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.”
The complete record
Every one of 569 lines we hold for Cathy Mason, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 12.
“The reality, however, is that that puts the available housing stock in the area under more and more pressure due to an increase in demand. <BR /> <BR />More and more people face housing pressure, whether that is due to the lack of housing in general, the rising cost of rent, limited access to the market or the increase in the number of short-term lets and holiday homes. The housing crisis is, as has been said, complex. It is multifaceted, but it is spiralling out of control. The crux of the challenge continues to be about ensuring the availability and affordability of housing alongside providing adequate support to tackle poverty and help low-income households. The housing crisis will not, however, be solved by tackling one aspect of the problem alone.”
“Housing stress and housing pressure are felt across the North. We have heard a lot about Derry and the north coast this evening, but those pressures are also prevalent in South Down. Due to the increasing demand for housing in our rural and coastal communities, it is a harsh reality that young people and families across South Down are being locked out of owning a home or living in the community in which they grew up. <BR /> <BR />South Down is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and we are so lucky to have the stunning Lecale coastline, the iconic Mountains of Mourne, seaside towns such as Newcastle and idyllic villages such as Dundrum, Ardglass and Killough. That makes the area an attractive location to go to for days trips and short holidays or even to relocate to permanently.”
“Minister, in your first answer, you mentioned the social value champion. Can you give us an idea of who that is and what exactly their role is?”
“That is what the Education Minister should be focused on — not on propaganda trips funded by the Israeli Government but on delivering for the children, families and childcare workers here at home. <BR /> <BR />The childcare and early learning strategy must be child-centred, workforce-driven and action-focused. It is time to stop delaying, stop deflecting and start delivering. We need a fully costed, inclusive and ambitious plan that cuts bills for parents, supports providers, values workers and gives every single child, in every community and in every language, the very best possible start in life.”
“<BR /> <BR />The non-statutory preschool sector, which is the backbone of early years education in many of our communities, must no longer be treated as a second-class service. Those providers, at present, feel at a disadvantage on funding, staffing ratios and resources. If we value early learning, we must fund it fairly, statutory and non-statutory alike. <BR /> <BR />The strategy must support all parts of our childcare system, including community and voluntary providers, Sure Start, childminders and home carers. It must finally deliver the long-overdue review of the minimum standards in partnership with the Health Minister. <BR /> <BR />Children are at the heart of the issue. Childcare is not just supervision; it is the very foundations of learning, confidence and opportunity.”
“Let us be clear: the workforce is overwhelmingly female, underpaid and undervalued. If we want quality childcare, we must value the people who deliver it. <BR /> <BR />The strategy must also be inclusive. It must provide for children with special educational needs, for those with physical disabilities and for those learning through the medium of Irish or whose first language is not English. The Irish-medium sector has been under-resourced for years, lacking affordable childcare places, proper training pathways and workforce development in the language. Parents choosing Irish-medium education should not be penalised by poor provision. They deserve equality of access.”
“Families are still facing crippling childcare bills that rival mortgage payments. <BR /> <BR />According to the latest NISRA survey, only one in four households say that childcare is affordable. That means that three out of four families are struggling to pay for the very thing that lets them work and provide for their children. For too many families, whether on two incomes or relying on universal credit, accessing suitable and affordable childcare is not possible. That has to change. The price uplift gap that leaves families on universal credit locked out of affordable childcare must be closed, but affordability alone will not fix the crisis. <BR /> <BR />We need a childcare workforce strategy that tackles recruitment and retention, improves pay and conditions and values the skilled staff who make the sector possible.”
“Since the Assembly returned, we have all agreed that tackling the childcare crisis must be a defining priority of the mandate. We know that delivering high-quality, affordable childcare is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. Sinn Féin Finance Ministers have not just recognised that, they have acted. They have allocated £75 million specifically for childcare and early years. It is funding given directly to support affordable childcare, struggling providers and to deliver the long-overdue childcare and early learning strategy. However, when it comes to a strategy, parents and providers are still left in the dark by the Minister of Education. There is no strategy and no plan. The childcare subsidy scheme was a welcome first step, but it has not been built upon.”
“Each has a key part to play in ensuring that proper standards of conduct are upheld by Members. As such, it is important that the Assembly ensures that the office of the commissioner remains filled without undue interruption in order to safeguard the timely exercise of the commissioner's functions. <BR /> <BR />I expect that the other Committee members welcome the appointment of Stephen Wright, as I do, and look forward to engaging with the new commissioner in progressing the vital work of implementing the Assembly's ethical standards system. On behalf of the Committee, I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The process for investigating complaints is designed so that allegations of breaches of the MLA or ministerial codes of conduct go directly to the commissioner for assessment of admissibility and, where applicable, for investigation. For complaints against MLAs, the Committee then considers the commissioner's investigation reports, determines whether a breach of the code has occurred and, where appropriate, recommends to the Assembly the sanction to be imposed. The commissioner, the Committee and the Assembly therefore exercise the complementary functions of investigation, adjudication and sanctioning respectively.”
