Campaign News

Sinn Féin MLA Francie Molloy, has welcomed the bringing forward of a benefit uptake programme by the Department of Social Development.

Mr Molloy said:

“The announcement by the Department of Social Development that they will be initiating a three year strategy aimed at benefit uptake is to be welcomed. There are literally millions of pounds of unclaimed benefits in the north.

The benefit system is designed to ease the burden on the vulnerable in society and many different forms of benefit exist, some that many are not aware of or if they are entitled to them. Given the current economic climate even the slightest of increases in benefit payments to those who are entitled to them can make a world of difference. Under the strategy announced the Department aims to generate a minimum of £30 million for 10,000 claimants over the next three years.”

Francie Molloy MLA for Mid Ulster and Sinn Féin candidate in the forthcoming by-election has called for the SDLP to come clean on their approach to political interference in the planning process.

Mr Molloy said, “Political interference has been the hallmark of planning over the years but it now seems be that party political interference with the current Environment Minister needs to be addressed.

A planning approval that would secure 80 new jobs is sitting on the minister’s desk since November at the behest of the local SDLP MLA and Councillor.

As an elected representative for Mid Ulster I have been working on behalf of a local engineering company who want to develop their business and create 80 new jobs. After a long and detailed process the planning service have recommended their application for approval but it now appears that the SDLP Minister Attwood is holding up the approval following interventions by party colleagues in Mid Ulster. In these times of economic hardship why is such significant investment and job creation being blocked by the SDLP?

The engineering sector is one of the few growth sectors in our local economy. The Mid Ulster area is at the heart of the engineering industry providing over 82% of the world’s mobile quarry and sand/gravel equipment, yet here the Minister is sitting on the potential to assist further development in the sector.

Unfortunately Minister Attwood is of the view that the jobs for the Coalisland area, a neighbourhood renewal area of high unemployment could simply be located elsewhere, that is unacceptable and it is even more unacceptable that his party colleagues in Mid Ulster support that approach. The SDLP Minister needs to end the party political interference that continues to block essential job creation in Mid Ulster.

The first Civil Rights march from Coalisland to Dungannon was about housing and jobs, isn’t it ironic that 45 years on the SDLP are blocking jobs for the area.”

Francie Molloy MLA has backed the call for Translink to implement an additional stop on the 212 Bus Service for Antrim Area hospital. It follows a campaign by his party colleague Councillor Kate McEldowney which resulted in Magherafelt District Council passing a motion in support of the call.

Francie Molloy MLA said,

“Sinn Féin has received concerns on the lack of public service accessibility to Antrim Area Hospital and are calling on Translink to implement an additional stop at the hospital on the main Belfast to Derry route.”

“Councillor Kate McEldowney has lobbied Translink to consider this additional service along the main Belfast to Derry route which will help ease the burden of many who have appointments at Antrim Area Hospital and also those who wish to visit.”

“We want and will work to ensure that Translink and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust work together to implement this additional service into the timetable which would meet the needs of patients and visitors especially those from rural areas.”

Francie Molloy MLA has called for the voting age to be lowered to 16. MPs in Westminster voted on the 24th January in support of the proposal, and the Assembly has already backed the call in November led by the youngest MLA, Sinn Féin’s Megan Fearon.

Mr Molloy said,

“It is important that the voices of young people are heard and lowering the voting age to sixteen would be an important step in allowing more people to participate in the democratic process.

“Recently in Scotland they announced that sixteen year olds will get the vote in their referendum on independence and Argentina also announced the vote for people aged sixteen. Young people are eager to participate in the democratic process and in countries like Austria where younger people have the vote the indications are that they are one of the biggest sectors that vote.”

Francie Molloy MLA attended discussions today (Friday 25th January) in Cookstown on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform with Agriculture Ministers Michelle O’Neill MLA and Simon Coveney TD.

Francie Molloy MLA said,

“Today's event highlights the benefit of a team Ireland approach to CAP reform. The south of Ireland holds the Presidency of the EU at a very important time in these negotiations. At the end of these negotiations we need to see a more simple and well-funded flexible CAP that meets the needs of the farming community and the wider rural community.”

Francie Molloy MLA has hailed the campaigning of the Bells Court and Castle Oaks residents in Castledawson as being the determining factor in ensuring an alternative route for the A6 link road proposals.

