Attwood needs to provide clarity on Housing Executive compensation - Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin MLA and member of the Social Development Committee, Carál Ní Chuilín, has stated that Alex Attwood needs to provide clarity on whether or not he has made a formal approach to the Office of First and deputy First Minister with regards to a compensation scheme for those Housing Executive tenants who had their property damaged as a result of the severe winter weather over Christmas

"This week Alex Attwood appeared in front of the Social Development committee in order to answer pressing questions on the Housing Executive and its role during the severe winter weather over Christmas," said Ní Chuilín,

"Many people were left for considerable periods with no heating and many more had their homes and furniture damaged by frozen and burst pipes. Hundreds of people were left in appalling conditions over Christmas.

"While at the committee, and subsequently in media reports, the Minster has alluded to the fact that he has contacted both Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson in relation to compensation for those affected giving tenants a hope that something would be resolved and painting the Minster as proactive.

"However it is a great concern to myself and others that, in fact, these approaches have not happened. Is the Minister in it for the media spin, for the kudos of actually looking as if he is working to resolve this issue, building Housing Executive tenants expectations, only to pass the buck to the office of OFMdFM when he finds he cannot deliver?

"At best the Minister is muddled, at worst he has misled the committee and the public. What he needs to o now is come forward and provide immediate clarity on compensation for Housing Executive tenants."

Social housing should be on Nelson Street site - Kelly

After a Sinn Féin delegation met with Planning Service officials in relation to a controversial housing development at Nelson Street, local MLA Gerry Kelly said the community want social housing on the site.

The planning application for a massive housing development on the land which is at the centre of a police investigation was withdrawn from going before a Belfast City Council committee last week to allow for "high level discussions" between planners and the Housing Executive.

Originally the land was earmarked for an entire social housing project and was the subject of negotiations between Clanmil Housing Association, the Department for Social Development, the Housing Executive (HE) and the private landowner until 2006, when it was sold to Big Picture Developments (BPD). The PSNI was called in last year to investigate the Housing Executive's role in the zoning of the land.

The Planning Service recently approved plans to build 238 apartments on a stretch of land at Nelson Street, 181 of which will be private and just 57 social housing.

After a planning application is approved it goes before Belfast City Council's town planning committee who, although they do not have the power to throw out the application, can rule it should be sent back to the planners for further consideration.

However before it went before the committee last Thursday night the Planning Service withdrew the application from the agenda.

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLAs Carál Ní Chuilín and Gerry Kelly and councilor Danny Lavery met with Planning Service officials this week to discuss the developments.
"We are intent that this application be brought back and rethought, it's not what the community want. We do not want private housing on land that should be used for social housing and we told the planners that," said Gerry Kelly.

Praise for concrete move by local businessman

Sinn Féin councillor Gerard McCabe has praised a local businessman who took it upon himself to have an entry in Ardoyne resurfaced.
For years the entry that runs between Ardoyne shops and Balholm Drive has been a dumping ground for all manner of rubbish.

After government agencies refused to take responsibility for the entry a local businessman has resurfaced it, making it easier for business and homes to access the entry and empty bins.

Gerard McCabe said the problems stemmed from no-one taking responsibility for the entry and praised Jim Conlon, owner of The Chip Company, who moved into their new premises at the row of shops recently and has had the entry resurfaced.

“The problem is that it is an unadopted entry meaning no-one has taken responsibility for it. I have been working with Belfast City Council to try and find out who has responsibility for the entry and we will continue to do so,” said Gerard.

“On behalf of the local community we would like to thank Jim Conlon who has taken the initiative to resurface the entry.”

Mater not to be downgraded

Speaking at a meeting of the Mater Hospital Community Forum on Friday (January 21) Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said there was genuine concern in the community that the Mater Hospital’s accident and emergency unit will be downgraded or even closed.
“There have been fears out there for some time that the Mater's A&E is going to be downgraded to a minor injuries unit, that needs to be clarified,” said Carál during the meeting.

Afterwards the North Belfast MLA said she had been assured that this was not the case.
“We were told categorically by the Chief Executive of the Belfast Trust Colm Donaghy that the Mater Accident and Emergency department will not be downgraded to a minor injuries unit.”
On Sunday, January 19 ambulances were diverted away from the Mater to the Royal Hospital and City Hospital.

Public meeting called to rescue Whitewell play park

Sinn Féin Councillor Mary Ellen Campbell said a small minority of public drinkers were destroying Finlay Park on the lower Whitewell Road and depriving local kids of a much-needed resource in the area.

