Caitríona Ruane: Time to Resign

Dominic Bradley MLA has asked the Minister for Education for a breakdown of the backlog of maintenance work to be carried out on schools.

The response from the Minister contains a list of hundreds of schools owed large amounts of money - £217 million in total and many schools are owed several millions pounds each. This money is meant to be available to help improve nurseries, primary and secondary schools but the Minister isn’t providing the funding when it’s due.

It’s another gigantic blunder by the Minister. Here are some schools owed money:

Sydenham Primary     £1,603,325
St Anne’s PS     £1,954,862
Holy Trinity PS     £1,226,056
Belfast Girls’ Model     £3,586,395
Belmont House Special    £1,055,871

See the full list of schools here

Dominic Bradley MLA has said this means “many children are being taught in substandard classrooms. This shortfall is putting the health and safety of children at serious risk. There are serious questions to be answered like just how long have the Minister and her officials been aware of this? How long will the Minister allow this situation to continue? And what exactly are the implications for the pupils in our schools?”

Albans Close Shave by Pudsey

Well done to SDLP North Belfast MLA who today had his moustache shaved off for BBC Children in Need. Donations are still welcome - by calling Catherine on 028 9052 1319.

Alban without Moustache (courteousy of Photoshop)

Exclusive (to my knowledge)

With Children in Need fast approaching the Chair of the SDLP Assembly Group, Alban Maginness MLA, has agreed, with a little persuasion, to shave off his moustache in the name of charity.  This decision has not been taken lightly by the esteemed member – the moustache has been an integral and longstanding part of Mr Maginness’s makeup.

Alban hopes to hold a shaving ceremony on Thursday of this week and photographic evidence of this particular piece of decommissioning will be provided!  Speaking today Alban said:

“This is a decision I have not taken lightly.  My moustache has been a close friend to me over the years, through good times and bad, through thick and thinning!  It was present at the birth of my children and during many election campaigns walking the streets of North Belfast.  The thought of being without it, for even a short while, fills me with both fear and trepidation.

On a serious note though, the moustache can grow back, I may even prefer life without it, but through the small efforts of many fundraisers throughout the North every year, Children in Need provides hope for many of the most needy and most overlooked sections of our society.

The truth is that we all can make a difference, however small.  We can all work alone or with others to, to draw attention to the event, raise funds for Children in Need, and take part in the knowledge that we are taking part in something bigger.  My moustache may have been a major part of my life, but it is only one small story among thousands that are told every year when raising money for Children in Need.”

More photos from Stormont Schools Debate 2008

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SDLP Youth and Young Unionists joined forces today to host a Schools Debate in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

The day was organised in conjunction with the NI Assembly’s Education Service.

Peter Armstrong, Chair of SDLP Youth said: “We were delighted to co-host the Schools Debate 2008. The event brought together young people from schools across the north to the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings for a cross-community debate on local and international politics.

“This was a very worth-while event as our aim was to bring more young people to the seat of local government.”

Alisdair O’Hara Organiser for the Young Unionists said: “I am extremely pleased with today’s event. It highlights that some political parties can still work together. In this instance we were able to bring sixth formers from various schools across Northern Ireland to debate some of the most relevant local and international issues.

“Engaging young people in politics is extremely important and being able to host this debate at Stormont was very significant”.

Aisling Twomey-O’Connor at her workplace at Parliament Buildings, Stormont

This article is from the SDLP Newsletter November 08.

Aisling Twomey-O’Connor has worked as an SDLP Administration Officer based in Stormont for more than 1 year. Everyday she brushes shoulders with the people in power – Assembly Members and Ministers. Aisling recognises that the corridors where she works are steeped with history and many interesting stories and characters, but that doesn’t faze the 27 year-old.

Aisling explains how she got involved in the SDLP, “Although I had not been a SDLP member before joining the staff at Stormont, I joined the SDLP Youth wing of the party and was elected to the position of Treasurer in June of this year.

