Education Support

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... What are the parties promising you? Choose an issue that interests you Top priorities Cost of living Health Economy Education Border poll NI Protocol Climate Roads & rail Policing & justice Culture Agriculture Select parties to compare what they say Select all parties Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin Social Democratic and Labour Party Ulster Unionist Party Alliance Party Green Party Traditional Unionist Voice People Before Profit Aontú Party policies Democratic Unionist Party Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Top priorities Fix the NHS Remove the Northern Ireland Protocol Maintain Northern Ireland s place in the United Kingdom Cost of living Deliver 30 hours of free childcare each week An energy support payment to support hard-pressed families A windfall tax on energy firms Health Invest an extra £1bn to cut waiting lists in partnership with the private sector An additional 750,000 hospital assessments and procedures Implement the reforms of the Bengoa Report Economy Create 5,000 new tech jobs Ensure everyone in Northern Ireland has access to fibre broadband Make tourism a £5bn industry Education Build more schools in the next five years Modernise the curriculum for the 21st century workplace Introduce a cap on school uniform costs Border poll Northern Ireland should remain a part of the United Kingdom NI Protocol The Protocol must be replaced by arrangements that restore Northern Ireland s place within the UK internal market Any new arrangements must be able to command the support of unionists as well as nationalists Any new arrangements are to be judged against party s seven tests to determine whether they respect Northern Ireland s position as part of the UK Climate Make " going green" affordable for homes Roads & rail Roads and rail policies will be added as they are announced Policing & justice Oppose an amnesty for Troubles-related offences Culture Culture policies will be added as they are announced Agriculture Agriculture policies will be added as they are announced Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald Top priorities Tackle the rising cost of living Re-establish the executive Plan for Irish unity Cost of living Give £230 per household to help with cost of living pressures and an additional £100 to those who previously accessed the Energy Payment Support Scheme Extend Business Rates Holiday by one month and allocate £70m financial support for Agri-Food Sector to deal with rising costs Allocate an additional £9m and £8m to the Discretionary Support Scheme and Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme respectively Health Increase health budget by £1billion over the next three years Recruit and retain more nurses, doctors, GPs and HSC staff Invest in transformation of health and social care Economy A new economic strategy for the north to maximise the potential of dual access to the EU and British Markets Reform Invest NI to put a greater focus on supporting local businesses and promoting regional balance Seek greater devolution of fiscal powers for the north Education End academic selection Improve the curriculum by including age appropriate relationship and sexual education, climate change, and emotional health and well being Respond to the increasing demand for both integrated education and Irish medium education Border poll Support Irish unity NI Protocol Maximise the potential of the Protocol and access to the EU and British markets Climate Ensure a just transition so that the burden of moving to a more sustainable economy does not fall on those least able to carry it Ensure a just transition fund for agriculture supports farmers to transition to more sustainable practices Ban petroleum licensing, drilling and extraction in the north of Ireland - including the practice of fracking Roads & rail Prioritise transformative projects such as the A5 and A6 and narrow water bridge to improve connectivity and road safety across our network Support improved green transport including public transport and active travel infrastructure Support improved rail network connectivity, such as in the North West and the Dublin-Belfast corridor Policing & justice Oppose an amnesty for Troubles-related offences Tackle violence against women and girls Strengthen hate crime legislation Culture Implement recommendations from Culture Arts and Heritage Recovery Taskforce established by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey Implementation of the Irish Language and Ulster Scots Language Heritage and Culture strategy Implementation of an Irish language act Agriculture Reintroduce areas of natural constraint (ANC) payment for hill farmers Retain single farm payments for small farms of three hectares Support more sustainable farming practices through Just Transition Fund for Agriculture Social Democratic and Labour Party Leader Colum Eastwood Top priorities Top priorities will be added as they are announced Cost of living Pass emergency legislation to free up £300m in Stormont s bank accounts, to help people struggling with rising costs A £200 payment to all households and extend the £100 emergency fuel payment scheme Reduce the cap on energy market profits and ensure savings are passed to consumers Health Support the implementation of the reforms in the Bengoa Report Appropriate, community-based provision for mental ill health Enhanced dual diagnosis and services from people who have mental ill health or addiction issues Economy Support city deals Scrap air passenger duty and push Westminster to reduce VAT on tourism and hospitality services Education More funding for third level institutions and the expansion of the Ulster University Magee campus to 10,000 student places An end to academic selection for post-primary education Modernisation of the school curriculum including computer coding and modern languages from primary school onwards Border poll Support Irish unity Party s New Ireland Commission will seek to engage with people across the island about the future NI Protocol