The equipment was destroyed a number of times last year with Belfast City Council being forced to pay to repair the damaged and burnt play facilities.
The council is now understood to be contemplating not repairing the equipment again because of the repeated vandalism every time it is repaired. Over the past few years thousands of pounds have been spent replacing the play facilities.

"Residents are joining with us to rescue Finlay Park from the hands of a small number of local drinkers that are consistently destroying it," said Mary Ellen.
"We have brought this issue to the attention of police who are ready to make arrests. However the cost of the damage already done is huge and the part of the park under threat is used mostly by local young families.

“I've been contacted by local people appealing for us to join together to rescue this vital leisure service. We are now calling a public meeting to organise all involved in this campaign to rescue our park,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.

Sinn Féin to meet with Planning body over Nelson Street concerns– Ní Chuilín

Local Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has welcomed the fact that the proposed development in Nelson Street by Big Picture Developments Ltd has been blocked by Belfast City Council however will be meeting with the planning authorities to seek clarity on media reports that planning permission had been granted .

“There are mounting concerns amongst residents and community organisation surrounding the proposed building of over 230 apartments at Nelson Street in North Belfast," said Ní Chuilín who is a member of the Social Development Committee.

“Last week, as the planning authorities put the proposal in front of Belfast City Council, the council saw fit, due to the high number of objections from residents, the Housing Executive and Sinn Féin to block the development yet only yesterday media reports had suggested that planning permission had been granted.

“Obviously this has caused upset to many who thought that the development would revert to the building of 66 family homes under the initial plan for social housing.

“Sinn Féin will be meeting with the planning authorities tomorrow in order to address these concerns. The fact that so many are against this development and are strongly behind keeping the spirit and make up of the local community intact cannot be ignored.

“I would hope that at tomorrows meeting many of the issues surrounding this controversial development can be cleared up.”

Nelson Street Big Picture Development plans must not go ahead – Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast and member of the Social Development Committee, Carál Ní Chuilín has welcomed the fact that the proposed development in Nelson Street by Big Picture Developments Ltd has been blocked by Belfast City Council.


“The proposed development at Nelson Street by Big Picture Developments Ltd is shrouded in controversy. Initially the site was zoned for social housing and there was a plan to build 66 family homes there," said Ní Chuilín.

“It still remains zoned for this purpose but the company behind the plans has radically reduced the social housing element to 20% out of over 230 apartments.

“The initial plan has clearly been turned on its head with the involvement of Big Picture Developments, in residents views to the detriment of the local community and outrage across the board.

“Last week, as the planning authorities put the proposal in front of Belfast City Council, the council saw fit, due to the high number of objections from residents, the Housing Executive and Sinn Féin to block the development.

“This is a welcome development that is only tempered by the fact that the planners may well resubmit the same plans.

“I would urge those behind the development not to do so, to listen to the community and press on with the original social development that the people of North Belfast want.”

Kelly slams those responsible for Ardoyne punishment attack

Sinn Féin MLA for north Belfast Gerry Kelly has slammed those responsible for a punishment attack against a man in Ardoyne on Saturday.

“A young man was assaulted and humiliated by having paint thrown over him in public in Ardoyne. He was threatened not to talk to the police or the news media," said Kelly.

"Given that the action was deliberately public it was inconceivable that it would not be brought to the attention of either the media or the PSNI. If this issue wasn’t so serious it would be truly laughable and highlights the ridiculousness of this grouping.

"The members of the so-called “Óglaigh na hÉireann” group then returned on Sunday on the basis of newspaper reports and ordered the young man to leave the country; my understanding is that the young man in fact didn’t go the media himself.

"Let me be very clear, these people do not represent the community; I condemn their futile actions outright. If people have evidence of crime and anti-social activity then they should seek redress through the courts.”

All Ireland economic realities discussed at NSMC - McGuinness

Martin McGuinness MP MLA, speaking from the North South Ministerial Council, where a focus was placed on economic issues affecting people across the island of Ireland said:

“A number of issues in relation to the economy and the realisation that the all-Ireland economy is a reality were discussed including the revelation that NAMA will now hold in excess of £5bn worth of assets in the north of Ireland.

“Sinn Féin also raised the issues with regards to the regulation of the Quinn group and the fact that two of the banks operating in the north are owned, and regulated, from Dublin and the impact this has on customers in all parts of the island.

“Given these and other issues there is now a clear need to recognise the economic realities that exist and plan the economy on an all-Ireland basis.

“This is essential if we are to maximise economic growth through research and development to promote and enhance indigenous companies.

“Sinn Féin’s proposals for economic recovery have been published. These are based on growth through investment, job creation, and all-Ireland co-operation.

