EU Funding Vital for All-Ireland Rail Network

Sinn Féin MLA’s brought forward a motion in the assembly this week calling for the Minister for Regional Development to work in partnership with the Irish Government to advance the 'pre identified' projects list for inclusion in the next round of EU funding for 2014-2020.

Trans- European Networks were a by-product of the Maastricht Treaty and they were established to ensure fit for purpose networks in transport, energy and telecommunication where available across the EU. The Trans- European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy sets the policy framework for the development of transport infrastructure across the EU. TEN-T comprises infrastructures such as roads, railways, waterways, ports, airports, navigation aids, intermodal freight terminals and product pipelines. For the current programming period (2007-2013), the TEN-T has an EU budget of around 49 billion. The next round of EU funding is currently being decided for 2014- 2020. There is currently a list of pre-identified projects; however, Ireland does not feature on this list. Sinn Féin has been working vigorously in an attempt to acquire the inclusion of a project we feel would benefit the whole island of Ireland. The ‘Western Arc’ project would include a Western rail network extending through from Belfast through Derry, Sligo, Knock, Galway to Shannon/ Limerick. This project would go a very long way to re-establishing an all-Ireland rail network. West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer stated, “Such a project could form the basis for redressing the disastrous effects of the economic collapse of the banking and construction sectors throughout the island. The EU in its concern about the disastrous consequences of climate change is already considering radical proposals to reinstate rail as the preferred option for freight and passenger traffic in the future. Politicians in Ireland continuously talk about investment in the rail ‘network’ as if such a network actually exists. We need to accept that we do not have a ‘rail network’. What we have is a ‘line’ connecting Belfast to Dublin, a link to Larne and what passes for a link between Belfast and Derry which is so sub-standard the majority of commuters will not use it. Donegal, Sligo, Galway and much west of Shannon are no better served. Sinn Fein’s Regional Development representatives have been very active in attempting to bring the Western Arc project to life. Our MLA’s and party activists have had discussions in Europe, met with economic development officers for councils north and south, have submitted various parliamentary questions and have met with various organisations north and south in order to gain more information and to get our project on the agenda. The use of an all-island rail passenger/freight network would reduce road traffic congestion and protect the environment by reducing toxic emissions. Sinn Féin is under no illusion about the massive financial investment a regeneration programme of this nature would involve. However, the Executive and the Irish government must realise that the solution to problems such as under-development, devastating damage to the environment, vandalism of our cultural heritage etc. lies in the development and implementation of long-term transportation strategies. And there is much untapped financial assistance available at European level if the political will exists to present the project as an integral part of the Trans European Network (TEN).”

Radiotherapy Unit on schedule

West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle attended a briefing in Stormont with the Western Health Trust in relation to the new Radiotherapy unit in Altnagelvin. This discussion was hosted by Sinn Féin MLA Maeve McLaughlin and gave the Trust an opportunity to give a presentation to elected representatives on their project. Altanagelvin hospitals new Radiotherapy unit is due to open in 2016 and will increase Radiotherapy capacity in the north of Ireland. This unique cross border project will be a hospital within a hospital, providing treatments to people with cancer both north and south. It will provide more locally accessible and timely services and improve travelling for thousands of people for generations to come.

Speaking after the Health Trusts briefing Ms. Boyle said, “Today’s discussion was extremely reassuring and positive and is great news for the people of the North West of Ireland. We have heard some distressing stories of the plight of cancer sufferers from right across the North West. We have had people from Derry, Donegal and Strabane telling about the impact of having to travel hundreds of miles for 5 minutes of treatment .The impact it had on them physically, emotionally and financially and the hardships it placed on families was horrendous. The Western Trust informed us today that radiotherapy in many cases is often overlooked when compared to surgery or chemotherapy. This is a shocking discovery considering that it is the most cost effective method of treating cancer and 40% of cancer patients in the north have been cured through radiotherapy treatment. In addition, adding radiotherapy to other treatments improves 5 year survival by 16%. In terms of workforce planning for the new unit the Western Trust informed us that key staff disciplines have been identified to be trained and recruited with some being placed in the Belfast Cancer Centre for further training and development. This will ensure that a competent and experienced workforce will be available for the opening of the new unit in 2016. The provision of the Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin has been a strategic priority and central campaign issue of Sinn Féin's over many years and now that plans for the essential facility for people in this region of Ireland are underway we will be working to ensure that the scheduled completion date stays on track. This new facility will make a dramatic impact on the lives of cancer sufferers as it will mean that the vast majority of patients will be able to receive radiotherapy treatment within one hour travelling distance of their homes.”

