Cheryl Brownlee
East Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I want to recognise three outstanding East Antrim candidates for this year's BBC 'Make a Difference' awards. Their passion, dedication and commitment has made a lasting impact on East Antrim.”
“Individuals such as Iris often work quietly behind the scenes and give their time and energy without seeking any recognition. Iris has become the backbone of community life. Her nomination reflects the esteem in which she is held in Islandmagee, where everybody loves her.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. We have over 17,000 children and over 4,000 adults on the waiting list. They are waiting for up to six years for an assessment. <BR /> <BR />Minister, in the delivery plan, there are no measurable targets to reduce those waiting times.”
“It showcases everything that is best about Carrickfergus and beyond, from the magnificent historical re-enactment to the participation of over 40 marching bands, Orange lodges, children's entertainers, pipers, Highland dancers, Lambeg drummers, community groups, living history performers, volunteers and many more.”
“I recognise the outstanding success of the Royal Landing celebrations held in Carrickfergus on Saturday. Once again, thousands of people lined the streets of our historic town to witness what can only be described as a spectacular re-enactment of one of the most important moments in Ulster's history: the landing of King William III at Car…”
“They overlook the volunteer time, the hours that are taken to preserve our history, the young people who spend their evenings participating in bands and cultural organisations and the thousands who attend with pride and enthusiasm.”
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“It means the loss, not only of a pregnancy but of the hopes, plans and dreams that they had for that new life. Having no formal acknowledgement or marker of their loss can compound the grief. The new certificate scheme would make a genuinely positive difference to many who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss, offering a formal recognition of the tiniest of lives. <BR /> <BR />A number of years ago, I recall a constituent who had lost their baby. Their grief cannot truly be explained in my comments today but, through their grief, they felt totally and utterly unsupported. They were told the heartbreaking news and handed a leaflet. Yes, counselling was offered, but, shockingly, the counselling service was offered in the hospital unit where that lady had been given the heartbreaking news that she had lost her baby.”
“Kellie, it must have been very difficult for you to share your story. It really took me, so I am thinking about you. It is great that we are able to bring this issue to the Floor, and, hopefully, we can start to make some changes in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Miscarriage and other types of baby loss prior to 24 weeks in pregnancy are often minimised and treated as a clinical event rather than the loss of a baby, and, sadly, for many, the emotional impact of the loss is often disregarded. At any stage of pregnancy, your baby is important. It is a life from the moment that you see those blue lines, and people must no longer grieve in silence. <BR /> <BR />For many, the earliest of losses can be deeply distressing, emotionally and physically.”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. Considering that that is such an important project for our economy, can the deputy First Minister confirm that she will continue to raise it as a priority with the Executive?”
“It is pleasing to see that that is no longer a taboo subject and that many individuals and organisations continue to speak up and stand up to ensure that women and girls can access the products that they need when they need them. <BR /> <BR />I absolutely support the regulations, and I thank all those who have worked so hard to bring them to the House.”
“I welcome the regulations and commend the Minister and all those who played a part in getting them to this stage. The regulations are important and represent another significant step in the right direction to ensure that no female is ever disadvantaged due to period poverty. It is heartening to see a number of government, sectoral and voluntary organisations running pilots and schemes to provide free period products in our public spaces. The success and demand for those schemes show that a clear need still exists in Northern Ireland for free period products. <BR /> <BR />Period products are not optional. They are a basic necessity for women and girls, and it is important that they are accessible to all.”
“Will the Minister confirm whether the business case that has been approved will be provided for the meeting on 18 April for the unions?”
“I thank the Minister for that detailed response. I am delighted to hear that it has been progressed and will be approved. Now we have to encourage and move this as fast as possible for all support staff in the education sector.”
“Thank you for the update. I welcome the positive announcement about the huge investment of the in-kind donation from the US computer software company Alteryx. How confident is the First Minister that we can build upon that fantastic, positive news for Northern Ireland?”
“I know that the Minister will want to do all those things, but I know, of course, that we will need substantial funding to deliver on them. <BR /> <BR />I reaffirm my support for the motion. I welcome it, and I want to see as much progress as possible on the matter.”
