Latest news with #MarkHDurkan
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Derry: School 'exploring' more safety measures after alert
A primary school is exploring extra security measures after being forced to evacuate due to a security alert last month, a politician has MLA Mark H Durkan said Sacred Heart Primary School in the Waterside area of Londonderry was now considering CCTV, additional external fencing and a new said the school had been engaging with the Education Authority (EA) after a suspect object - later declared a hoax - prompted the evacuation of the building and nearby homes on 26 described the incident as "deplorable" and said he had been approached by concerned parents asking about additional safety measures. BBC News NI has contacted the EA and Department of Education (DoE) for a response. The subject object was found in the school grounds on the Trench Road and removed after being declared a hoax. 'Safety of children is paramount' "This is not the first incident like that in the area, but the alert in June was certainly one of the most high profile and had such a negative impact," Durkan said. "The safety of children is obviously paramount, so any additional measures that could help put parents of children at the school and those living in the surrounding area more at ease would obviously be welcomed."In response to Durkan's question, the Department for Education said officials had contacted the school about added security."Officers from the Education Authority's (EA) maintenance service have visited the school site and identified potential security works in the form of CCTV and external gates," a spokesperson said."EA Maintenance Officers are also reviewing a section of external fencing at the school."Durkan said the extra security measures should be put in place as a matter of urgency.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sewer works delayed to avoid football parade clash
Planned sewer upgrade works in Londonderry have been paused to avoid a clash with a youth football tournament's opening parade. The work had been due to begin on Sunday at Queens Quay, with a number of traffic restrictions in place over a six week period. But with the Foyle Cup's opening parade – which draws of thousands of people into the city centre – set to take place on Monday, there had been concern over the restrictions. Northern Ireland Water has now told BBC News NI the planned works will not go ahead as initially planned. "NI Water can confirm that it will postpone its planned works at Queens Quay in Derry by 48 hours to alleviate traffic congestion on the day of the Foyle Cup parade," a NI Water spokesperson said. Work will now begin at Queens Quay on 22 July. Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Mark H Durkan had said if the tournament parade and planned works clashed it would be a challenge in terms of city centre traffic. The work at Queens Quay is part of a major upgrade of Derry's sewer network and will see Queens Quay restricted to one lane during the day and closed fully at times. In an earlier statement NI Water said it appreciated "work of this nature may be disruptive and thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we complete these essential improvements". Madams Bank restrictions Earlier in July NI Water confirmed traffic restrictions to allow for work in the Madams Bank area of Derry would be reinstated on 20 July. They have been paused while The Open is taking place in Portrush. Madams Bank Road is one of the major routes from the city into County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier this year one of the city's busiest streets reopened after it was closed for eight months. Foyle Street closed in August 2024 to allow for a £4.2m major upgrade to the water and sewerage infrastructure. Traders had expressed concern over the impact of the closure on business in the area. Traders welcome street reopening after eight months In pictures: Young Foyle Cup stars parade in Derry
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Foyle Cup: Derry sewer works delayed to avoid football parade clash
Planned sewer upgrade works in Londonderry have been paused to avoid a clash with a youth football tournament's opening work had been due to begin on Sunday at Queens Quay, with a number of traffic restrictions in place over a six week with the Foyle Cup's opening parade – which draws of thousands of people into the city centre – set to take place on Monday, there had been concern over the Ireland Water has now told BBC News NI the planned works will not go ahead as initially planned. "NI Water can confirm that it will postpone its planned works at Queens Quay in Derry by 48 hours to alleviate traffic congestion on the day of the Foyle Cup parade," a NI Water spokesperson will now begin at Queens Quay on 22 July. Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Mark H Durkan had said if the tournament parade and planned works clashed it would be a challenge in terms of city centre traffic. The work at Queens Quay is part of a major upgrade of Derry's sewer network and will see Queens Quay restricted to one lane during the day and closed fully at an earlier statement NI Water said it appreciated "work of this nature may be disruptive and thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we complete these essential improvements". Madams Bank restrictions Earlier in July NI Water confirmed traffic restrictions to allow for work in the Madams Bank area of Derry would be reinstated on 20 have been paused while The Open is taking place in Bank Road is one of the major routes from the city into County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier this year one of the city's busiest streets reopened after it was closed for eight Street closed in August 2024 to allow for a £4.2m major upgrade to the water and sewerage had expressed concern over the impact of the closure on business in the area.