“I speak to the motion having sat on the Assembly's recruitment panel for the appointment of a new Commissioner for Standards. <BR /> <BR />As Members are aware, the commissioner is an independent officer who is appointed by the Assembly to consider and investigate complaints of alleged breaches of the MLA code of conduct and the ministerial code of conduct. In fulfilling the role, the commissioner contributes to the overseeing and safeguarding of the ethical standards of MLAs and Ministers. The commissioner's independence is therefore essential to ensuring fairness, transparency, accountability and public trust in our standards regime.”
“Minister, as you said, your Department has spent over £80 million on early years support and childcare, but, according to a NISRA survey, only 26% of households say that childcare is affordable. What measures will you build into the childcare strategy to ensure that costs are kept down?”
“I agree with the Member's comments, which is why I am trying to reiterate that it is best when we all work together and form a response from all Departments. <BR /> <BR />In responding to storms and extreme weather, every Department must play its part, not only by delivering the interventions that are needed to prevent damage but by stepping in to help communities recover and rebuild when disaster strikes. We are better when we work together. When it comes to storm and extreme weather responses, we need every Department to step up, work together and play its part, not only to deliver the early interventions that are required to prevent destruction and damage but to intervene and help communities to recover and rebuild after disaster strikes.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also acknowledge the work that was undertaken by former Infrastructure Minister, John O'Dowd, which laid the groundwork for his successor, the current Minister, Liz Kimmins. The First Minister and the then Infrastructure Minister, John O'Dowd, visited Downpatrick to meet the affected organisations and residents and view at first-hand the sites that had been devastated by the flooding. Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, has also met the residents and businesses in Newcastle and Downpatrick to listen to their concerns, and she is working on their behalf to help prevent such devastating events.”
“<BR /> <BR />The flooding in Downpatrick and Newcastle in 2023 was devastating for the local area. Despite extremely challenging circumstances, the resilience of our small and family-run local businesses and the remarkable community spirit shone through when everyone came together to support one another. The interventions that followed the floods showed us how we are at our best when everybody works together. Former Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, announced the flood support scheme, which was a huge relief for our small and family-run local traders and assisted them with restoring their premises and allowed them to continue opening their doors to the community.”
“The Education Authority said that, as of 11.30 on the morning of the storm, 18 schools had reported storm-related incidents to its maintenance service. Those mainly involved damage to roofs and fallen trees. With no alternative transport provided, parents had to collect their children during a storm warning, which placed parents and families at risk, despite the advice to avoid unnecessary travel. There should have been much better communication and coordination between the Department of Education, the EA and the Met Office. The Department and the EA should have listened to the advice in advance and instructed accordingly. When Departments and statutory agencies fail to work collaboratively, it leads to unnecessary disruption. Working together delivers stronger results for our communities.”
“Schools in some counties were told to close early, but the lack of direct communication from the EA to schools on county borders caused confusion for parents. Schools were left to handle the resultant miscommunication, and that diverted focus from ensuring pupil and staff safety. <BR /> <BR />Failing to close schools on time, with appropriate notice, put the safety of children and schools at risk.”
“DFI Roads and DFI Rivers officials were on the ground monitoring water levels at the Shimna river and clearing large stones and debris from the roads. They were elevating the seismic water run-off, which equated to three days' worth of rain across the course of the day, from the mountain. I welcome the fact that advice from the Department was consistent and that immediate action was taken to prevent extreme flood damage to homes. There are, of course, lessons to be learned to ensure that flooding can be avoided and, in worst-case scenarios, households protected. <BR /> <BR />Lessons must also be learned from the Education Authority's delays in closing schools during storm Amy. They caused deep frustration and fear among parents and guardians. The lack of clear and timely communication caused chaos for schools and families.”
“The need for all Departments to tailor their responses to the frequency and severity of storms and extreme weather events is increasingly clear, and the motion is timely. I am sure that everyone has seen yesterday's flooding in Newcastle in my constituency. It caused concern and panic for the local community. Many households were only millimetres away from their homes being flooded once again. I acknowledge the strength of the local community, particularly the Newcastle Regional Community Resilience Group, which provided vital communication throughout the day, and the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, which brought a hiker down to safety. Upwards of 1,200 sandbags were made available and distributed to prevent flood damage to households in the area.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Will she be working in partnership with the childcare sector to design that service?”