“We need to deliver a sustainable, data-based plan to address holiday hunger at the point of need but also to address the range of factors that can cause this need. In other parts of the UK, including England and Wales, previous holiday food grant schemes have incorporated a number of delivery models, including vouchers that can be exchanged for food and combining access to good meals with holiday activities and summer schemes. It is vital that we address all available options to ensure that we deliver the best scheme here. <BR /> <BR />We have spoken in the Chamber in recent weeks about the need to invest in special educational needs (SEN), the need to invest in our schools estate and the need to support families with uniform costs, these holiday payments and childcare.”
“During the pandemic, direct payments were made to eligible families through the Education Authority (EA), partly because it was the most convenient and efficient means of delivering that vital lifeline in extremely difficult times. I want to recognise the work on that scheme by previous Education Ministers Peter Weir and Michelle McIlveen.”
“The NIAO publication reports a gap of 11 to 15 years in healthy life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas. It also shows that children from deprived backgrounds are four times more likely to develop a mental health problem by the age of 11. <BR /> <BR />It was also shocking to read that, in the past five years, the inequality gap in the proportion of P1 children who were classed as being obese widened from 45% to 93%, owing to the increase in obesity rates in the most deprived areas, while there was no notable change in the least deprived areas. <BR /> <BR />Those facts are terrifying and cement my opinion that we need to take action to address the issue. The question is not whether we need to act but how we act.”
“I welcome the earlier acknowledgement of Monkstown Boxing Club, which is very much at the heart of the community, helping everyone. I commend all the voluntary groups who do that daily. <BR /> <BR />It is also critical that clear monitoring mechanisms be co-designed and understood in order to measure objectives and outcomes and to enable data to be collated and reported in a timely fashion, as well as for accountability and ownership from various Departments to be understood clearly by all involved. <BR /> <BR />There is growing evidence of a link between poverty and educational underachievement. That evidence shows that there is a massive 24% gap in the attainment of GCSEs for those children who are receiving free school meals.”
“It can be a vicious circle: adults who grow up in poverty tend to earn less, to have a higher risk of unemployment, and therefore pay less tax over their lifetime, and to be more likely to need much more support. As a party, we are committed to working with the Executive to support children and young people and families who are in poverty and to breaking that cycle. It is therefore crucial that all Ministers take a collaborative approach to tackling the issue. <BR /> <BR />As is stated in the recent Northern Ireland Audit Office report:”
“I support the motion and the amendment, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. <BR /> <BR />It is the job of a Government to protect the most vulnerable in society. Children, by their nature, are vulnerable. They cannot support themselves by getting a job and securing an income, so they must rely on others to provide them with the basic necessities of life. It is a parent or a guardian's duty to provide that support, but, in the past few years, doing so has become very challenging for many, particularly those in low-income households. <BR /> <BR />Poverty rarely has a single cause, and it can be difficult to separate causes and effects. It is clear, however, that factors including low wages, worklessness, childcare, opportunities and the rising cost of living are all significant drivers of child poverty.”
“I do not want special status, but I ask for equality and for those schools to no longer be ignored. <BR /> <BR />If I had the time, I could give a large list of primary schools that require a major repair or that need to be knocked down completely and rebuilt. I will make it clear: I want every child in Northern Ireland to thrive no matter what school they attend, but I would not be doing my duty as a representative if I failed to mention the plight of schools in the controlled sector.”
“The stress on the school is not fair for those children, who have to endure a school that requires many repairs, is on a split site and has lost teachers due to the tightness of its budget. <BR /> <BR />Only last Friday, I visited Carrickfergus Grammar School, where children have actually had to be excluded from certain areas of the school because the windows are literally falling out. As I walked around the school, numerous bins and buckets were catching rainwater where it comes in through the roof. The PE department operates out of a shipping container — the same one that was there when I was at the school many years ago — and the home economics building is a mobile from the 1980s that is not fit for purpose. It is not good enough. The fabric of our controlled schools has been left to deteriorate.”
“It is also important to note that while the motion calls for more capital funding for integrated schools, some schools in the controlled sector are in the worst condition in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />There are those who claim — rightly so — that integrated schools have been waiting for a new build for many years, but, in my constituency, Carrickfergus Academy, which was formed by amalgamation, has been waiting for over 10 years for a new school, which was promised at that time. The school operates on a split site at present; a situation that creates significant problems and places huge demands on teachers and the school budget. The school serves some of the most deprived communities in East Antrim.”
