uuptoday.org

Ken Robinson MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for East Antrim, a member of the Assembly’s Education Committee and a former Headmaster, today described the latest figures from Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as “sobering.”

The report said that children in disadvantaged areas were turning away from school as early as age nine.

“The problem of negative attitudes towards school and education sets these children on a road to disadvantage for the rest of their lives. Disadvantage is a self-perpetuating experience. Negative attitudes to education lead to disadvantage and that in turn leads to more negative attitudes towards education. Somehow, we are going to have to break this inter-generational cycle of deprivation.”

“One aspect of this issue worries me. That is the view that this is just inner-city deprivation. It is well beyond the bounds of the inner cities. It also effects the big re-housing estates in the towns around Belfast – in Antrim, Newtownabbey, Lisburn and elsewhere. There is also the problem of rural poverty and low educational expectations and job prospects in isolated rural communities.”

“There is, I believe, a very significant loss of talent to our overall community from our failure to adequately address these related problems. One of the biggest challenges facing the Assembly is how we deal with this underachievement. So many educational headlines are grabbed by the Grammar School and selection issues, that this problem of low attainment and low achievement and its persistence in areas of high unemployment and low incomes is being missed.”

Ken Robinson MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for East Antrim, has called for a comprehensive review to be undertaken by the Department of Regional Development into the province-wide establishment of 20 mph zones in built up areas.

“I recently asked the Minister for Regional Development if his department had the power under current legislation to introduce 20 mph speed limits in towns, villages, cities and built-up areas, particularly near schools. He has now confirmed to me that his department already has the power to do this.”

“Now that he has confirmed to me that he has the power to do it, I am calling on the Minister to act. To begin with, he should set up a province-wide review of potential 20 mph zones in our most heavily populated areas. Speed kills and only a 20 mph limit enforced across the entire province in what might be called black spots in heavily built up areas will get the message across.”

“A survey by the Transport Research Laboratory of 20mph zones across the UK and in other European countries found child road accidents fell by 67%, cyclist accidents by 29% and traffic flow by 27%. It has also been shown that a driver travelling at 20mph is able to come to a sudden stop in about half the time of one driving at 30mph.”

“This is Road Safety week and it would be a good time for the Minister to act or at least declare his intention to act. It would help increase the profile of the decision and it would show that the Executive cared about this issue, given our appalling road safety record.”

East Antrim MLA Ken Robinson has called upon the PSNI to follow the example of Bedfordshire Police who are involved in a pilot scheme designed to use specially adapted hi-tech Canadian-made BlackBerry 8700 devices as part of a crack down on crime.

Mr Robinson explained, “Bedfordshire is one of six pilot schemes currently assessing the system. This approach is designed to eliminate that area referred to as “dead time” that is when an officer on patrol is required to complete paperwork on his return to the station.

“Officers using the system can, as a result of this BlackBerry 8700 device, remain on the streets where the public increasingly want them to be seen. It also enables the policeman, while still on his beat, to quickly check crucial details such as car ownership, previous convictions and photographs of missing or wanted persons. Initial responses from the police are positive with delays in sourcing vital centrally held information being dramatically reduced. This increases the time made available for a high visibility presence on the streets especially in crime hotspots.”

Mr Robinson added, “The public in Northern Ireland are seeking a “zero tolerance” approach towards crime and thuggery and are demanding a more visible and active police presence on our streets. This technology, if these pilot schemes are evaluated as successful, would appear to hand another valuable and vital tool to the front line officers on the beat as they battle to deliver the service levels that the public is expecting.”

Ken Robinson MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for East Antrim, who has campaigned against knife crime for the past five years today welcomed the announcement of tough new anti-knife laws by Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins.

“I am pleased that this measure is going to reach the statute books. When I started to campaign against knife crime, the official attitude was very different. Back then, the authorities were in denial and argued that the problem did not exist as a major concern. Several high profile deaths have occurred since that time which proved they were wrong. Today, our thoughts will be with the families of those victims. We should always remember that this law will be too late for them.”

“Nonetheless, this is a major step forward. I am particularly glad to see that the government is also looking at a licensing scheme in addition to this Act. Doubling the sentence from two to four years for carrying a blade is a wise move. Only severity in sentencing will impact on this problem. I am also pleased that selling a knife to anyone under 18 will be an offence as will be the sale of a crossbow to someone under 18.”

“We should remember that these new anti-knife laws are only a beginning. This is a first step in tackling the underlying problem which is the gang culture. If we are to create order in our society after such a long period of instability, then the gang culture must be next in our sights. It is this culture which often provides the impetus for the use of offensive weapons including knives.”