The Northern Ireland Protocol should remain Support for practical solution to issues such as those around medicines, chilled-meat grace periods and the movement of animals Climate Investment in zero-carbon public transport, cycle lanes and more electric vehicle charging points Measures to tackle climate change must not disproportionately affect poorer people Ensure planning policy respects and nurtures local habitats to protect our ecosystem Roads & rail Investment in zero-carbon public transport, cycle lanes and more electric vehicle charging points Policing & justice Introduce clear timelines for bringing a case to court Increase resources for the Police Service of Northern Ireland Oppose an amnesty for Troubles-related offences Culture Deliver an Irish language act and the other cultural commitments in the New Decade, New Approach deal Agriculture Ensure the maintenance of EU standards, including on animal welfare A farming sector fit for the future which supports profitable, productive farming and which also directly tackles the climate crisis Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie Top priorities Support and rebuild the health service Secure common sense alternatives to the Northern Ireland Protocol Maintain Northern Ireland s place in the United Kingdom Cost of living Establish a fuel poverty task force Expand the Warm Homes Discount to Northern Ireland - a sum of money credited to an individual s electricity or gas account Call on Westminster to lower fuel duty for all, with additional rebate for " essential" users Health Support and properly incentivise the move towards a genuine seven-day-a-week health service Increase funding for child and adolescent mental health services to a minimum of 10% and create a single mental health trust Protect and enhance cancer services, including implementing the 10-year cancer strategy Economy Support city deals/growth deals Set up a Job Skills Fund to ensure proper funding of job skills, apprenticeships and life-long learning Establish a " Freeport Northern Ireland" to include all ports and airports in Northern Ireland Education Establish a single education system through the existing " controlled" education sector Support special educational needs by actively supporting well-informed proposals Give a greater emphasis to mental health services provision Border poll Northern Ireland should remain a part of the United Kingdom NI Protocol Oppose the Protocol and find common sense alternatives Medicines must be immediately removed from the scope of the Protocol Ensure there are no checks on goods traveling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that are staying in NI Climate Target an 82% or better reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 Boost cycling by implementing the strategic plan for greenways and developing and improving urban and rural greenways and cycle routes Plant more of the right trees in the right places and protect existing woods and trees to capture carbon and help wildlife Roads & rail Expediate the A1 junctions and York Street interchange scheme, explore further options for the A5 and extend Glider services to north Belfast Complete construction of nearly 3,000 unfinished and unadopted roads Rapidly expand the electric vehicle charging network Policing & justice Bring police numbers up to 7,500 by recruiting 500 more officers over the next three years on top of normal recruitment Speed up the courts and press for stronger sentences, especially for habitual violent re-offenders Oppose an amnesty for Troubles-related offences Culture Prioritise the establishment of sub-regional sports stadia Agriculture Develop a productive, progressive agriculture and fishing industry Support the production of high-quality food while transitioning to a net zero carbon society Invest in science, technology and training to give farmers the tools to become more efficient and sustainable Alliance Party Leader Naomi Long Top priorities Fix our " broken" health service, tackle waiting lists and invest in mental health and preventative services Ensure our children are no longer educated apart and deliver a better future for our young people Tackle the cost of living crisis by delivering our Green New Deal, which would create 50,000 sustainable new jobs, improve energy efficiency and address climate change Cost of living Deliver a home heating support grant voucher scheme targeted at low-income households Introduce a £20-a-week child payment to protect children already vulnerable to poverty Push Westminster to uplift benefits in line with the real rate of inflation Health Implement the reforms of the Bengoa Report to transform the healthcare system and tackle waiting lists Invest in mental health, including a fully-funded 10 year mental health strategy and separate emergency provision for those in mental health crisis Focus on early intervention and prevention, such as addressing deprivation which leads to illness and disease, introducing cost-effective screening, and adopting a harm-reduction model in the treatment of alcohol and drug misuse Economy Transition to a green economy and create more than 50,000 secure green jobs Invest in skills by delivering the new Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland to address upskilling and retraining opportunities in the green economy Create a universal, affordable childcare scheme, with fully funded hours paid directly to providers Education Support for integrated education Oppose academic selection for post-primary transfer Secure evidence-based, inclusive relationship and sexuality education in schools Border poll Continue to be defined by distinct vision and values rather than by the constitutional question Prioritise a shared and united community Support principle of consent via the Good Friday Agreement NI Protocol Negotiate a comprehensive UK-EU Veterinary Agreement, with flexibilities on movement of goods Promote Northern Ireland s dual market access to GB and the EU Seek direct representation for Northern Ireland on UK-EU bodies Climate Deliver zero-carbon public transport with