Education Minister to work alongside the Health Minister to transform special educational needs provision so that it delivers for children in Downpatrick and across the North.”
“I am very concerned that Downpatrick has been identified as one of the areas that is under the greatest pressure with regard to special educational needs. That is extremely worrying.”
“<BR /> <BR />At a recent meeting of the Education Committee, as has been said, concerns were raised as to why non-statutory bodies, such as the Council for Integrated Education, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and the Middletown Centre for Autism cannot be specified in the regulations. I welcome the regulations, and, as they progress, we expect the Department to work constructively with those bodies and support them so that they are able to provide period products in their settings.”
“Nobody should have to suffer the indignity of using unsuitable materials to mask their period or have to choose between putting food on the table and buying period products for themselves or their children. Period products are essential; they are not luxury items. For many people and families who are struggling with the rising cost of living, it can be a financial burden and a huge worry. No girl should ever miss school or school activities because she cannot access such products. Free access to sanitary products should be the norm in schools, universities, colleges, workplaces, football grounds, concert venues and many more places. Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for that in the Assembly and our local councils.”
“We need the British Government to step up and adequately fund this place. We need more capital to invest in major infrastructure projects in order to deliver for our communities.”
“You will all be aware that, last week, there was another road traffic accident in Ballynahinch, which resulted in the tragic death of a 70-year-old man. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends and the wider community. I also want to pay tribute to the emergency services for their efforts at the scene. The entire community is shocked and heartbroken by this unfortunate incident. It is yet another sad reminder of the pressing need to move forward and deliver a Ballynahinch bypass. That scheme would greatly improve transport connectivity in the local community and, of course, the wider south Down area. <BR /> <BR />The challenges facing our road networks are a direct impact of the chronic underinvestment in these institutions by the British Government. That underinvestment is now costing lives.”
“We will continue to work throughout the process with Down GAA, the council and Departments to ensure that the project progresses as smoothly as possible in the time ahead.”
“I welcome the fact that plans for the development of a Down GAA centre of excellence at Ballykinlar continue to progress. My party has supported the development of a centre of excellence for many years. It will be a fantastic asset not only to our local sporting clubs and athletes but to the entire community. The benefits of sport to our young people's health and well-being are well known, and state-of-the-art facilities such as those planned for Ballykinlar will bring those benefits into the heart of County Down. We know that the GAA reaches far beyond sport; it also brings rich social and cultural benefits, often being the heartbeat of a community. That is the exciting opportunity that lies ahead for the village of Ballykinlar.”
“At a time when children and young people should be focusing on their futures, they are forced to focus on where and when they might get their next meal. That is unacceptable, and I urge the Minister to put a plan in place to tackle holiday hunger. We must give children a level playing field and help the most vulnerable through challenging circumstances.”
“A high-quality and affordable childcare system is one way that we can address the systemic issues of child poverty and holiday hunger. That will put money back into the pockets of working families and improve the outcomes of vulnerable children. <BR /> <BR />The cut to the school holiday food grant scheme has had a devastating impact on disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people and should never have occurred. We should be removing barriers for families and young people by ensuring that there is a statutory obligation to ensure that children do not go without a good quality meal. <BR /> <BR />Child poverty, through food hunger, can lead to educational underachievement, learning loss and poor physical and mental health.”
“Families are already struggling with the rising costs of uniforms and childcare, never mind the rising costs of everyday bills and utilities. Food poverty can affect all of us at some point. I have seen that all too often with families in my constituency of South Down. The loss of a job, a reduction in earnings or a cut in hours can lead to significant financial challenges for parents and families. As the purse strings tighten, those who suffer are the most vulnerable in society, but, no matter what, every child should have access to a good meal. <BR /> <BR />We are lucky to have the Patrician Youth Centre in Downpatrick, which provides a safety net for families so that their children have access to a good meal. Its work does not go unnoticed, but so much more needs to be done.”
“In addition to assisting the Education Minister, are there steps that the Minister can take in his Department to improve childcare provision?”
“I echo the frustrations of my party colleagues and Members across the Chamber in saying that it is simply not good enough for the British Government to U-turn on vital funding. We must work together to ensure that all children in the North have fair access to education.”
“Integrated education should promote good relations as well as respect for identity, diversity and community background. When funding is cut, it is our children, young people, families and school communities who, ultimately, pay the price. Shared education works best when schools, preschools and youth groups come together to work to provide opportunities for children and young people from all walks of life, regardless of their religious and socio-economic backgrounds, to be educated together. <BR /> <BR />Working to deliver the best educational benefits to children and young people should be a priority for everyone in the Chamber. Working to promote good community relations through respect for identity and diversity is vital to our peace process. Shared education is an invaluable tool.”
“Parties across the Chamber worked really hard to deliver the Integrated Education Act in the last mandate, because, collectively, we recognised that bringing children and young people from different backgrounds together through the education system can positively impact on our society and will help to promote diversity and respect from a young age. <BR /> <BR />Schools like Shimna Integrated College in south Down are testament to how integrated education delivers educational benefits to children and young people. It is so disheartening that the British Government have reneged on their promise to adequately fund these institutions, which has resulted in integrated education investment being put on the back burner.”
