Councillor Peter Weir - Disappointing Education Minister
“I am deeply disappointed at the Education Minister’s response to the concerns raised by myself and others on the issue of new build for Holywood schools in the Assembly debate on the subject. It is now over four years since the Department announced a new build scheme involving Priory Integrated, Holywood Primary, Redburn Primary, and Holywood Nursery, yet all we seem to have are further delay and uncertainty. There is a feeling that we are no further on from the start. Holywood children deserve the same rights as every other child in Northern Ireland, and they deserve the opportunity to learn in modern conditions rather than sub standard facilities. The success of these schools is due to the dedication of teachers and parents, and has been achieved despite the poor conditions.
The people of Holywood have waited too long already, but they can draw little comfort from the vague answers of the Minister today. The debate was secured in the hope that the Minister would quash rumours of further delay, and confirm a start date for the work to commence. Yet disappointingly we got no such assurance on this. All we got was indications that the Holywood scheme was being reviewed by her as part of an overall review of capital schemes. When pressed on the subject she could not give even a commitment as to when the review is due for completion. This is simply not good enough. The Minister may preach about quality of service and equality of provision, but try telling that to the people of Holywood. It is about time for the sake of Holywood pupils that she practised what she preaches.”
Councillor Peter Weir - Prep Schools
“I welcome the news that there will be a debate on funding of preparatory schools will take place in the Assembly next week. I welcome the initiative taken by my colleagues Michelle McIlveen and Mervyn Storey, supported by the Ulster Unionist Party, to the floor of the Assembly. This is an opportunity for some common sense to be brought into the equation and for the Minister to reverse this ill judged decision.
The proposal to scrap funding to the Prep Schools is deeply flawed. It is hard not to believe that it is motivated by dogmatic considerations, and it is hard to see how this action could pass any equality assessment. There are currently 2410 pupils in prep schools, and for many of their parents financial sacrifices have been made to obtain that school place. The net result of these changes is that many parents will not be able to cope financially and will switch their children to a different school, leading in some cases to the closure of some prep schools. This will mean instead of saving the public money, it will mean that those parents instead of paying 70% of their children’s fees would pay nothing, thus in net terms costing the state more. At a time when the Education system is under financial pressure, this makes little sense. I hope that the Department uses this opportunity to row back from this ideologically driven mistake.”
Councillor Peter Weir - Butt Out
“If a DUP Assembly Member had told a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to “butt out” of Northern Ireland affairs, the Ulster Unionist Party would be screaming from the roof-tops about Little Ulster-men and Ulster nationalism. Yet that is exactly what David McNarry did this morning. He told the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to butt out of Northern Ireland affairs. What sort of a Unionist tells Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to “butt out” of Northern Ireland issues. Their pan-UK unionist credentials are clearly suspect”
Councillor Alex Easton - Attack
North Down MLA Alex Easton has condemned the attack on a woman in her home in Bangor, North Down. He has appealed for anyone with information to hand it over to the police.
Speaking today North Down DUP MLA Alex Easton said:
I condemn this attack on a woman in her home in Bangor in the early hours of this morning.
I appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the Police.
We must stand together as a community to stamp out such scandalous acts of crime. the North Down MLA said.
Councillor Alex Easton - Potholes
North Down MLA Alex Easton has claimed that Bangors Roads are falling apart as his office has been inundated with complaints about potholes.
Speaking today North Down DUP MLA Alex Easton said:
My office has been inundated with complaints about the state of the roads in Kilcooley, Rathgill, Cleland area, Albany and Beechfield, Donaghadee.
I will be seeking immediate assurances from the Roads service and the Minister for Regional Development that potholes will be filled in and that roads will be brought up to standard.
The people of North Down, as anywhere else in Northern Ireland, have the right to expect good quality roads for smooth travelling. The people of North Down pay their taxes and rates, a large proportion of which goes towards the up keep of roads and pavements. the North Down MLA said.
Councillor Alex Easton - ABC Failing
North Down MLA Alex Easton has claimed that Ards Borough Council and the NI Housing Executive are not keeping the pathways of the Ashfield area of the Beechfield Estate, Donaghadee clean and tidy.
Speaking today North Down DUP MLA Alex Easton said:
I have been contacted by a number of residents in the Ashfield area of the Beechfield Estate, Donaghdee to complain about the state of pathways.
It seems to me that Ards Borough Council and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive are not fulfilling their obligations.
It is up to both these agencies to keep pathways clean from weeds and rubbish which I would be concerned will attract vermin, especially rubbish.
I will be making contact with both Ards Council and the Housing Executive to see that the pathways are kept clean and that they continue to keep an eye on them, cleaning them regularly.
I would also urge local people to place any rubbish in the bins available or to take it home with them. It is important to keep our streets tidy and clean. the North Down MLA said.
Councillor Peter Weir - Decent Homes
“I was deeply shocked to learn, via an answer to an Assembly Question that I submitted, that 7320 houses in North Down Borough Council are deemed not to meet Decent Homes standards. Taken with the figures for the neighbouring Ards Council area in which nearly 8000 homes fall into the same category, this is a damning indictment of the condition of many houses locally. While these figures are dependant upon the definition of a Decent Home, which by definition is subjective, it shows the urgent need to tackle this problem.