SUBSTANTIAL NEW GAA FUNDING ANNOUNCED

The Culture and Agriculture Ministers have today announced substantial additional funding to Ulster GAA over the next three years, including a boost to the Tyrone County Centre of Participation at Garvaghey totalling over £1 million. The funding comes as part of a wider £4.5 million package from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure targeted at gaelic, soccer and rugby. Speaking after meeting Ulster GAA officials today, Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín confirmed an additional £1.5 million each to gaelic, rugby and soccer over the next three years.

Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill, who also attended the meeting, confirmed that almost £600,000 will also be allocated to the Garvaghey Centre of Participation under the Rural Development Programme (RDP). This follows a previous award of £250,000 to the Centre. Minister O’Neill added: West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle said: “This is an important announcement of extra funding to support the three codes of gaelic, soccer and rugby. I am especially pleased that Sinn Féin Ministers Carál Ni Chuilín and Michelle O’Neill have ensured that that this money will provide Ulster GAA with extra capital and revenue opportunities over the next three years, including £500,000 towards the Tyrone County Board’s Centre of Participation at Garvaghey. Strabane District Cllr Kieran McGuire added: “It is vital that rural inequalities are addressed through programmes like the RDP. The award of further funding to Tyrone’s Garvaghey Centre of Participation demonstrates that the DARD Minister will ensure rural inequalities and needs are properly addressed. This is an important centre for enhancing sports participation and excellence, social inclusion, outreach, education and cultural development.”

Boyle welcomes Fuel Saving Stamp Scheme for Strabane

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle has welcomed an initiative being undertaken by Strabane Community Project to establish a “Fuel Saving Stamps Scheme” within Strabane town.

She said, “I very much welcome this Fuel Stamp Saving Scheme being undertaken by Strabane Community Project and fully support the objective of this scheme as an effort to help reduce fuel poverty. “Similar schemes are in place in many other districts, including in neighboring Omagh, and are an invaluable mechanism in helping people to budget towards their oil heating costs. “The template employed elsewhere enables people to buy £5 stamps from participating retail outlets and place these on a card to build up credit. The stamps are then accepted by participating oil companies towards the cost of the fuel bill and I hope that the scheme can be embraced as widely as possible locally. “The Public Health Agency has offered Council £5000 to support a fuel poverty initiative in the district in this current financial year and last night, councillors were unanimous in their backing of an application to the Agency requesting that Strabane Community Project be the delivery agents of a pilot fuel saving scheme for central heating oil and that Council would also contribute £1000 towards getting this pilot up and running “The pilot will run until the end of March 2013 and, if deemed successful, Strabane Community Project plans to extend it throughout the wider district.

Sinn Féin working to secure fundamental changes to Welfare ‘Reform’ Bill

At a packed Public Meeting held in Ballycolman Community Centre on Thursday (15 Nov), Sinn Féin elected representatives highlighted the draconian nature of many of the measures contained in the Tory led Government’s Welfare Reform Bill and outlined how the party is pro-actively working to secure fundamental changes to the Bill both within the Assembly and through directly lobbying the British government. Michaela Boyle MLA chaired the meeting and was joined on the panel by local MP Pat Doherty and by Newry/Armagh MLA and DSD Committee Vice-Chair Mickey Brady, who was standing in on behalf of his DSD Committee party colleague Alex Maskey.

