North-west Ministerial Subgroup

Oral Answers to Questions — Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 1 February 2016.

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Photo of Gerard Diver Gerard Diver Social Democratic and Labour Party 2:30, 1 February 2016

T1. Mr Diver asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given today’s OECD findings, which, unfortunately, indicate that some of our students are struggling with literacy and numeracy, and given the particular level of disadvantage suffered in the north-west and in the Foyle constituency, which is not immune to the skills challenge, why the north-west ministerial subgroup, which has been tasked with dealing with disadvantage in the north-west area, has met only on two occasions, the second of which was a meeting that was called with 24-hours’ notice, and to state what he hopes the subgroup will achieve in 2016. (AQT 3401/11-16)

Photo of Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin

There have been, as the Member said, two meetings of the ministerial subgroup that came about as a result of a conversation between the previous First Minister and me. The present First Minister has clearly shown her intention to continue what is important work. Last year was very much taken up by negotiations, and that presented a huge difficulty. However, action has flowed from the conversations that took place, and that resulted in an allocation of £130 million in the recent Budget for improvements to the A6, which was a big demand in the north-west. Funds were also put aside for the first stage of the A5. There have been important conversations in recent times about how we can advance the situation in Magee university. That is without mentioning the fact that hundreds of millions are being spent on turning Altnagelvin into a state-of-the-art hospital for the north-west. What disappointed me about the events of the latter part of last year was the fact that the SDLP voted against the Budget that allocated those funds for the north-west. The SDLP needs to explain that.

Photo of Gerard Diver Gerard Diver Social Democratic and Labour Party

I will take the deputy First Minister's answer in relation to the other matters that he listed, but it did not address the point that I made about disadvantage and the lack of skills among our young people. It is a matter of very serious concern. I would like to know what the Executive will do to battle that.

Photo of Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin

The Member does a disservice to schools in the north-west and the city where he lives. I am proud that I was the Minister who took the decision to build the new St Mary's Primary School, the new St Cecilia's College and the new St Patrick's Primary School in Derry. They are first-class schools, as are all the other schools in the area. They provide first-class —

Photo of Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin

People can heckle from the sidelines if they want, but I work on the basis that the people heckling really do not want to hear the answer, which is that huge progress is being made, with first-class schools being provided for the people of Derry and the north-west.

On skills, we need to do work in relation to Magee university, and great work is happening at the North West Regional College even as we speak. We need to ensure that people have the skills so that, when we are successful in bringing in foreign direct investment, we have people with the ability to take up those vital jobs.