“First Minister, you mentioned that Friday's meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council was, indeed, the thirtieth plenary meeting. That is clearly a significant milestone. Looking ahead, will you outline how the Executive can build on the important work that has already been done to deepen cooperation across the island, particularly in the areas of health, infrastructure and the economy, and how that cooperation benefits people in both jurisdictions?”
“Thanks for that answer, Minister. When I engage with clubs across South Down, they tell me that they see a huge growth in women and girls' participation in sport — GAA, soccer, rugby, coastal rowing and cricket — but that facilities for them lag far behind. How will you ensure that future investment prioritises equality so that female players have the same opportunities as their male equivalents?”
“<BR /> <BR />I call on the Communities and Education Ministers to listen to families and take the necessary action to give every child the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
“The introduction of the childcare subsidy scheme was a very positive first step towards making childcare more affordable for families; however, the persistent high cost of childcare continues to put pressure on many families. High-quality, affordable childcare supports families who are balancing the demands of work and home life and plays a vital role in a child's early learning and development. We must see the long-awaited childcare strategy, and there can be no further delays. <BR /> <BR />Yesterday, the affordable school uniforms legislation was yet another missed opportunity to tackle child poverty, to once and for all cut the cost of school uniforms and put money back into the pockets of workers and families.”
“<BR /> <BR />The ongoing high cost of childcare continues to make returning to work financially unviable and completely out of reach for many families, further entrenching inequality and constraining opportunities for those striving to improve their circumstances. We have seen that the Minister has instead placed all the anti-poverty strategy's childcare interventions into the hands of the Department of Education, and we have to blindly place full faith in a strategy that we have not yet seen. <BR /> <BR />Delivery of the childcare strategy is long overdue. The strategy must reduce bills for parents, support struggling providers and give our children the very best start in life.”
“Childcare often represents one of the greatest financial obstacles to re-entering employment. Maintaining the fund at its current level, despite rising living costs, undermines its effectiveness and limits the support available to families who need it most. Furthermore, the Minister's decision not to reduce the 15% childcare attainment gap for families on universal credit is another failure to address a key barrier to employment and early education. Universal credit covers up to 85% of childcare costs, but the remaining 15% very often amounts to a substantial portion of some household budgets. For many, that gap makes childcare financially out of reach, disadvantages children's access to early learning and prevents parents from re-entering the workforce.”
“The decision not to increase the limit of the adviser discretion fund represents a missed opportunity to support parents who are facing significant barriers to employment. That fund acts as a lifeline for those struggling to cover costs associated with returning to work, including meeting upfront childcare costs.”
“The difference between them often comes down to nothing more than the postcode in which they live or the family circumstances into which they were born. Poverty is a result of the failure of the system to protect every single child. Unfortunately, what we have seen from the Minister for Communities lacks ambition and substance. It does not address the real challenges that struggling families face. To put it bluntly, it is not fit for purpose. <BR /> <BR />There is a clear missed opportunity to use childcare as a key tool for helping address child poverty. Minister Lyons has a part to play in delivering high-quality and affordable childcare. He seems, however, to have deflected his responsibility to the Minister of Education and his yet-to-be-seen early learning and childcare strategy.”
“Poverty is something that no one should have to endure. When families are hit hardest and find themselves living in poverty, it is the children who have least control over their circumstances and who suffer most from them. Growing up in poverty means that children miss out on opportunities in the short term and in the long term. According to the 2024 Audit Office report on child poverty in the North, children living in poverty are more likely to have poorer health, educational, well-being and economic outcomes than their peers who are more well off. <BR /> <BR />We live in a society in which two childhoods exist side by side. One is of comfort and opportunity, while the other is of quiet suffering.”
“That is a Minister closing the door on the people to whom he should be listening. We will allow the Bill to pass, because families deserve something, but let us not pretend that it delivers what they were promised.”
“If that is the standard of leadership, it is no wonder that we have ended up with a Bill that falls so far short of what families really need. As a mother and someone who hears every week from parents who are exhausted, stretched to their limits and doing their very best, I cannot pretend that the Bill is good enough. It is not. <BR /> <BR />Having listened week in, week out to witnesses at the Committee, including parents, students, suppliers, school leaders and human rights advocates, Sinn Féin and others in the Chamber tabled practical, fair and deliverable proposals that could have made the Bill work; proposals that were designed to bring down costs, promote equality and support schools to set up more uniform banks and swap schemes. Those ideas did not make it into the Bill. That is not democracy, and it is not partnership.”