“There are many good examples of genuine, organic integration at schools throughout Northern Ireland. Our experience of the controlled sector, for instance, is that it is open, inclusive and cross-community. That should be the desire of everyone here for schools across Northern Ireland. The schools in my constituency do great work on a restricted budget. Those schools may not have the label of "integrated", but continue to deliver, working with other schools, opening their doors to children from all backgrounds, providing a first-class education for all and naturally integrating children and teachers from all backgrounds. <BR /> <BR />We all want a society where all children are educated together. However, elevating one sector above another across Northern Ireland's educational landscape undermines rather than promotes those objectives.”
“Let me start. <BR /> <BR />The Department has a limited budget. In the past few weeks that I have been here, I have seen that it has constant, increasing demands. Given the constraints on the education budget, that must mean that there are fewer resources for schools that cater for the majority of children in Northern Ireland. While I recognise and acknowledge that integrated schools do absolutely fantastic work in my constituency, it is also true that controlled schools offer the same opportunity for shared learning and development in the community. <BR /> <BR />The fondest memories that I have from school are those of participating in programmes such as those offered by Co-operation Ireland and Habitat for Humanity. Unfortunately, programmes like that are the first to be cut when budgets come under pressure or staff are strained.”
“From the outset, I want to make it clear that I support all schools, including those in the integrated sector. I want to see educational benefits for all in Northern Ireland. The reality is that many schools outside the formal integrated sector are already integrated, although they do not have the title of "integrated" above their door. In fact, some schools outside the official integrated sector have a more integrated mix of pupils.”
“I welcome the Minister's update. Does he agree that marching bands make a positive contribution to our communities across Northern Ireland?”
“Does the Minister agree that the key to tackling poverty is getting people into work and ensuring that there is affordable, accessible childcare available for parents to do so?”
“The continuation of this programme is crucial not only for the well-being and development of our youth but for the broader community. Securing the necessary funding would safeguard the future of Monkstown Boxing Club and reaffirm a commitment to fostering educational opportunities and nurturing the potential of our communities' children and young people.”
“Despite their unwavering dedication to the betterment of the community, they have yet to receive confirmation or a letter for the new financial year. With the looming deadline of 31 March fast approaching, staff members are understandably consumed with uncertainty and anxiety regarding the future of their employment. The fact that Monkstown Boxing Club is faced with the very real prospect of losing its dedicated team members and the vital services that they provide is deeply distressing not only for the club but for the countless young people whose lives have been positively impacted on by the programme and the club's services. <BR /> <BR />I know that the Minister will continue to press the Executive for a budget outcome that will allow him to confirm funding for the 2024-25 financial year.”
“One such programme, In Your Corner, is an innovative educational support programme that is funded through the Department of Education's Fair Start budget, which targets the objectives and aims of championing emotional health and well-being, promoting a whole-community approach to education and maximising potential. Over the past seven years, the programme has been instrumental in providing young people at the risk of educational underachievement with invaluable opportunities to realise their potential, pursue their aspirations and increase their confidence. <BR /> <BR />Due to a significant cut in the Fair Start budget for the In Your Corner programme this financial year, all the project staff find themselves in the grave position of being on protected notice for the second successive year.”
“I rise to highlight the serious funding concerns that have been raised with me by Monkstown Boxing Club. Sports clubs across Northern Ireland do incredible work in their local areas. In my constituency of East Antrim, we are blessed with numerous clubs that make a tangible difference each and every day, and Monkstown Boxing Club is no exception. Aside from the well-documented physical and mental benefits of sport and physical activity, particularly those of boxing, the club offers so much by way of education and life skills programmes.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Does she have a time frame for that or any idea when the legislation will be enacted?”
“The aims of a school uniform are to bring the school community together and to help create a sense of belonging and cohesion for pupils. When accessibility to that uniform starts to create a barrier and exclude pupils, we need to make that change.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are small changes that can be made to help address the issues presented today. It is critical that schools do not instruct parents to buy from one specific supplier or buy a certain brand, thereby giving those suppliers a monopoly of the market, given the sky-high costs that come with that. We should ensure that items are available off the peg from a number of retail outlets so that a school uniform does not become a barrier to children from low-income families. We should also reduce the number of compulsory items. Pupils should not feel stigmatised because they cannot afford the sometimes huge array of uniform and sportswear items demanded by some schools, and cost should not be a prohibitive factor in deciding which school a child attends.”