These figures cover both private and public sector housing. In the private sector it is vital that there is proper enforcement and action taken against irresponsible social landlords who are damaging the reputation of the vast majority of responsible landlords. In the public sector it again calls into question the position of the Department of Social Development, and whether they have got the balance right. They have prioritised new builds in their budget, and while there is a clear need for new housing, I believe that at times this has been at the expense of necessary improvement to existing public sector housing. Money was allocated last year by the Finance Department, specifically on the grounds that this should be directed towards maintenance and improvements of existing public housing. Yet the people of areas such as Bloomfield are wondering what has happened to this money, and when planned schemes in their area are going to be brought about. These figures must act as a wake up call.”
Councillor Alex Easton - Nifty Fifty
North Down MLA Alex Easton has said that the end of 50:50 recruitment for the PSNI in Northern Ireland is most welcome and represents the end of a policy of discrimination.
Speaking today North Down DUP MLA Alex Easton said:
“Many Protestant applicants since the policy of 50-50 recruitment, being 50% Catholic, 50% other, was introduced have been discriminated against. I welcome the end of this appalling policy that flies in the face of all equality and anti-discriminatory legislation.
Many applicants to the PSNI were disappointed to be turned down on the basis of their religion, despite passing all other tests. In fact more Protestants’ reached the merit pool before many Catholic applicants yet were turned down because of their religion.
My party has been lobbying the Government for many years to see that this discriminatory policy is brought to an end. We opposed the Patton Reforms to the RUC back in 1999 that recommended the recruitment of new Police officers on the basis of 50-50. This recommendation was brought about by the Belfast Agreement negotiated by the Ulster Unionist Party.
I therefore welcome that the Government has announced that this will be the last year of the policy and look forward to Police officers being recruited on the basis of merit, not religion in 2011.
Those who argue that the policy should be extended, particularly the SDLP, are supposed to stand for the principles of equality, justice and human rights. They are wrong and demonstrate their own intolerance and sectarian attitudes.
Those non-Catholic applicants are being discriminated against in favour of Catholics. This is not the basis upon which to recruit Police officers especially as we try to move into a new era for Northern Ireland.” the North Down MLA said.
Councillor Peter Weir - Fifty Fifty
Speaking in the NI Assembly debate on the subject “I am delighted to be one of the proposers of this motion calling for the end of the discriminatory 50:50 recruitment scheme for entry to the PSNI. I believe that it is fundamentally wrong that jobs are decided on the basis of the perception of what church you go to on a Sunday rather than purely on merit. I have always been opposed to this form of discrimination and welcome its proposed ending in March 2011. It has created a deep feeling of resentment amongst many of my constituents in North Down, who have failed to obtain a career in the police, not through their own inability but because they come from the wrong community. It is to the credit of many of these young people that they have reapplied several times until they were successful.
This form of institutionalised discrimination is also a burden to be endured for young Catholic officers, who carry the weight of perception that they may not have got their job on their own merits, but owe in part their entry to weighted discrimination. It is clear that this measure was unnecessary as the main reason why there was imbalance in the police was because of the direct attacks on Catholic officers by republican terrorists, a fact that was shown by the almost doubling in Catholic recruits in the first year of the ceasefire. The bravery of recent recruits has been shown by their willingness to stand up to the threats of dissident republicans.
Thus for the entire community, Protestant, Catholic or other there is everything to be gained from the level playing field of untampered recruitment from 2011 onwards. The removal of these quotas will also cut massively the cost of the recruitment process, with the savings being able to be directed towards fighting crime.
The SDLP and Sinn Fein often preach to the rest of us on the virtues of equality, and so it is disappointing, but not surprising that on this issue, that they do not practise what they preach. Indeed the SDLP in particular wish to retain this clear form of discrimination and inequality for years to come. Thankfully, my own party has long opposed this and successfully lobbied the Government at St Andrews to bring about the end of 50:50, and we look forward to its abolition in the next 12 months.”
Alderman Gordon Dunne - Holywood School
Peter Weir said “For some time now the people of Holywood have been waiting with anticipation and some frustration for the capital works schools programme to begin in Holywood. This new build would effect Priory College, Holywood Primary, Redburn Primary, and Holywood Nursery School, thus cutting across all sectors of education in the town. Everything seemed to be moving in the right direction, but the projected reduction of capital spend by the Department in 2010/11, have raised fears as to whether this multi school project will ahead on time. The situation has not been helped by obfiscation by the Education Minister when pressed on the subject in a written question on the subject, and by contradictory answers on the capital build programme by herself and her officials when pressed by the Education Committee. I have now secured an adjournment debate in the Assembly on this subject, to press for a resolution to this issue.
Alderman Dunne added “ The failure of the Department and the Minister to provide definitive answers is deeply worrying, and has only fuelled rumours and concerns within Holywood. Holywood deserves its fair share of resources, and it is unacceptable for our children to have to put up with second class facilities. We have put up with this for too long. It is vital at the Assembly debate that the Minister ends the speculation and the uncertainty, and puts the issue to bed by confirming that the capital schools build in Holywood will go ahead on schedule.”
