After Schools provision left in limbo
Sinn Fein Education Spokesperson Michael Ferguson has joined PlayBoard in criticising
the British Government's Direct Rule Ministers, Angela Smith and Jeff
Rooker, for failing to address after school provision for children.
Michael
Ferguson said,
"This is yet another example of the British
Government's second class treatment of parents and children on this island
and it will have an adverse impact on in particular low and middle income
working lone parents.
"I wrote to Direct Rule Angela Smith and
her Department following the allocation of £680m to extended school projects
in England and again when they invested £918m in Early Years provision
making the case for our children, our parents and our schools and out of
school projects in the Six Counties.
"After Schools providers are
being left in limbo, totally uncertain about their future. We need a
decisive response that clearly identifies what money is being put in place
to sustain after schools.
"This situation is compounded by the
millions upon millions of pounds being taken out of our school budgets and
reinforces the need for the restoration of the Assembly and the appointment
of our own locally accountable ministers.
"This is the type of
real issue that direct rule is just not dealing with properly. It should
have been dealt effectively.
"Sally Garden Community Centre in
Poleglass has an after schools project for 24 children. This project is
located in an area characterized by multiple deprivation with a population
of 10.000, 6.000 of which are under 18 years of age and there isn't even one
a playground for children. The area also has 53% of all of Lisburn City's
unemployed so the loss of this after schools project will have a devastating
impact and begs the question as to this British Governments own commitment
to its own TSN policy which is clearly
lip service." ENDS