Michaela Boyle said, “At the outset of the meeting, the panel highlighted the main changes proposed in the Welfare Reform Bill and outlined our major concerns about how many of the proposed measures, if implemented as currently designed, would represent an unacceptable attack on the living standards and well-being of our lowest income families and the most vulnerable sections of society here. “These included outlining our concerns around proposed measures in benefit areas such as: Housing benefit-under-occupancy penalties, reduced eligibility criteria and problematic payment methods; Universal Credit -replacing Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related ESA, Housing Benefit, Child and Working Tax Credit with a single ‘Universal Credit’ with changing criteria governing eligibility for benefit, new work related activity requirements and an increased sanctions regime even for lone parents with no access to childcare; and a marked step up in targeting the disabled and sick by extending the flawed medical assessments which currently govern those applying for or who are in receipt of ESA , to the disabled as they apply for or are migrated to the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which is scheduled to replace DLA as an from April next year. With the Tory’s aiming to make 20% savings in terms of expenditure and caseload under “PIPs” this will undoubtedly result in many genuinely disabled people losing or having their benefit cut in the same way many people who are genuinely sick are losing their entitlement to ESA. “During an extensive Q&A session many of those present were taken aback at the extent of the draconian measures in this Bill and were deeply concerned at how they would affect them both individually and in terms of their wider family. “While the levels of benefits for the north are set in London, we once again re-iterated our party position that unless meaningful flexibilities and mitigating measures are secured to alleviate the harsher aspects of this Bill we will not be supporting it.

“Mickey Brady outlined how the Bill is now at Committee Stage and how he the other 2 party DSD Committee members are scrutinizing every measure and clause in the Bill and are bringing forward proposed amendments in line with all our areas of concern and how the Committee has now supported a re-submitted Sinn Féin proposal to bring forward a motion to the Assembly calling for an Ad-Hoc Committee to establish whether the ‘Bill’ is Human Rights and Equality complaint. He also outlined that the Committee Stage will be followed by a Consideration Stage and a Further Consideration Stage on the floor of the Assembly where Sinn Féin will be also pressing our proposed amendments to the Bill. “Pat Doherty outlined how he and other MPs are directly lobbying the British government on an ongoing basis in an effort to secure flexibilities in how the Bills administered in the North given that it has already accepted that the situation here is graver than elsewhere. “Sinn Féin will be continuing with our strategy to secure fundamental changes to this Bill and also through our constituency office services we will be continuing to advise and assist the ever growing number of people contacting us seeking our help on the full range of benefit related issues ranging from: helping people to maximize their benefit entitlements, help with filling in benefit forms, engaging with decision makers, as well as representation at benefit Tribunals. ENDS

Patton subcontractors at Assembly to lobby MLAs

West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff has met with subcontractors affected by the Patton group going into administration.

The all party meeting was an initiative by Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay to outline the difficult situation that many companies now find themselves in. Mr McElduff said: “There were sub-contractors from West Tyrone present in the packed room in Stormont who voiced their frustration at the situation. Some sub-contractors will be able to subsume this debt whilst others are in need of support and advice as to how they can deal with this debt being passed down the chain, especially when the doors of many banks remain closed to them. There is a particular onus on Invest NI and the Enterprise Minister to assist these businesses in whatever way they can, as last week’s news will lead to further job losses through these sub-contractors.. It is important that Assembly members and Ministers avail of the opportunity to listen to sub-contractors concerns and worries about this situation. The representatives from Patton’s that were present at the discussion outlined the full scale of the situation and highlighted the fact that well over 2000 employees will be affected who are owed approximately £15million.These companies are located right across the north and are a vital part of our local economy. This needs to be an immediate priority.”

More assistance needed for separated parents

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MLA Michaela Boyle has questioned the Minister for Social Development on what steps he is taking to support parents who are separated.

The Department for Social Development is undertaking a programme of major reform for child maintenance. Research and evidence demonstrate that children who receive support from both parents throughout their childhood tend to enjoy better outcomes in life. Therefore, through the reform programme, the intention is to develop a modernised child maintenance service that will provide high-quality information and support at the earliest possible time during a relationship breakdown. Officials have been working at community level to trial interventions to assess the different levels of support required in local communities in order to find out what works and does not work at a local level in supporting separated families. The findings from that work have highlighted potential opportunities for enhancing existing arrangements to support the most vulnerable through local community organisations and trusted networks. Ms Boyle stated: “The breakdown of a relationship propels families into uncharted and inhospitable territory. We are increasingly aware that throughout Ireland more assistance needs to be readily available earlier in the process of separation in order that the terrain becomes more manageable for all. The British government are to introduce charges for the use of the new statutory child maintenance scheme. In the north maintenance is a devolved matter and charges are still under consideration. I have called on the DSD minister alongside the executive to ensure that more assistance and information is provided to enable people to work together to resolve issues such as maintenance arrangements and that no charge will be levied to the caring parent”.