“I appreciate that, Minister. Have you any plans in the longer term to work directly with our councils to review our community sporting facilities, specifically in rural areas and areas of deprivation?”
“Minister, as you said, the Downpatrick regeneration working group has been working tirelessly with representatives of your Department and the local council to create the framework and vision for Downpatrick. I understand that there are budgetary constraints, but will you prioritise Downpatrick if a funding package becomes available?”
“Cara Hunter said that the North was lagging behind in grant support and drew comparisons with England, Scotland, Wales and, of course, the South. Gerry Carroll said that it is appalling that families are having to choose between eating and affording school uniforms. That is the reality that we face. Those are just a few of the strong arguments that were made. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the commitment from the Minister today to launch a consultation to legislate on the issue. I urge him to do that as quickly as possible, as we are nearing the time of year when many parents begin to purchase school uniforms. <BR /> <BR />I thank Members for their contributions to the debate, and I thank the Alliance Party for its amendment. I thank Members for their support on what is a very important issue to many of their constituents.”
“There have been so many valid points made by all parties, right across the House, and it is clear that those concerns are being raised with everyone. <BR /> <BR />I want to mention specifically the comment made by Connie Egan, who made the point that the compulsory wearing of skirts is a gender equality issue, and that everyone should be able to wear what they feel comfortable in. My party colleague Pat Sheehan raised the issue that parents are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, and this cost is only adding to it. He made comparisons with other countries, such as Spain. David Brooks mentioned the value of a school uniform, but also the dangers of obsessive branding. Robbie Butler mentioned that the lack of accountability acts as a barrier to accessible education for all, and that people should have a choice.”
“There is much more work to be done to establish a fair tendering process for school uniforms, one that aims to provide high-quality, affordable uniforms that are built to last, can be passed down through households or passed on to new pupils. <BR /> <BR />We must also be more ambitious to help working families with rising school costs by looking at the concept of voluntary contributions. It is clear that those contributions are putting further pressure on families, with 17% of them stating that it is their top worry. Families deserve a break, now more than ever. I will work with everyone in the House to ensure that that happens. The Education Minister must act now to address the issue, particularly as we near the time of the year when parents begin to buy uniforms.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is clear that the Department of Education's current guidance on the cost of school uniforms is not touching the sides of the transformations that are needed to help our struggling families. We must be more ambitious to help working families with rising school costs. The current school uniform grants available from the Education Authority are inadequate to deal with the rising cost of living, and that must be rectified if we want to make uniforms affordable. The Department should urgently review the grant threshold to ensure that all children in poverty receive the support they deserve, and that no child is excluded from accessing their education.”
“Children should not miss out on school because of the cost of their uniform. Families should not be priced out of schools, and children, especially, should not be burdened by financial pressures. Families do not deserve that. <BR /> <BR />Save the Children also stated that 60% of parents find the cost of school uniforms and PE kits financially challenging, and that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income households. A third of parents across the North have had to borrow money to cover the cost of school uniforms and PE kits. As has been mentioned, we are now in the scenario where families are being forced into debt, year-on-year, borrowing from their local credit unions, taking out high-interest personal loans or credit cards, and they are finding it very difficult to break the seemingly never-ending cycle.”
“<BR /> <BR />Some of the stark findings from Parentkind are a clear signal that families need help to tackle the huge cost of school uniforms. In the North, 71% of parents surveyed claimed that their top school cost worry is the price of school uniforms, and 30% of parents in the North struggle to afford the costs associated with sending their children to school. As has been mentioned, the Children's Society found that parents who had to buy two or more items from specified suppliers said that the average cost was around 50% more expensive. That should not be the case. <BR /> <BR />One in 10 parents surveyed by Save the Children said that their child had missed school due to issues relating to school uniforms or PE kits. That cannot go on: every child has the right to a good education.”
“We need to make sure that going to school is as easy as possible for each and every child in the North, and that means removing unnecessary barriers by making school uniforms affordable for all families, giving our children a good meal and getting them to and from school easily. We cannot have that single mother having sleepless nights, worrying about whether or not she can get her daughter the expensive blazer, the father working extra hours to get that PE uniform or the grandmother spending her much-needed pension on her grandson's branded jumper. It is simply not acceptable. Many families are burdened by debt every year because uniforms and PE gear cost hundreds of pounds for just one child. It is an experience that I, as a parent, have been challenged by as well, and, I am sure, many in the House have been too.”
“The unfortunate and very sad reality is that I could go on and on with those personal testimonies. Many families are really hard-pressed at the minute as a result of the high costs of heating, electricity and food. They already struggle to make ends meet, and, when the summer comes around, the cost of school uniforms really can be the straw that breaks the camel's back. <BR /> <BR />By putting all our shoulders to the wheel and working together in this Assembly, we can make school uniforms more affordable and help keep the money in families' pockets. Making a positive difference to the everyday lives of ordinary people must be our focus.”