Ken Robinson MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for East Antrim, has welcomed the news announced at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh today that the A8 would become a dual carriageway along its entire length from Belfast to Larne.

“As someone who has campaigned for the A8 to be dualled over its entire length for the past nine years, this is very welcome news. Sections of the A8 have been dualled over the past few years after pressure from campaigners like myself but now that this is to be done comprehensively from Belfast to Larne, that will make a real difference. This shows that there are tangible benefits from running our own affairs rather than being badly governed under direct rule.”

“Larne needs this to help it compete in the future, especially with the new threat posed by the planned new all-Ireland Port at Bremore between Drogheda and Dublin. This new road must become a part of the strategy to help the Northern Ports survive.”

“Today’s news also means that action is being taken to complete trans-european routes to a minimum standard which equates to elsewhere in Europe. It must be emphasised that this is a minimum requirement to keep the port of Larne viable in the long term.”

Speaking today after the launch by Action on Elder Abuse of its report on the abuse and neglect of older people, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for East Antrim, Ken Robinson, has called on the Executive to lead a public debate on how the rights and dignity of older people are to be protected.

The report by Action on Elder Abuse showed that 3% of older people in Northern Ireland experience abuse.

Mr Robinson said: “This is a very sobering report. Action on Elder Abuse is to be thanked for setting the facts in front of us. As a society we have often prided ourselves in ensuring that older people have respect, security and dignity. However, alongside the harsh realities of pensioner poverty and age discrimination, the fact of elder abuse should be a wake-up call. Our society is failing to protect the fundamental rights and dignity of far too many older people.

“The Executive, of course, has a responsibility to act. In particular, the creation of a Commissioner for Older People should be a priority for the Executive – not least as this has all-party support in the Assembly. A Commissioner, for example, could inform and focus public opinion on elder abuse.

“But this is not just a matter for government. All of us – families, community and faith-based organisations, care providers, trade unions and the media – share in the responsibility to address and end elder abuse. We all must address the reality of elder abuse if we are to be a society that genuinely respects older people and believes in their right to dignity”.

Ken Robinson, Ulster Unionist Party candidate for East Antrim, has highlighted the need to provide more Park and Ride facilities along the Belfast to Larne railway line.

Mr Robinson, who has campaigned in the previous Assembly for improvements on this line, commented, “In the first Assembly we voted through monies to upgrade the track and signalling in preparation for the new trains being introduced on this route. Unfortunately, Direct Rule Ministers did not build on this investment and commuters currently have to ride in stock that is not the equal of other parts of the rail network.

“Since this is a Trans European Network route my fellow Ulster Unionist candidates and I brought our MEP Jim Nicholson to Carrickfergus at the weekend to see and hear how further progress in restoring this line to its former status can be achieved.

“There is scope for further P & R places at Carrick if the Roads Dept can be re-sited” added Mr Robinson. “I drew this to the attention of Direct Rule Minister Angela Smith some time ago but of course, to date, there has been no progress.

“There is also scope for a significant P & R facility at Greenisland Station. This would not only encourage more motorists to use the train from that location, it would allow Roads Service to ease the difficult junctions and the traffic flows below Greenisland Primary School. Again this is an issue that was raised with the Direct Rule regime…. again no progress has been made.

“The obvious benefits of making rail travel more comfortable by the addition of more new rolling stock are there for all to see. The attraction of encouraging an increasing number of motorists to make the shorter journey to the local railway station has several benefits. It can free that vehicle for use by other family members. It will also cut the serious problem posed by carbon emissions caused by thousands of vehicles sitting in those traffic jams that daily edge their way along the A2 Shore Road and B90 Upper Road.

“We are fortunate in East Antrim to have this rail alternative but we need NIR to fully market the advantages of travelling by train. Most of all we need modern rolling stock that will improve comfort, frequency and reliability.”

Councillor Ken Robinson, who is also the Ulster Unionist Party candidate for East Antrim in the forthcoming election, has welcomed moves by Newtownabbey Borough Council to become involved in the “SHARING A VISION FOR OUR COASTLINE” Project.

The scheme, which is funded by the European Union under Interreg 111A programme, will involve a partnership involving 14 communities stretching along the east coast from Waterfoot, Whitehead and Whiteabbey in Co Antrim along the Ards Peninsula and as far as Greenore in the Republic.

Commenting on the scheme Mr Robinson said, “I had discussed the issue of regenerating Whiteabbey with the previous Town Centre Manager and we had exchanged some initial ideas with Government departments that would have improved the physical appearance of Whiteabbey and made it an increasingly attractive place for commercial and recreational activities.