“When I applied for the job I didn’t think had any chance of getting it, due to my lack of background in Northern Ireland politics. But I was very pleasantly surprised when SDLP General Secretary Gerry Cosgrove offered me the position. My role is a very busy one as I deal with many different issues and no two days are ever the same. However I have been lucky to have been working along with Catherine Matthews, who I think is the real boss of the SDLP!”

A modest Aisling may well brush aside her experience and knowledge of Northern Ireland Politics but that is not to suggest that this young woman doesn’t know anything about politics and people. On the contrary! During her time at Manchester Metropolitan University she got involved in student politics, and was elected as Vice President.

“I have always been very political since high school and always had comments on my report card like “has no problem sharing her views with her peers”. It seems it was destiny for me to end up working for a political party,” explains Aisling.

“I graduated from MMU Cheshire in 2004 with a BA Hons American Studies. Throughout my time at University, I became involved with the Student Union and served as Site Officer (VP) for my University. As vice president, I represented the Students on Student Staff Forum and Faculty Committee. Unfortunately I had been bitten by the politics bug – In the presidential election at my university, I was defeated by 14 votes out of 1800. “

Turning to her work with the SDLP at Parliament Buildings in Stormont Aisling says, “I am always taken back with this building; there is so much history here and it in surrounding buildings. One of the most interesting and amusing facts of this building is that it survived the Blitz by being covered in cow manure. It is very surreal working here as you may find yourself queuing up for your lunch with Mark Durkan or BBC reporters such as Martina Purdy.

“If you were to ask me what the highlight of my first year within the SDLP has been, many would expect me to say that it’s been working with the best political party in Northern Ireland. But I have to confess that my highlight so far has to be is when I met Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol, one of my favourite bands. I was so nervous; I hardly said more than two words to him the whole day. Amazing the people you meet here.

“I am very proud to work for the SDLP and I hope that I can continue to have a part to play within the SDLP.”

Skerries Councillor Maura Hickey has been rated ‘top date‘ by members of Coleraine Youth Forum at a political speed dating event to mark Local Democracy Week.

Cllr Hickey was delighted with her win: “Engaging with young people is very important and although this event was light hearted in nature we must continually give our attention to issues that affect them. Now they have got a taster for speaking to their elected members, I encourage them and all young people to speak to their local Councillor’s at anytime not just at planned events like this.”

Supporting the launch of UK Youth Parliament’s ‘Free for All’ campaign to abolish university tuition fees today (Monday 6th October) SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Mark Durkan has voiced his concerns about the negative impact tuition fees are having on pupils from poorer, non-privileged backgrounds.

Over 9000 stickered £1 coins are to go into circulation across the UK highlighting the cost of tuition fees being paid by students in England and Northern Ireland over the course of a degree.

Mr Durkan is lending support to the campaign by circulating the coins in the Northern Ireland Assembly, at the House of Commons and in his own constituency this week.
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Welcome Address by John Hume

Civil Rights 1968 Commemoration Committee International Conference

Guildhall, Derry

Saturday 4 October 2008

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Speech by Mark Durkan MP MLA SDLP Leader
‘The Impact of Civil Rights on Northern Ireland’
Civil Rights 1968 Commemoration Committee International Conference
Guildhall, Derry
Saturday 4 October 2008

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Here is a cracker of an article which was published in today’s North Belfast News. It’s the SDLP’s European candidate Alban Maginness summing up the current situation with the NI Executive.

SINN FEIN’S GERRYMANDER  OF JUSTICE MINISTRY IS BLATANT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE SDLP

Banks are crashing, fuel prices are rocketing, mortgages are disappearing and dole queues are lengthening, and still the Executive is being prevented from meeting. We face a hard winter when the elderly and the vulnerable will be forced to choose between heating and eating, but three months have been wasted and soon it will be four. We need to cut through all the spin and lay the blame squarely where it belongs – at the door of Sinn Fein and nowhere else. They are in a mess of their own making. (more…)