“The greater this co-operation the greater the delivery of substantial savings and stability. Evidence can be shown in more efficient and effective public service provision such as the cancer services at Altnagelvin, with the linkage of Letterkenny and Magee education campuses, and the A5 and A8 dualling projects.

“This is a very clear message that we will be putting to the people of Ireland in the forthcoming months and one that has already been widely accepted as a positive and constructive way forward.”

Social Development Minister has left Neighbourhood Renewal groups in the dark – Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast and member of the Social Development committee at Stromont, Carál Ní Chulín has stated that there needs to be immediate clarity from the Minister of Social Development, Alex Attwood, as to the criteria and time span for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding applications.

Speaking today Ms Ní Chuilín said:

“Serious concerns have arisen only days before the closing date for applications to the Neighbourhood Renewal programme. Community groups have not been made aware of vital criteria that is essential to their applications.

“There has been no clarity on whether the funding is for one or four years, on what is the criteria for assessment or if the department using previously submitted data to assess the applicants, or indeed will there be cuts to the amount of funding available?

“Any application for funding needs careful consideration by the applicant in order to ensure maximum success and continuity of projects and employment posts.

“Without the correct and proper guidance from the Department these groups have essentially been left to shoot in the dark and can only hope that they get the required funding.

“This is absolutely no way to run a funding programme. In these economic times the Minister is playing russian roulette with peoples jobs and with community service provision. He must, over the space of this weekend, provide clarity to these immediate and pressing issues.”

The change is good for local Gaels

North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said the start of the work on changing facilities at the Cricky pitch on the Cliftonville Road is a victory for local Gaels.

Work began this week on the long-awaited changing facilities on the pitch, which is used by the two local GAA clubs Ardoyne Kickhams and Pearses GAA clubs.

"It's been a hard fought battle for these changing facilities and if you recall, children were having to change at the side of the road to play here," said the Sinn Féin representative.

"We are delighted with the start of this work and the highest praise must go to the GAA for their determination during this campaign.

"It's a significant development, we overcame sectarianism in the city council to win this fight and I must say that the SDLP reversing their position to block these changing facilities for local young people was the right thing to do and hopefully they can join with us in future community leisure campaigns."

Councillor welcomes Ardoyne home repair scheme

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerard McCabe has commended all those involved after it was announced that more than 100 homes in the Ardoyne area are getting external improvements as part of a Housing Executive repair scheme.

The Housing Executive’s External Cyclical Maintenance Programme will carry out the work on 132 homes in the district including putting in uPVC windows in homes that have none and services of the windows of those that do.

The work will also include replacing any defective external doors and rainwater goods as well as carrying out repairs to roofs, chimneys, fencing, external walls, railings and paths, work which will be carried out prior to redecoration.

“This scheme is excellent news for the residents of the Jamaica/Havana area. I have been working closely with the Jamaica/Havana residents group and together we have developed an excellent working relationship with the Housing Executive’s North Belfast District Office.

"The Jamaica/Havana residents group and I would like to thank the officers involved for all their hard work and will continue to liaise with them to ensure the scheme progresses as smoothly as possible for all the residents involved,” said McCabe.

Bin burnings by anti-socials
Meanwhile McCabe said bin burning incidents near a sheltered housing facility in Ardoyne have come about after as alleyway has become a well-known hot-spot for anti-social behaviour.
Youths have been stealing black wheelie bins and burning them out in the alleyway that runs adjacent to Holyrood House on Flax Street.

“It is important that we get the appropriate agencies working together including Council and police,” he said.
He commended Belfast City Council for coming out to clean the area after recent incidents.

Deadline approaching for pensioners to avail of free Irish passports

North Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Mary Ellen Campbell has urged local pensioners who need an Irish passport to apply now before the entitlement to a free passport ends.

Mary Ellen called on locals not to miss the deadline for a free passport, which ends this month. Those over the age of 65 have been entitled to a free Irish passport since 2005, however the concession is due to end at the end of this month when they will be charged.

"I'm urging constituents to quickly avail of the remaining opportunity by calling to our Antrim Road office," said Mary Ellen.
"Irish passport entitlement is a very popular issue with constituents and we deal with a large volume of applications.

“As finances are limited currently I'm urging those over 65s concerned to act now and save themselves a substantial cost. The passport office aren't currently busy so you shouldn't have the difficulties many experienced last year,” said the Republican Councillor.

Tar Isteach move house

New Lodge based group X-prisoners group Tar Isteach are in the process of packing up their old base in the New Lodge to move to a bigger building beside the Antrim Road Baptist Church, facing Mannys chip shop.