“At the moment, guidance to boards of governors encourages them to take account of affordability, but that guidance is not enshrined in law and therefore leads to inconsistencies across the board. The permanent secretary wrote to all schools in June 2023, encouraging them to take account of the guidance and of the impact on families of expensive uniform requirements, but, again, it is merely guidance. I also acknowledge that schools and their boards of governors wish to present their school to the highest possible visual standard and that flexibility around uniforms can mean a degree of uncertainty, but the reality is that the strict demands placed on parents are driving them to breaking point, placing wholly unnecessary stipulations on them and putting looks over education.”
“There needs to be societal change in order to reduce the stigma associated with second-hand clothes or clothes swaps. Achieving that will not only reduce the financial burden but be far better for our environment. I believe that societal views on the subject are changing significantly. I have to confess that I am a lover of Vinted, where one can buy and sell second-hand clothes. Doing that is becoming more and more popular, and the stigma that was once there is no longer as prevalent. <BR /> <BR />That needs to continue, and we all have a part to play, but it is by no means a solution. The real issue is that, in Northern Ireland, there is no legislation to address school uniform costs and the associated criteria. It falls to our schools to manage that day-to-day.”
“In my constituency, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's community planning partnership has teamed up with community advice services to help provide parents with good-quality, clean, pre-worn school uniforms at no cost. A uniform pop-up shop was opened in Carrickfergus town centre during the summer, and a number of community groups and charities offered support and assistance. <BR /> <BR />We must, however, be realistic and recognise the societal pressures on young people and the demand that those place on their parents. Children are under pressure to have the top brands and to keep up to date with the latest trends, and the unfortunate truth is that parents are forced into financial stress, taking out loans and using moneylenders as a result of that constant demand.”
“They, too, have been hit extremely hard by the cost-of-living crisis. They continue to receive no support with childcare, housing, rates, the cost of living, uniforms or lunches, yet they are seeing their costs continually rise, leaving them literally on the breadline. We need to ensure that everyone across society is supported. We have previously urged Westminster to recognise the extortionate price of uniforms and to extend the zero rate or else introduce a price cap to support families and children in Northern Ireland. We will continue to do that. <BR /> <BR />Significant work has been done by local councils and the community, voluntary and faith sectors to tackle the issue head-on.”
“As a parent whose daughter started secondary school in September, I know all too well the significant costs that are associated with purchasing school uniforms. I am delighted to see the motion and the amendment, as we should address this burden as soon as possible. <BR /> <BR />The cost of uniforms can be extortionate to the point of being simply unaffordable. That is only compounded for families with multiple children. No parent should be excluded owing to the cost of a school uniform. I agree, of course, that financial support for those in low-income households should be supported, continued and protected, but I will also highlight the plight of working families. Owing to the strict criteria and threshold, working families are continually excluded from government support.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your response, which I welcome. I understand that the Department of Health recently endorsed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations regarding the hybrid closed-loop system for those with type 1 diabetes. Will you provide an update on the implementation of those recommendations?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister and welcome her to her role. Will she provide a timeline for the appointment of the new Victims' Commissioner?”
“They deserve to be paid a fair wage for the job that they do, and I welcome the Minister of Education's commitment last week to resolve the pay disputes in the education system. <BR /> <BR />As a final point, I will touch on the parents and carers in these situations. Of course, I speak personally when I say that every parent wants the very best for their child and will, of course, naturally fight to ensure that their child has the best start to life. However, many of those parents work full time, have other children and other commitments, and are being overrun by an overly complex, complicated and time-consuming process that is having a detrimental impact on their mental health as well as on the child. No person should ever have to fight that hard for basic education.”
“<BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to celebrate the community and voluntary organisations that are providing support to young people with SEN and their families. One particular organisation in my constituency of East Antrim is Little Stars. It was born out of a sheer passion and determination to see specific services offered for those with special educational needs. I also had a very useful meeting with SEN Reform NI on Friday, and I thank that body and all other community organisations that are making a difference every day and taking on the fight for so many. I also place on record my support for SEN staff, teaching and non-teaching, who do such incredible work in very difficult circumstances.”
“A significant number of decisions that are appealed through the process are overturned, which is great for parents but shows that the initial assessment process is severely flawed. There needs to be a cross-sectoral, cross-departmental approach to this process. As I mentioned previously, the number of statemented children has risen sharply in recent years. The Department of Health projections show an expected continual rise in numbers of children and young people with special educational needs, but that is not reflected in the Education Authority's predictions. We need to see that increase reflected urgently and provide suitable education places that are supported by the correct infrastructure.”
