A Sinn Féin motion calling on the Social Development Minister to 'bring forward proposals to secure Neighbourhood Renewal funding beyond March 2011' will be debating in the Assembly Chamber this afternoon.
The motion comes after a protest by Neighbourhood Renewal groups at Stormont last week.
Speaking ahead of the debate DSD spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín MLA said;
“The Neighbourhood Renewal programme has become a key element on service provision in many of our most deprived communities. The delivery of childcare, health and education schemes, and countless other frontline services however is under threat due to funding realities.
"These are funding realities that can be addressed. As this cycle of funding comes to a close in March there is an onus on the main funding body, the department of Social Development and the Minister, Alex Attwood, to step up to the mark and save these essential frontline services.
"These are services that operate within these communities, on their doorstep and are some of the most accessible for those who are in need of them.
"What Alex Atwood as Minister must do now is to ensure that Neighbourhood Renewal will be included in his budget beyond March 2011. To do any less will be depriving communities of much needed and utilised services.
I have no doubt that the many groups and people involved will be watching today’s debate with keen interest.”
Tuesday 30 November 2010
Friday 26 November 2010
Kelly welcomes Parades Commission determination on Shankill Star
Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast, Gerry Kelly, has welcomed the decision to bar the loyalist Shankill Star flute band from marching past the Dales, Mountainview and Ardoyne by the Parades Commission.
“I welcome the fact that the Parades Commission has taken the decision to bar this loyalist band, which is in essence a tribute to Brian Robinson, from walking past the area where he murdered Paddy McKenna. It is the right decision," said Kelly.
“I am however disappointed in Tommy Cheevers approach to this, with him showing no sensitivity or regards to the victims of Brian Robinson. Most sensible people would acknowledge the suffering that has been caused by the application this band had made to march here and would rightfully oppose it on these grounds
“Instead of Tommy Cheevers making comments which could exacerbate the situation what we need to see is the Orange Order sitting down and talking with residents.”
“I welcome the fact that the Parades Commission has taken the decision to bar this loyalist band, which is in essence a tribute to Brian Robinson, from walking past the area where he murdered Paddy McKenna. It is the right decision," said Kelly.
“I am however disappointed in Tommy Cheevers approach to this, with him showing no sensitivity or regards to the victims of Brian Robinson. Most sensible people would acknowledge the suffering that has been caused by the application this band had made to march here and would rightfully oppose it on these grounds
“Instead of Tommy Cheevers making comments which could exacerbate the situation what we need to see is the Orange Order sitting down and talking with residents.”
Friday 19 November 2010
Adams standing in Louth will provide a new dimension to all-Ireland project - Kelly
North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA and Executive Minister Gerry Kelly said Gerry Adams decision to give up his West Belfast seat to stand in Louth will provide a “new dimension to our all Ireland project”.
Gerry Kelly said the decision proves that Sinn Féin is an all-Ireland party and can gain support throughout the island.
“Gerry Adams is Sinn Féin's party President North, South East and West of Ireland and once again has demonstrated that by example,” he said.
“On a personal and emotional level this is a hugely significant development for Gerry and his family and the West Belfast community. However, politically this is a natural extension of our party leader’s work across Ireland.”
At a meeting in West Belfast earlier this week, former hungerstriker Pat Sheehan was chosen as Gerry’s successor as MLA.
“The republican project remains on track in West Belfast with the selection of Pat Sheehan who is replacing Gerry in the Assembly,” said Kelly.
“Pat is a more than capable activist with a long track record of work on republican projects both at home and abroad.
“Being a former hunger striker myself, I know that Pat's history on the 1981 hunger strike will resonate with the core Sinn Féin support, but it will be his present and future work that will earn Pat the loyalty of the West Belfast community.”
“This is a time of economic crisis and the Sinn Féin vision of the way forward is different to any other political party across the island,” he said,
“We have been proved 100 per cent right on the economy whilst the so-called economic and political experts that caused this crisis branded us economic illiterates.
“But sadly it's the ordinary people that are being forced to foot the bill for their corruption, incompetence and reckless greed. Whilst Gerry Adams standing in Louth will provide a new dimension to our all-Ireland project, it's our political vision and our work on the ground on a daily basis that will prove decisive.
“We remain the only 32-county party with a strategy for delivering national sovereignty and personal sacrifice isn't anything new to republican activists like Gerry Adams.”
Councillor calls for empties houses to be sorted
Local Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Lavery has repeated his call for the Minister for Social Development to explain what action he will take to resolve the issue of vacant properties in North Belfast.