“Unfortunately the Planning Service has, in the interim, continued to give its approval to piecemeal inappropriate developments in the area. What Whiteabbey needed was a coherent approach to planning to enhance and protect its character and ensure that any new build blended into this overall ambience. We would then, as a Council, work with businesses and the Roads Service to replace footpaths with a consistent, improved surface and enhance the parking provision in the area. Street furniture such as high quality litter bins, new period style street lamps, flower baskets and other co-ordinated items could then be used to give a certain ambience to the village area.

“This new EU funded project may just enable us to rescue something from the hotch-potch the Planners have allowed to develop in the Whiteabbey/Jordanstown area.

“At the moment, the Three Mile Water River has been brought back to life through the effort and vision of a group of anglers based in Monkstown. Many other villages would be envious of such an environmental development and protect it fiercely. Sadly, the Planning authorities have not yet fully grasped the impact that continued development and infill housing, which they are approving, has on the character of the area. Trees continue to disappear at an alarming rate and buildings that add to the character of the village and its surrounding areas continue to be under threat.

“At least this overdue but welcome EU funded scheme can, with the support and co-operation of local residents and businesses, enable the character of Whiteabbey to be assessed and proposals formulated so that the available monies can be used to improve the area for the benefit of everyone.”

East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party candidate Ken Robinson has warned that a housing crisis is building as prices in the area continue to soar.

Mr Robinson explained, “We have several key elements in this process that, unless they are carefully monitored, will lead to real hardships for many of our citizens.

“In the first instance we have young couples attempting to purchase their first home. They are currently faced with rocketing house prices, a process being fuelled by the entry into the market of speculators many of whom are from outside Northern Ireland. This problem is made worse by the declining number of available public sector houses owned by the NIHE. The young couple then finds themselves pushed towards the private rental sector where rents have also increased dramatically with many around £500+ per month. In this situation the young couple will never be able to purchase their own home without acquiring a mortgage of gigantic proportions. This is a real disincentive to building up settled and stable communities.

“At the other end of the spectrum we have mature home owners who have seen their property value rise to an unbelievable level. They are sitting in homes that are currently valued at £200,000+ in an increasing number of cases. However, they are living on restricted incomes, mostly pensions and investments, so there is little spare cash for repairs or the impending water rates and rates increases. These homeowners made many sacrifices in their earlier years to take on mortgage repayments, educate their families and pay their taxes. Now they are about to face, through no fault of their own, increasing rates and water rates charges and find themselves slipping into the Chancellor’s clutches as Inheritance Tax becomes an issue and worry for an increasing number.

“The new Assembly will need to set up an urgent inquiry into the impact upon individuals and groups that these rapid changes to the housing market are causing. We need to ensure that more social housing is available and that affordable homes are being built to meet the needs of communities rather than to feed the greed of speculators.”

Ken Robinson, the UUP Spokesman on Department of Employment and Learning issues has called upon schools to provide pupils with a wider range of third level options when delivering careers advice.

Mr Robinson, reinforcing a message his Party has repeated for some time which is aimed at reducing the “Brain Drain” commented: “We have a very successful educational system here which consistently out performs other regions in the UK at the top levels of achievement. This has led to many of our high fliers seeking places in Universities and Colleges across the water. While it is desirable and understandable that young people will want to expand their horizons, the sad fact is that of the 33% who go across to England and Scotland roughly two thirds of them will not return to take up a career in Northern Ireland.”

The UUP East Antrim Assembly candidate said: “Not only is this a loss to the families concerned but it is an ongoing drain on the ability of N Ireland to develop a world class economy based upon the knowledge, skills and expertise that they will have acquired.

“In East Antrim we are most fortunate to have located within the constituency a first class Further Education College and a world class University campus. Many parts of the UK would be most envious of this situation. However, many of our school leavers, at the end of their secondary level education, are either not considering a place at these institutions or are not being advised of the potential benefits of completing their studies locally. I feel that both schools and the Higher and Further Education sector need to co-operate more fully to spread that message.

“Now is a particularly important time to review the issue since all economic reports indicate that the N Ireland economy must be re-balanced away from public sector employment and to increasingly focus on wealth creating private sector jobs. If we are to develop the knowledge based economy we need in East Antrim, we must build up our potential to turn the excellent University research findings into both new products and new businesses. The restructuring of the Further Education sector will also have a critical role in turning this research into development projects and providing the skilled technicians to service this vital sector of the economy.

“Today, we face growing competition from all over the world and have seen how our southern neighbours invested in education. The Republic expanded its capacity in third level Regional Colleges and Universities to provide the skilled workforce with which it then attracted in overseas firms and investors. Surely we in N Ireland can learn from that experience and develop it to meet the particular needs of our economy.”