Glasgow Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Long-awaited Stormont anti-poverty plan criticised as ‘underwhelming'
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launched an extended 14-week public consultation on the Executive's Anti-Poverty Strategy 2025-35 on Tuesday. He described it as being based on three pillars of minimising risks of falling into poverty, minimising the impact of poverty on people's lives and working to help people get out of poverty. Figures indicated that around 18% of those in Northern Ireland live in relative poverty, and 15% live in absolute poverty, with 25% of children living in relative poverty and 21% of children living in absolute poverty. The strategic commitments from across departments include continuing the Extended Schools Programme, working with partners to scope out an NI Debt Relief Scheme, a commitment to develop an Executive Disability Strategy and a Fuel Poverty Strategy. Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Lyons described a 'legacy of delay' in taking forward an anti-poverty strategy. 'When I took office, I made it clear that one of my priorities would be tackling poverty,' he told MLAs. 'After a legacy of delay in taking this work forward, I wanted to work at pace to develop a strategy which could help make a meaningful difference to those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage in our society. 'I and my Executive colleagues have worked to develop a strategy which we will make progress against and can and will make a difference to people's lives. 'This strategy is the culmination of considerable hard work, collaboration and co-design, and I want to thank all those stakeholders, in particular the members of the anti-poverty co-design group, who have worked with my department in providing their input. 'We often hear about the silo approach in government, but I know that ministers and officials across the executive departments have worked together on the draft in a spirit of co-operation and collective ownership.' He added that targets will come later with an action plan. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan described the strategy as 'underwhelming' (Liam McBurney/PA) Mark H Durkan from the official Opposition at Stormont described the document as 'underwhelming'. He contended it didn't just 'call into question the Executive's ability to tackle poverty', but also their appetite and ambition to do so. Mr Lyons hit back, claiming Mr Durkan was 'wrong on every point that he made'. 'It has been 17 years that we have been waiting for this document, and after 17 months in office, I have been able to bring this forward,' he said. Save the Children NI head Peter Bryson also criticised the strategy. 'This document raises serious questions about the Executive's commitment to children, families and communities impacted by poverty,' he said. 'It has no clear priorities, budget, action plan, milestones, or accountability for its delivery. It recycles existing commitments, with no real clear link drawn to a deeply flawed description of the current drivers of poverty.' He said the Executive could have 'opted for a big, bold move like introducing a child payment to lift thousands of children out of poverty'. 'Or strengthened an existing policy like the Childcare Subsidy Scheme to help more families with the cost of childcare access work,' he said. 'Or it could simply have committed to bring together departments, local councils and trusts, organisations working to combat poverty, and children, families and communities experiencing poverty, to work together to address poverty. 'Again, we have to ask, how has a document with no measures to reach its ambition been signed off?'
South Wales Argus
17-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Long-awaited Stormont anti-poverty plan criticised as ‘underwhelming'
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launched an extended 14-week public consultation on the Executive's Anti-Poverty Strategy 2025-35 on Tuesday. He described it as being based on three pillars of minimising risks of falling into poverty, minimising the impact of poverty on people's lives and working to help people get out of poverty. Figures indicated that around 18% of those in Northern Ireland live in relative poverty, and 15% live in absolute poverty, with 25% of children living in relative poverty and 21% of children living in absolute poverty. The strategic commitments from across departments include continuing the Extended Schools Programme, working with partners to scope out an NI Debt Relief Scheme, a commitment to develop an Executive Disability Strategy and a Fuel Poverty Strategy. Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Lyons described a 'legacy of delay' in taking forward an anti-poverty strategy. 'When I took office, I made it clear that one of my priorities would be tackling poverty,' he told MLAs. 'After a legacy of delay in taking this work forward, I wanted to work at pace to develop a strategy which could help make a meaningful difference to those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage in our society. 'I and my Executive colleagues have worked to develop a strategy which we will make progress against and can and will make a difference to people's lives. 'This strategy is the culmination of considerable hard work, collaboration and co-design, and I want to thank all those stakeholders, in particular the members of the anti-poverty co-design group, who have worked with my department in providing their input. 'We often hear about the silo approach in government, but I know that ministers and officials across the executive departments have worked together on the draft in a spirit of co-operation and collective ownership.' He added that targets will come later with an action plan. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan described the strategy as 'underwhelming' (Liam McBurney/PA) Mark H Durkan from the official Opposition at Stormont described the document as 'underwhelming'. He contended it didn't just 'call into question the Executive's ability to tackle poverty', but also their appetite and ambition to do so. Mr Lyons hit back, claiming Mr Durkan was 'wrong on every point that he made'. 'It has been 17 years that we have been waiting for this document, and after 17 months in office, I have been able to bring this forward,' he said.
