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Spring Budget means that Northern Ireland families will fall further behind on access to quality and affordable childcare - Deputy Leader, Lesley Veronica

Posted News · March 15, 2023 1:19 PM
Green Party NI Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica has said that the Spring Budget means that Northern Ireland families will fall further behind on access to quality and affordable childcare. 
 
Lesley Veronica said: "Northern Ireland already lags well behind other UK regions on childcare support, with parents guaranteed just 12.5 hours per week for the pre-school year only. 
 
"Meanwhile, childcare costs are rocketing, and the real world consequences are parents, predominately women, prevented from working or who go to work, but spend a huge salary share on childcare bills.
 
"The question therefore remains, where is our long promised Early Learning and Childcare Strategy? And, where is the 22.5 hours of funded pre-school for all children that then Education Minister Michelle McIlveen promised in September 2022?
 
"This is another clear example of the failure of political delivery here in Northern Ireland. Childcare is a vital part of our economic infrastructure and improved access to affordable childcare has been identified as a policy that can reduce income inequality.  
 
"It's well beyond time that the DUP and all Executive parties get their acts together, restore devolved government and show leadership on the issues that matter most to people in their everyday lives.
 
“In the meantime I urge all parents to make sure they are receiving the financial support they are entitled to with their registered childcare costs. Most working parents are entitled to support through one of a number of schemes – Employers For Childcare’s Family Benefits Advice Service can help them work out what is best for them. You can call their Freephone helpline on 0800 028 3008 for free, personalised advice.”
ENDS

Return to the spirit of the people's agreement - Lesley Veronica

Posted News · November 04, 2022 6:23 PM

Green Party deputy leader Lesley Veronica has challenged the Secretary of State to provide clarity on the ongoing situation regarding an assembly election.

 

Lesley said, “Todays statement from the Secretary of State provides no clarity on the current situation, the goalposts have simply been moved. The Green Party has been clear that a costly election is not what the public want. What people want is stable government delivering on the issues which are important to them and need urgent attention.

“This winter many families across NI will be facing huge financial difficulties, issues such as the delay in the £400 winter fuel payment are a cause for concern and anxiety for many.

 

Lesley continued, “The sustained DUP veto of the institutions is causing real harm to everyone in NI, just as it did in all previous periods of sustained interruption to a functioning government.

 

Next year marks 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, in the time since we have seen ransom politics come to the fore with both Sinn Fein and the DUP bringing down the institutions in a stop start politics which causes real harm on the ground to those who need decisions to be made and funds to be released. This time the issue is the NI protocol, an issue which ultimately must be decided by the UKG and the EU and over which the NI assembly has no jurisdiction. The Green Party would also like to reiterate a commitment to institutional reforms which would see a return to the spirit of the people’s agreement and bring an end to the farce of individual parties stopping a functioning government from being set up. We all deserve better.