The organisation was set up in 1999 to provide counselling and welfare rights advice for ex-republican prisoners and their families in the North Belfast area but has now expanded and offers advice, emotional support, youth provision and training and education to those that need it.
Project co ordinator Tommy Quigley said the new premises will allow all their services to be provided under the one roof. Funding is provided by the Peace III programme.

"With the regeneration work being planned for Hillman Street where our old premises were we knew we had to move so chose this spot here on the Antrim Road," said Quigley.
"Before we were divided between the Ashton Centre and Hillman Street but now it is all under one roof. We will still be providing the same service but from another location.

"Tar Isteach has grown so much over the years, now more than 2500 people are helped by us every year."
Service users are warned there may be some disruption over the coming weeks while the official move takes place.

"We will officially be moving on 27 January so there might be a bit of disruption in the next couple of weeks. We are telling people to just give us a ring to check.
“We are also updating our ex-prisoners database so any ex-prisoners in the area should get in touch with their contact details. This is a new phase for us in Tar Isteach and we will continue to make it the success that it is."
Contact Tar Isteach on 90754967

North Belfast behind fight to save Mater A&E - Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the decision to close the Mater A&E on Sunday was most alarming.
Ambulances with emergency patients were diverted away from the Mater Hospital and staff fear it is part of a wider plan to downgrade the accident and emergency unit.

“This hospital is vital for both the health of the community and the large number of local people employed there,” said the North Belfast MLA.
"This decision to close the Mater A&E was made at a very senior level and is most alarming. It's my understanding that staff have provided a first class service in the past with double this amount of trolley waits and there was no operational rationale for this move," she said.

"Since becoming the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey seems to have favoured the City Hospital A&E which is in his local constituency. We will fight tooth and nail not just to save Mater Hospital facilities but to extend and further develop them.

"The Mater is our biggest employer and vital to the health of surrounding deprived communities. My heart goes out to the professional and dedicated Mater staff who must feel demoralized at present. The whole North Belfast community is behind you in the fight ahead."

Spanish government arrests not conducive to search for peace

Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has stated that the latest arrests by the Spanish government are not conducive to the development of a peace process in the Basque Country. Commenting on recent arrests he said:

"Last week ETA stated that its ceasefire was 'permanent' and that it would be 'verifiable by the international community'. This was a courageous step in the search for a 'just and democratic solution to the centuries old conflict'.

"Sinn Féin has urged the Spanish Government to grasp this opportunity for peace. However the Spanish state appears determined to continue to pursue a so called security agenda. The arrests last night of 11 members of Basque civic groups, Askatasuna and Ekin, is not conducive to the search for a political solution.

“This is not the way to advance a peace process. The Spanish government must play its part and build confidence in the process".

Kelly praises community help for playgroup

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has praised the local community after offers of help for an Ardoyne playgroup following damage done due to burst pipes to the premises.

Part of the ceiling at Holy Cross Playgroup on Flax Street collapsed after an overhead water tank burst and thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to equipment and toys. However the neighbouring Ardoyne Kickhams GAC and Ardoyne Youth Club offered the playgroup use of their premises.

“The community has really pulled together very quickly to help out. That has been typical of the people of Ardoyne over recent weeks. With all the complaints about the snow, the grit and the water the people of Ardoyne took action. They didn’t hang about waiting for people to make promises,” said Kelly who visited the site along with local councilor Gerard McCabe to offer their assistance.

Councillor slams attack on Fire Service

The weekend attack comes after a spate of attacks on Fire Service staff in the area. On St Stephen's day a Fire Service Officer attending a special service call in the area had his car maliciously damaged.

New Lodge Sinn Féin councillor Conor Maskey has urged the local community to unite behind the Fire and Rescue Service after crews attending the scene of the New Lodge tower block fire at the weekend were attacked with missiles thrown down from other flats.

As Fire Service staff battled to rescue six people trapped on the 16th floor of Gráinne House in the early hours of Sunday morning, they were pelted with bottles and glasses from above.

"There have been a series of these outrageous attacks across the constituency in recent times and we again stand shoulder with, and support, the men and women of the Fire and Rescue Service," said Conor.

“The idiotic actions of a few people at the weekend put many lives at risk – the lives of their own neighbours. The work that these people do to keep us safe in our homes from fires, dealing with the most appalling carnage on our roads should earn them the highest admiration,” said the Republican representative.

Gerry Kelly: Finucane Family deserve truth and justice

Sinn Féin north Belfast MLA and Junior Minister Gerry Kelly has called on British Secretary of State Owen Patterson to fulfil British Government commitments and implement an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.