Lavery called on Minister Alex Attwood to intervene to ensure that properties are not allowed to sit empty while families are forced to live in hostels.
“Last week the Minister came back with an answer about work being carried out in areas such as the Long Streets, but he did not answer the question of what action he is taking around all the houses sitting vacant while families sit on the waiting list,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.
“It is up to the Minister to allocate funding to the Housing Executive and housing associations to ensure that once a property is sitting empty any necessary work is carried out right away and a family put into it.
“We have a situation now where a house is vacated and it is left empty, then vandals get in and destroy the place and it costs more in the long run trying to make it habitable again. There is no need for houses sitting boarded-up and it is up to the Minister to ensure the funding is there to make this possible,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.
Lavery called on Minister Alex Attwood to intervene to ensure that properties are not allowed to sit empty while families are forced to live in hostels.
“Last week the Minister came back with an answer about work being carried out in areas such as the Long Streets, but he did not answer the question of what action he is taking around all the houses sitting vacant while families sit on the waiting list,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.
“It is up to the Minister to allocate funding to the Housing Executive and housing associations to ensure that once a property is sitting empty any necessary work is carried out right away and a family put into it.
“We have a situation now where a house is vacated and it is left empty, then vandals get in and destroy the place and it costs more in the long run trying to make it habitable again. There is no need for houses sitting boarded-up and it is up to the Minister to ensure the funding is there to make this possible,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.
Friday 12 November 2010
Action needed on derelict houses - Lavery
Sinn Féin North Belfast councillor Danny Lavery has demanded the Social Development Minister take action over the number of homes in the area lying vacant when the housing waiting list is so long.
Danny Lavery said homes are left boarded up and derelict in much-sought-after areas of North Belfast whilst hundreds of people languish on the housing waiting list.
“All these houses are sitting empty and useless when a family could be in there making it a home,” said Lavery.
“There are around 800 people on the housing waiting list and the only way the list is going to go down is if all the available houses are made use of. What is the point in derelict homes?
“It is depriving a family of a house and it is not good for the community to see homes in their street all boarded up. North Belfast has some of the worst housing problems in the North and things are not going to get better if there are good homes going to waste.”
The Sinn Féin man called on DSD Minister Alex Attwood to take action on the empty properties.
“I am calling on the minister to make sure there is something being done about this, we all know the situation in North Belfast and action needs to be taken.
“Some of these houses have been left there months and I am calling for something to be done so that families who need them can be given the housing they deserve.”
Housing Executive needs to deliver on its obligations
By Carál Ní Chuilín
As a public representative it never fails to make me angry when I see so many much-needed houses lie empty and destroyed as we continue to fight tooth and nail for every single decent family home.
Clearly the Housing Executive is finding it impossible to deliver on its obligations to eradicate generations of homelessness and eliminate the waiting list – both of which continue to outstrip need. Nowhere is this more stark than here in North Belfast.
Sinn Féin has proposed innovative and imaginative alternative funding mechanisms to resolve this dilemma.
In our Economic document “There Is A Better Way” Sinn Féin has proposed the establishment of a not–for–profit Social Housing Agency with the capability of borrowing from amongst other sources – the European Bank. According to a 2009/10 analysis the Housing Executive generated a rental income of £240million while having out goings for maintenance, management and overheads of £180million. This leaves a surplus of £60million available for investment and housing construction.
Combined with the hugely significant efforts Sinn Féin Ministers have made to direct resources to housing through the Assembly Executive, Sinn Féin is proposing a target of 2,500 new homes per annum over the next four years.
We strongly argue that the ongoing review of the Housing Executive provides a real opportunity to bring forward this major re-structuring of the finances of the HE whilst reinforcing it’s current crucial social remit .
Clearly an innovative approach such as this is required.
The fall off in capital receipts in recent years has impacted on the ability of the Housing Executive to fund the building of sufficient houses to meet the soaring need.
It has also resulted in a serious backlog on vital maintenance and improvements to homes, which often lie empty to be vandalized beyond cost effective repair.
It is estimated that there are 5000 dwellings, which require significant refurbishment. All this at a time when in North Belfast alone there are in the region of 600 people living in crisis in hostels.
While the primary purpose of the Sinn Féin proposal is to address homelessness and the waiting list, a number of studies have identified investment in housing as having a positive benefit in terms of Health and Education which would ease the pressure on these two important areas of huge public spending.
It would obviously have a very significant impact on the construction industry and employment in general and act as a crucial driver in economic recovery.