“It does not guarantee basic equality for girls who want to wear trousers, or for children with additional needs who need comfort and flexibility built into their uniforms. I have heard Members from across the Chamber say that some schools allow girls to wear trousers, and others do not, but we have missed the opportunity to ensure that they all must allow that. Let us be honest: that was not an oversight; it was a choice. <BR /> <BR />The truth is that the Minister has shown no real interest in tackling the root of the problem. As my colleague Pat Sheehan mentioned, only a few weeks ago, when the Minister was asked about a school that introduced a so-called elite uniform to single out top performers, he could not even bring himself to condemn it.”
“He laughed off promises that were made by his officials, as if it were all some kind of joke. There is absolutely nothing funny about parents lying awake at night, wondering how they will afford another branded jumper or PE kit. There is nothing amusing about families having to choose between heating their home and paying for a school crest, wondering how their child will feel in the morning when they have to put on a woollen blazer that makes them distressed due to their sensory needs, or about the guilt that they will feel because they cannot afford to send their child to the school that they want to go to. <BR /> <BR />The Bill could have brought about real change and fairness. Instead, we have been handed something weak, vague and half-hearted. It does not limit the number of branded items or protect parents from excessive costs.”
“Like many others across the Chamber, I came to the Bill with the real hope that we might see legislation that would make a tangible difference for families who are struggling with the rising cost of school uniforms. I began working on a similar Bill as a private Member, with a real will to help people. I am genuinely gutted at how the Bill has turned out. From day 1, we tried to engage constructively, taking officials and the Minister at their word. We were told to trust the process and wait for draft guidelines, and that, once we saw them, everything would become clear. Well, we are still waiting; we still have not seen them. What did we get instead? We got a Minister who, rather than working with Members, decided to mock the process that we entered into in good faith.”
“I appreciate that answer, Minister. I have written to you on the subject, and I appreciate your response and the fact that you sent out the Chief Veterinary Officer. Farmers tell me that they are heartbroken. While their herds are being wiped out, they feel very left behind, and their families face huge mental and financial strain. I understand that many of the farmers who have been directly impacted on feel that their voice is not being heard on the stakeholder engagement group. Minister, will you commit to holding meaningful engagement with farmers on the ground, as they want to work with you to help out?”
“Bernard is a beacon of light for so many, not because he has avoided pain but because he has embraced it with honesty and courage and shown that, even in loss, there can be life. Today, I pay tribute to Zipporah, Bernard and his children and to everyone who will gather at the Let's Share Grief event.”
“When you meet others who understand that journey, it lightens the load just a little. That is what makes Bernard so special. He is creating a space where people can find comfort, connection and courage in one another. <BR /> <BR />I have often heard it said that grief is the price that we pay for love, but, through Bernard's vision, we see that grief can also be a new source of compassion, connection and hope. The slogan for his event — "Let's turn grief into power" — is both powerful and profound. Those words capture the very essence of what Bernard has done. He has turned unimaginable pain into purpose. He has taken personal tragedy and transformed it into a movement of empathy, solidarity and healing. That is what true community looks like.”
“I have no doubt that Zipporah would be immensely proud of the strength that he has shown, the love that he continues to pour into their children and the compassion that he is now sharing with others in her memory. <BR /> <BR />Out of love, loss and incredible resilience, Bernard has created an event, Let's Share Grief, which is taking place on Tuesday 28 October in the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle. The event will bring together people from all walks of life — people who have lost loved ones, people who are still trying to make sense of that loss and people who simply want to listen and support. It will be a safe, gentle space where stories can be shared. I know from my experience that grief changes you forever and never fully leaves, but, in time, you can learn to carry it differently.”
“In our darkest moments, we all search for light, but it is a rare and extraordinary thing when someone takes their own darkness and heartbreak and uses them to help others to find their light. Following the sudden and devastating loss of his wife, Zipporah, Bernard Branagan was left to raise seven young, beautiful boys, with the eldest being just 10 years old and the youngest only five months old. It is impossible to imagine the pain and the weight of that loss, yet, in the midst of his grief, Bernard has found strength not only for himself and his family but for others who are walking the same difficult path. Rather than retreat from the world, Bernard chose to reach out. He decided that no one should ever feel alone in their grief.”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. Minister, you have been very supportive of residents in Newcastle and businesses in Downpatrick, which have been severely impacted on by flooding. Will you give us an update on the Department's collaboration with regional community resilience groups (RCRGs)?”