Meeting with the residents on Friday, Francie Molloy MLA said,

“The original route would have literally driven a road right through local homes. Councillor Ian Milne and I have met with residents on numerous occasions, spoke in their support at the public enquiry, arranged meetings for them with the previous Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy and made representations to the incumbent Danny Kennedy.

“The concerns of local communities are paramount, and the original route would have drastically increased traffic and unnecessarily split communities. It was the dynamic and continuous campaigning of the residents that ensured this positive recommendation from the public enquiry. We will continue to monitor the situation and support local residents.”

Francie Molloy MLA, DARD Minister Michelle O’Neill, and Joint First Minister Martin McGuinness attended DMAC Engineering’s announcement today of 80+ jobs.

The Coalisland based companies announcement has been hailed as a great news story and vital jobs boost for Mid Ulster by Francie Molloy MLA.

Mr Molloy said,

“This is a great news story for Mid Ulster, I applaud DMAC who have continued to expand over the past two years, growing their workforce from 45 to 70 and now announcing a further 80+ new jobs over the next 3 years with a £2M investment plan. This is bringing well paid and highly skilled jobs and hope to an area that has been hard hit by the downturn in the economy.

“Environment Minister Alex Attwood has been holding up planning approval for the company’s plans to expand with a purpose built factory. He needs to release the planning approval without delay and support this major investment and vital jobs boost to the Mid Ulster area.”

Francie Molloy MLA has raised concerns with the Environment Minister Alex Attwood over the direction of the Planning Bill, and the Minister’s general approach to planning which he claims has stifled economic development and job creation in the Mid Ulster area.

Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Molloy MLA said,

“There has been a lot of talk today about the economic benefits of sites and developments. I take it in good faith that the Bill will promote that. Clause 2 talks about furthering sustainable development, promoting or improving well-being and promoting economic development.

“However, I have to say that that has not been my experience to date. Hopefully, the legislation will change that. This Minister has certainly not changed it. This Minister has not followed that line. I have concerns about whether what is in the Bill will be reflected by any future Minister.

“I will give the example of a factory outside Coalisland — the Minister knows it well. It is trying to develop an old sandpit on a brownfield site, which will create jobs. In fact, the factory proposes to double its workforce. It has been trying to get planning permission on that site for the last six years. It has made a very determined effort in the last two years.

“That development would provide jobs in an area of very high unemployment, an area that is renowned for its engineering experience and exports materials across the world. In fact, 82% of the world's mobile crushing and sand and gravel equipment is made in that area of east Tyrone. Yet, a factory that wants to double its workforce cannot do that because the Minister is holding the application on his desk, despite the fact that the planners have already approved it.

“Hopefully, the Bill will be improved by the time that it comes out of the Committee and that the various aspects can be dealt with there. It is a very important step forward, and it is important, in this document, we have the three aspects of furthering sustainable development, promoting and improving well-being and promoting economic development for the future.”

Francie Molloy MLA has commented on the new all-Ireland report showing that Ireland has one of the highest rates of suicide among young people in Europe.

 Mr Molloy MLA said:

“The figures for the level of suicide among young people in Ireland as highlighted in this new study are truly shocking. Over 230 suicides per year among teenagers and young men in Ireland give us one of the highest rates of suicide in Europe. And these are only the recorded figures; the true rate is likely to be higher.

“Suicide is taking a terrible toll on families and communities across Ireland and the report published today confirms that the increase in the suicide rate among young men coincides with the recession.

“This calls for an urgent determined and co-ordinated national response from Governments on both sides of the border. At a community level we also need to remember that suicide is 100% preventable and we can all play our part in tackling it head on. In the past year, Sinn Féin in Mid Ulster have hosted a number of suicide prevention training programmes, I would encourage everyone to avail of these whenever & wherever they become available. Take the time to learn these skills which could literally save a life.

“Taking your own life is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, if you need help contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. Speak up, reach out.”

Francie Molloy MLA has called on people to support heart month in February by wearing something red on the 1st February.

Mr Molloy said,

“Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the North of Ireland and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is using February to raise awareness of how we can look after our hearts and also help raise funds for research.

“The ‘Rock Up in Red’ initiative is asking people to wear something in red on the 1st February and donate £2 to the BHF. I would encourage clubs, schools and workplaces to organise an event both to raise money and awareness of how we can look after our hearts.”