“The Education Authority needs to provide an alternative, simpler, easier-to-navigate process that all parents can feel confident in and advocate for their child at the highest possible standard and not be disadvantaged due to the process. Another aspect is that the process requires parents to record their child in a number of specific situations. On that basis, a decision is made. How can a child be judged on six minutes of a 24-hour day, bearing in mind that the very nature of children with SEN means that their reactions can vary starkly based on different environments and situations? <BR /> <BR />We have also heard about the significant numbers of tribunal cases against the Education Authority.”
“While, initially, that sharp increase is a bit of a shock, I believe that there are some positives to take, such as early intervention, awareness, identifying conditions and providing support that might not have been provided in years gone by. <BR /> <BR />Having said that, it is important to highlight that the statementing process has its flaws. One of the fundamental issues lies with the initial forms. They are complex and paper-based, they take a long time to fill out, and there is general confusion around the process and the next steps, putting parents at a disadvantage before they even put pen to paper. We need to break the cycle.”
“In the debate on ending violence against women and girls, I remarked how pleased I was to see the Assembly dealing with real issues that are affecting people across Northern Ireland. In that regard, I will begin my contribution by congratulating and thanking the Members who tabled such an important motion. I am going through the SEN process with my son, so I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate not just as an MLA but as a parent in the heart of the process. <BR /> <BR />I recognise, as does my party, that special educational needs provision in Northern Ireland has been pushed to breaking point and is in dire need of investment and reform from the ground up that is underpinned by sustainable budgets and parental engagement. The number of statemented SEN pupils has risen by around 5,000 since 2019.”
“Is there a timescale for the implementation of the report's recommendations?”
“I absolutely join in the calls for the Executive to implement this much-needed framework, and I will finish with the same sentiment as that with which I finished my maiden speech on the childcare debate last week: we must do more.”
“I am sure that that will resonate with all parents here today and those watching from home, but it should not be the norm. I want our daughters to grow up in a world where they do not need to worry about walking home at night by themselves or experience any unwanted comments or actions simply because they are female. I want them and all other girls to be able to be themselves, do their own thing and enjoy happy, prosperous lives.”
“Supporting people at that time is an absolute priority. <BR /> <BR />There is a serious lack of confidence in our justice system in Northern Ireland when it comes to cases involving domestic and sexual abuse. While that is unfortunate, in many ways it is understandable, due to unacceptably long wait times, a serious lack of prosecutions and convictions and an overall worry about not even being believed. While finances pale into insignificance when discussing such a serious topic, it is important to note that it is estimated that domestic and sexual abuse costs Northern Ireland up to £1 billion per year. <BR /> <BR />I have a young daughter, and I worry when I hear some of the statistics and stories that have been mentioned in the debate.”
“For example, almost two in three women who were surveyed across the United Kingdom said that they had experienced harassment at work; 67% of female students surveyed said that they had had at least one unwanted sexual experience during their time in higher education; and 71% of women of all ages have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space. I was particularly alarmed to see that one in two girls aged just 16 have received an unwanted intimate picture or video in their lifetime. <BR /> <BR />A number of Ministers have a very important role to play in the process. I very much welcome the commitment from the Minister for Communities at Question Time last week to explore how we can better support those suffering from domestic abuse when they seek to be rehomed in social housing.”
“However, the framework is to address the fact that victims of gender-based violence are disproportionately female. Men and boys also have an important role to play in challenging the current culture. <BR /> <BR />I stated earlier that violence against women and girls is a society-wide problem. It is also important to remember that abuse does not necessarily have to be physical for it to have a damaging impact. Verbal abuse, coercion, degrading remarks, humiliation, threats, financial control: none of those will necessarily leave any physical marks, but the emotional scars that they leave can be just as devastating.”
“Anything that comes from the Executive should serve to further enhance and complement the existing work by looking at where there is need, establishing what work is already being done and looking at how that can be better signposted and communicated to create a joined-up approach to ending violence against women and girls across society. <BR /> <BR />Co-design has been an integral part of developing the draft strategic framework, bringing together expertise and experiences from across government, sectoral organisations, the community and voluntary sector and those with lived experience. The framework contains a strong focus on the prevention of violence against women and girls by challenging misogyny and sexist attitudes. Of course, we must not forget that men and boys will also suffer violence, and by no means do we want to forget them.”