Other News In Brief

Irreversible Damage To Public Services Must Be Stopped – SDLP

Without political intervention public services in Northern Ireland will sustain irreversible damage that will fall hardest on those least able to cope, SDLP Stormont Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA has said.

The South Belfast MLA was speaking after the Northern Ireland Public Sector Chairs' Forum wrote to the Secretary of State regarding the financial position of public services.

Matthew O'Toole MLA said: "Our public services are on the verge of sustaining irreparable damage that will inflict irreversible hardship on people and communities least able to cope with it. It is, frankly, outrageous in those circumstances that political debate in Northern Ireland is totally consumed with whether or not we can have a government rather than what that government could do for people most in need.

"Public sector cuts are a political choice in response to the challenges our society faces. But it is a choice that should be faced down by political leaders elected to our Assembly, not waved through by unaccountable Ministers and junior civil servants in London.

"The chairs of public sector bodies are right to challenge the scale of cuts and the impact it will have on the delivery of public services. There is no mandate for that position and Assembly parties should take that power back into their own hands by forming an Executive immediately.

"The SDLP's view is that a profound transformation of public services in a new Ireland is the most fundamental way to appropriately address the challenges we face. But in the here and now, we are ready to play our full role in the restoration of the democratic institutions to address the crisis facing people."

Strangford Roadworks To Begin On 02 May

The Department for Infrastructure has announced a programme of roadworks on the Shore Road in Strangford will get underway on Monday 02 May, 2023.

The resurfacing scheme will involve the asphalt resurfacing of the Shore Road, from the Downpatrick Road Strangford for a distance of 1.2 kilometres in the Ardglass direction.

This work will greatly improve the strength and surface quality of this section of the road network and enhance road drainage to the benefit of local residents, businesses and those who travel between Strangford and Ardglass.

The initial five weeks of the scheme will involve works adjacent to the road and will not necessitate restrictions on the movement of traffic along the route. To facilitate the safe delivery of the scheme it will be necessary to implement a road closure once works adjacent to the road are completed. A further press release will be issued when details of road closure and diversion routes are known.

All work will be carried out in line with current public health and health and safety advice, with safe systems of working in place for staff and contractors.

'Crucial' Integrated Education Strategy Recommendations Are Delivered – Alliance

It is crucial the recommendations of the Department of Education's Integrated Education Strategy are delivered upon, Alliance Integrated Education spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said.

The Strangford MLA was speaking following the publication of the first Integrated Education Strategy by the Department, which sets out actions it, arms length bodies and other organisations such as the Education Authority should take to support integrated education.

"The integrated education movement has waited a long time for the Department of Education to produce a specialised strategy, so it is welcome to finally see it," said Ms Armstrong.

"It is designed to ensure the growth of integrated education and support schools who wish to transform. However, the only way it will do that is if the recommendations contained in it are delivered upon, as well as the Integrated Education Act as a whole. It sets out what the Department needs to do to fulfil its duty. It is time it started taking forward actions to do that, such as identifying how parental demand for integrated education will be measured and planned for.

"However, the strategy is not perfect and should be more comprehensive. It also contains mentions of shared education, which is an entirely separate form of education, away from integrated education's idea of educating children side by side everyday.

"Despite this, it is a step in the right direction. But the reality remains, while the Assembly and Executive remain in deep freeze, this long fought for strategy will remain another victim of the DUP's deadlock. There is no Education Minister to implement it or Education Committee to scrutinise it and hold the Department to account. I once again call on those holding the institutions to ransom to return and allow us to do the work needed to improve our society."