In effect what we are proposing is the creation of a Social Housing Agency governed by a board consisting of equal numbers drawn from Housing Executive, Tenant Representatives and independents.
This type of governance would have the effect of the body being classified as non-public sector and therefore allow it to borrow from private sources.
It would also provide tenants with a real sense of ownership by involving them in the management arrangements of the Agency – involvement that isn't currently available to them.
It isn't rocket science, investing in family homes and jobs in construction and maintainence is the clear way forward not just in terms of social justice but as an economic driver.
Sinn Féin have set out our clear vision and grasped the initiative with imaginative and constructive proposals whilst challenging the other parties to join us on the firm ground of strongly opposing the Tory social engineering of slash and burn politics.
As a public representative it never fails to make me angry when I see so many much-needed houses lie empty and destroyed as we continue to fight tooth and nail for every single decent family home.
Clearly the Housing Executive is finding it impossible to deliver on its obligations to eradicate generations of homelessness and eliminate the waiting list – both of which continue to outstrip need. Nowhere is this more stark than here in North Belfast.
Sinn Féin has proposed innovative and imaginative alternative funding mechanisms to resolve this dilemma.
In our Economic document “There Is A Better Way” Sinn Féin has proposed the establishment of a not–for–profit Social Housing Agency with the capability of borrowing from amongst other sources – the European Bank. According to a 2009/10 analysis the Housing Executive generated a rental income of £240million while having out goings for maintenance, management and overheads of £180million. This leaves a surplus of £60million available for investment and housing construction.
Combined with the hugely significant efforts Sinn Féin Ministers have made to direct resources to housing through the Assembly Executive, Sinn Féin is proposing a target of 2,500 new homes per annum over the next four years.
We strongly argue that the ongoing review of the Housing Executive provides a real opportunity to bring forward this major re-structuring of the finances of the HE whilst reinforcing it’s current crucial social remit .
Clearly an innovative approach such as this is required.
The fall off in capital receipts in recent years has impacted on the ability of the Housing Executive to fund the building of sufficient houses to meet the soaring need.
It has also resulted in a serious backlog on vital maintenance and improvements to homes, which often lie empty to be vandalized beyond cost effective repair.
It is estimated that there are 5000 dwellings, which require significant refurbishment. All this at a time when in North Belfast alone there are in the region of 600 people living in crisis in hostels.
While the primary purpose of the Sinn Féin proposal is to address homelessness and the waiting list, a number of studies have identified investment in housing as having a positive benefit in terms of Health and Education which would ease the pressure on these two important areas of huge public spending.
It would obviously have a very significant impact on the construction industry and employment in general and act as a crucial driver in economic recovery.
In effect what we are proposing is the creation of a Social Housing Agency governed by a board consisting of equal numbers drawn from Housing Executive, Tenant Representatives and independents.
This type of governance would have the effect of the body being classified as non-public sector and therefore allow it to borrow from private sources.
It would also provide tenants with a real sense of ownership by involving them in the management arrangements of the Agency – involvement that isn't currently available to them.
It isn't rocket science, investing in family homes and jobs in construction and maintainence is the clear way forward not just in terms of social justice but as an economic driver.
Sinn Féin have set out our clear vision and grasped the initiative with imaginative and constructive proposals whilst challenging the other parties to join us on the firm ground of strongly opposing the Tory social engineering of slash and burn politics.
Sinn Féin battle for inclusive strategy to celebrate significant anniversaries at Belfast City Council
Sinn Féin has criticized the SDLP for ignoring important centenaries such as the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising and other important historical events and siding with the DUP in a vote to only fund events to mark the centenary of 1912.
Last week, at a special meeting of the Development Committee, Council officers proposed that £1million gets ring-fenced (£600k from existing budgets) for a range of commemorative events relating to 2012.
Sinn Féin, in the context of the uncertain economic climate and a lack of detail as to where the £1m would be spent, asked for deferment on this proposal until there were in-depth party briefings.
Sinn Féin argued strongly the need for an inclusive look at a Decade of Centenaries of intense political significance on this island including James Connolly’s role in Belfast prior to 1916, The Somme, the 400th anniversary of The Plantation and The First Dáil as well as other significant events in the time ahead.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Conor Maskey said;
“We felt that our party’s suggestions to have greater debate around spending rate payers’ money in such difficult times were perfectly reasonable. Not least we should be examining where this money will be taken from within existing budgets (e.g. what events will suffer to realise this spend?).
“Investment in heritage tourism needs to be done in a visionary and imaginative way which will maximise tourism and provide jobs, regeneration and celebrate our history.