“Once they close, they do not come back. We must do everything in our power to protect them and to ensure that decisions are based not on numbers alone but on people, potential and community value. I will continue to stand with the parents, staff and children of St Malachy's Primary School in their campaign to keep their doors open. I will continue to make sure that their voices are heard.”
“That is simply not acceptable, given that the EA seemingly blames schools for not stepping up, and it is particularly not acceptable given that the Downpatrick area has been identified as one of the areas that is most under pressure from need for special educational needs placements. At a time when children have to travel to Belfast to access specialist support, it makes absolutely no sense to overlook a school that is just a few miles up the road and has the space, the facilities and the willingness to help. Let me be clear: SPiMS should never be used solely as a mechanism by which to keep a school open, but is that not common sense? It is a child-centred solution that could address a clear need in the system. <BR /> <BR />Rural schools such as St Malachy's are the backbone of communities across the North.”
“Their message is very simple: the school matters not just to Kilclief but to the wider community; it provides high-quality education in a caring community setting; and its loss would be felt far beyond the school gates. <BR /> <BR />Following those discussions, I wrote to the Education Minister and the Education Authority (EA), urging them to work with the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and the school to ensure that every possible option is fully considered before any decision is taken. One option is to have specialist provision in mainstream schools (SPiMS) on the Kilclief site. The school has already made it known to the Education Authority that it is willing to host such provision, but, to date, has received no response.”
“We all know that a school is so much more than a building; it is the hub of childhood memories; Christmas plays fill the assembly hall; fundraisers bring the school community together; and lifelong friendships begin within the school gates. St Malachy's Primary School in Kilclief is the perfect example of that. It is so much more than just a school. It sits at the very heart of village and parish life. Generations of our families are connected to it. The potential closure of St Malachy's has, therefore, come as a great shock to the parents, staff and, most important, the children who call it their school. Recently, I met parents and the principal of St Malachy's. It is clear that they are deeply committed to securing its future.”
“<BR /> <BR />At the moment, there is no statutory regulation on how schools request voluntary contributions and how they spend them. Guidance from the Department of Education and the Education Authority is very limited, leaving schools to set the level of contributions that are to be requested of parents. For many, that is an additional financial burden that they cannot, or struggle to, meet. Stronger guidance would provide transparency. It would give parents confidence that they will not be penalised for non-payment, create a level playing field across all schools and support a fairer and more inclusive education system. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Education Minister to listen to the concerns of hard-pressed families and offer a consistent and fairer approach to voluntary contributions.”
“Many families across the North are being approached by schools for voluntary contributions. We know the financial pressures that many schools in constituencies right across the North face in ensuring that they provide good learning environments for our children and support their development. However, the reality for many families is that those contributions are voluntary in name only. Many feel obliged to make the payments. Voluntary contributions can add hidden costs that disproportionately affect already struggling families and create inequality. When back-to-school costs are already sky high, with parents facing astronomical costs when buying school uniforms and PE gear, those hidden fees can be the straw that finally breaks the camel's back for many households.”
“I will ask about another group of children who are not able to access education: those who experience emotion-based school non-attendance. Recently, I met parents who are experiencing that with their children — they told me heartbreaking stories. What steps is the Minister taking to make sure that those children receive the right support and that schools receive the right resources to respond?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Agriculture Minister needs to step up to the plate and deliver. It is a human crisis, with families who have farmed for generations now at breaking point. I call on the Minister to meet the farmers without delay, listen to their devastating stories and take urgent action to protect our agri-food sector.”
“The look on his face said more than any report, review, strategy or consultation ever could, but what struck me the most was his determination to keep on farming. I have to say, "Fair play" to James, because, after that late-night meeting, he still managed to get up in the morning and get to school on time. <BR /> <BR />That night, farmers told me that they felt abandoned by DAERA and by the Minister, who, they believe, has sat on his hands for far too long. While their herds are being wiped out, the Department produces review after review and undertakes consultation after consultation. Farmers do not need another consultation on this: they need action. They believe that the strategies are already in place: fair compensation; meaningful intervention; support for farm biodiversity; and urgent implementation of existing recommendations.”
“Among the crowd of men and women was a passionate young farmer called James. James is just 10 years old. He sat quietly beside his grandfather while his mother told the family's story, which was one of heartbreak, cattle loss and livelihoods under threat. In that young man's face could be seen his pride in his family's farm but also his worry as he listened to local farmers' devastating stories. <BR /> <BR />James represents the next generation of farmers, and he deserves a future in which farming is supported rather than undermined. That night, James showed me a picture of his cow, which he had reared himself from birth. Just the week before, he had watched helplessly as it was taken away to be destroyed.”