“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 Kelly.

"Pat’s family deserve truth and they deserve justice; the prolonged delay by British Secretary of State is completely unacceptable and only delays the process of truth and justice.”

McDevitt support for unionist veto disgraceful

Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey has said that SDLP representative Conal McDevitt needs ‘to get real if he thinks that nationalists in the north are about to stand by and watch him try and barter away hard fought gains in successive negotiations for his own narrow political ambitions’. He accused the SDLP representative of disgracefully aligning himself with unionist attempts to undermine the checks and balances at the Assembly.

Mr Maskey’s comments came after Mr McDevitt called for changes in the Stormont rules to allow the Assembly to remove a Minister from the Executive, thereby handing unionists a veto over nationalist Ministers.


“Conal McDevitt may not understand nor care about the past unionist abuse of power in the 6 Counties. In pursuit of his own political ambitions he seeks to build a UUP/SDLP alliance. His agenda is causing unease amongst many within the SDLP base, he is actively attempting to undermine the checks and balances contained within the Good Friday Agreement political institutions," said Maskey.

“His recent call for a new provision within the Assembly to allow the removal of an Executive Minister on the basis of a simple majority vote is ill thought-out. It is also a longstanding unionist demand. For an SDLP representative to propose what would in effect be a unionist veto over the operation of the political institutions is staggering. Were it to be adopted his proposal would spell the end of power-sharing government.

“The only way that the political institutions can operate effectively and in the interests of all is on the basis of equality. Sinn Féin will not allow any attempts to undermine the power-sharing safeguards and guarantees built into the arrangements upon which the Institutions are required to operate. That is the only way to ensure that the unionist abuses of the past never happen again and that the institutions serve all sections of society.

“Conal McDevitt needs to get real if he thinks that nationalists in the north are about to stand by and watch him try and barter away hard fought gains in successive negotiations for his own narrow political ambitions.”

‘Idiots’ attack fire engine in Ligoniel

Local Sinn Féin councillor Gerard McCabe has called the young people ‘idiots’ who attacked a fire engine on a call out to Ligoniel on New Year's Eve.
The vehicle had to be taken off the road after it was attacked by a group of young people and McCabe described the assault as an attack on the entire community.

"The work that these people do which involves putting their lives at risk to keep us safe in our homes from fires and, in recent weeks supplying water to areas in need throughout Belfast and beyond, should earn them the highest admiration," said the Republican activist.

"The idiots that have bricked and abused our Fire and Rescue Service need to be brought before the courts and I am appealing to anyone with information about such attacks to contact the PSNI
"The people of Ligoniel are sending out a clear message to anyone who is involved in such attacks that when you attack our emergency services you attack this community."

Lessons must be learnt

By Carál Ní Chuilín
Undoubtedly we are now emerging from a crisis. The unprecedented weather has exposed severe weaknesses in our infrastructure ranging from the water and sewage network to public housing and substandard crisis management provision.

I want to take this opportunity to praise all of those people over the last few weeks who responded within the community by directly intervening to tackle the problems head on. Community activists, public service workers and emergency services cleared the snow, delivered the water and supported the most vulnerable left without heating.

The first priority was to do all we could as a community to get through the crisis. We challenged those tasked with providing essential services ensuring that hour by hour NI Water and the Housing Executive were forced into taking unprecidented emergency measures.

We may be facing further bad weather so it's important we use this time to hold those responsible for the failures to account. NI Water as one of the 'arms length bodies' concerned was established in preparation for privatisation, a move Sinn Féin firmly opposed.

Much of the difficulty experienced in holding them to account stems from this status. Sinn Féin have argued against additional water charges and for full public control of water services, a position vindicated in recent weeks.
Whilst the weather conditions have been extreme it is clear that the emergency response was simply not fit for purpose.
Lessons must be learnt to avoid a repeat of this totally unacceptable situation. If heads must roll then so be it.

Our experience has been that direct public accountability such as with councils proved to be far more effective in putting in place emergency provision. This ranged from access to bottled water and free showers in leisure facilities to public access to grit and salt supplies.

However it is those tasked with providing public services that in this case have failed to communicate effectively with the community even if it was to allow us to prepare for the worst.
Whilst the immediate concern of us all has to be to ensure the necessary steps are taken to get everyone back on full supply of water and to have those homes which have suffered damage repaired immediately, there is clearly a need for a review of every aspect of all arms length bodies and quangos in the north.

This review should be sooner rather than later. Many of these bodies should be scrapped. Others should be restructured to ensure proper accountability mechanisms are put in place.