“A more inclusive approach to this issue would enable all parties to make valuable contributions on behalf of their constituents as we move into a very important Decade of Centenaries.
“We feel that core principles need to be established to ensure balance around these events and to critically analyse their importance, not just simply celebrate and commemorate.”
“I find it bizarre that the SDLP councillors, in a heartbeat, effectively pledged £1m to 2012 events without agreeing to having in-depth party discussions and ultimately ignoring the need for a plan and principles to be applied around significant events. They are effectively joining with the DUP in taking a narrow issue-by-issue approach to these extremely important events.”
Health hazzard entry needs cleared
Ardoyne Sinn Féin councillor Gerard McCabe is backing residents’ calls for urgent action to address a litter and dumping problem that is making their lives a misery.
For years the entry that runs between Ardoyne shops and Balholm Drive has been a dumping ground for all manner of rubbish.
“The relevant departments at Belfast City Council are working with me to try and find the best way forward to find a satisfactory outcome to this problem,” said Gerard McCabe.
He said part of the problem is that the entry is unadopted, which means no single department has responsibility for the maintenance of it.
“I have already met with DRD, the Housing Executive and Belfast City Council’s Environmental Health department to try and find the best way forward.
“There have been a lot of ideas with regards to the different departments going in and cleaning it up but none of them are legally bound to do it.
“I am going to be reporting back to the residents next week to see how we can get work done to the entry and get it maintained by different government departments.”
“I will be asking the Council’s Environmental Health department to treat this as a serious issues and explore how they can move it forward on a health and safety issue because the entry is unsafe to walk in.”
Ardoyne residents unite against anti-social behaviour
Ardoyne residents held a public rally in opposition to a gang they say are terrorising the area.
The vigil was held in Havana Walk last Friday evening as a community response against the ongoing antisocial behaviour in the area.
The previous Sunday, 15-year old school boy Ciaran Murphy was badly beaten up by the gang close to his Havana Court home.
After the rally, the residents gathered in Ardoyne GAA club to discuss the problem.
A public meeting for residents across the district will be held next Wednesday night (November 17) in Holy Cross Boys’ School.
Sinn Féin councillor for the area Gerard McCabe urged local people to come along to the meeting.
"I was very happy with how the meeting on Friday went and am glad everyone got to have an input and talk about what is going on," said Gerard.
"I am now urging people to come along to this larger public meeting to try and bring an end to antisocial behaviour throughout the district.
"It is a small antisocial element who are doing this and they are very much in the minority.”
There should be no delay in Finucane Inquiry – Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA and Truth spokesperson Francie Molloy has criticised British Secretary of State Owen Paterson in stating he will not make a decision on whether there will be an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane until early next year.
“A commitment was made to establish an inquiry into Pat’s murder in 2004 – it is totally unacceptable that the British Government is continuing to stall on this issue,” said Molloy.
“Pat’s family deserve truth and they deserve justice.”
“A commitment was made to establish an inquiry into Pat’s murder in 2004 – it is totally unacceptable that the British Government is continuing to stall on this issue,” said Molloy.
“Pat’s family deserve truth and they deserve justice.”
Maskey: PSNI must reflect the community
Sinn Féin Policing Board member Alex Maskey MLA has this morning stressed the continued need for the PSNI to be truly representative of the community here.
Maskey’s comments comment after the British Secretary of State said he is ‘minded’ not renew the provisions for 50/50 recruitment to the PSNI.
“This is yet another indication of the arrogance of a British Tory Minister attempting to impose their will on important issues here in the north." said Alex.
"What is central in all of this is the continued need for the PSNI to be truly reflective of and responsible to the broader community in the north of Ireland. As yet that is not the case, 29% representation of those from a Catholic background is not a satisfactory reflection.
The Patten Recommendations are a threshold which I am minded the British Government diluted through Peter Mandelson’s legislation. Muh work remains to be done in order to ensure that the PSNI become reflective of our communities as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement.”
Maskey’s comments comment after the British Secretary of State said he is ‘minded’ not renew the provisions for 50/50 recruitment to the PSNI.
“This is yet another indication of the arrogance of a British Tory Minister attempting to impose their will on important issues here in the north." said Alex.
"What is central in all of this is the continued need for the PSNI to be truly reflective of and responsible to the broader community in the north of Ireland. As yet that is not the case, 29% representation of those from a Catholic background is not a satisfactory reflection.
The Patten Recommendations are a threshold which I am minded the British Government diluted through Peter Mandelson’s legislation. Muh work remains to be done in order to ensure that the PSNI become reflective of our communities as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement.”
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