better routes and cheaper fares for disabled people and young people Ban current and future fossil fuel exploration including fracking Retrofit all social housing and provide grants to retrofit privately owned homes Roads & rail Provide interest-free loans for electric vehicles and accelerated installation of charging points Develop a modern, all-Ireland rail network through a new five-year plan for rail investment Create an independent infrastructure commission with a 30-year vision to prioritise, report on and drive the delivery of infrastructure projects Policing & justice Strengthen legislation on hate crime through a new Hate Crime Bill Reform sentencing laws Deliver the remaining Gillen Review recommendations Culture Commission an arts funding review Deliver outstanding regional and sub-regional football stadia funding Recognise and support the development of British and Irish Sign Languages Agriculture Promote market access for Northern Ireland produce Expand the Environmental Farming Scheme to promote habitat restoration, including linking areas of high value with wildlife corridors Introduce carbon audits for farms to support farmers to embrace environmentally beneficial farming practices Green Party Leader Clare Bailey Top priorities Take all steps possible to tackle the climate emergency Secure long-term investment and reform of healthcare services Tackle the cost of living crisis by introducing rent controls and increasing the minimum wage Cost of living Introduce rent controls and strengthen renters rights Support the reintroduction of the Universal Credit uplift Introduce a properly calculated living wage, as outlined by the Living Wage Foundation Health Oppose cuts to frontline health services, ensuring that all health service staff have fair pay and working conditions Increase investment in mental health services Support the full commissioning of abortion services Economy Invest in renewables and create well-paid green jobs Fast-track apprenticeship programmes to train the workers required to adequately retrofit our housing stock Introduce a full childcare strategy that will meet the needs of working parents Education End academic selection for post-primary education Ensure that all children have access to integrated education Increase investment in early years education Border poll Border poll policies will be added as they are announced NI Protocol Support the Northern Ireland Protocol - ensure that Northern Ireland maximises every opportunity from its unique position following the UK s exit from the EU Support negotiations between the UK government and the EU to iron out technicalities with the Protocol Climate Achieve the net zero emissions targets in the Climate Change Bill Establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency responsible for monitoring the state of the natural environment and for enforcing environmental law Ban all types of fossil fuel extraction and cease the granting of exploration licences including those for precious metals Roads & rail Invest in and expand cycling infrastructure Expand public transport, especially in rural areas, and explore reopening railway connections to ensure that towns and cities are adequately serviced and connected to each other Policing & justice Introduce a robust and funded strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and seek to change legislation in line with the Gillen Review recommendations Support the decriminalisation and regulation of recreational drugs Oppose any attempt by the UK government to introduce an amnesty for conflict-related cases Culture Commit to multi-annual statutory support and long-term strategic investment for artists and the arts sector at both local and executive level Deliver a comprehensive Irish language act, including a strategy for the preservation and growth of the Irish language Support public ownership and regeneration of historical buildings, using them for arts, culture and tourism Agriculture Move towards a sustainable model of food production that protects the environment and improves animal welfare Ensure farmers are financially supported as we move to net zero, through the Just Transition Fund for Agriculture established by the Climate Change Bill Support farm payment criteria which incentivise small farmers, environmental protection, emission reductions, and animal welfare and rewards public goods such as rewilding and peatland restoration Traditional Unionist Voice Leader Jim Allister Top priorities Abolish the Northern Ireland Protocol Maintain Northern Ireland s place in the United Kingdom Defend the NHS Cost of living Ensure Stormont cuts waste and abandons plans for an Irish language act Scrap the Northern Ireland Protocol which is driving up prices By scrapping the Protocol, free Northern Ireland from the EU VAT regime and reduce VAT on energy bills Health The return of a readily accessible GP service A loyalty bonus for NHS staff - nursing and medical graduates should have their university tuition paid in full if they are still working in NI five years after graduating One hundred more cancer specialist nurses, minmum pricing for alcohol, a new tobacco strategy and the removal of current abortion laws Economy Push for the creation of an InterTrade UK body to promote free trade and business within the whole UK Oppose legislation which could see vast reductions to the agri food sector in the name of environmentalism Highlight the economic benefits of Northern Ireland remaining in the UK, such as UK-wide Covid support schemes Education An evidence-based curriculum overhaul, investment in teacher training and fair pay Commitment to academic selection and a culture of celebration of hard work and achievement across all aspects of school life Addressing the " cold house atmosphere" in our universities towards students from a unionist background Border poll Northen Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom NI Protocol Abolish the Northern Ireland Protocol Climate We should act responsibly as custodians of the environment to pass it on to future generations Provide more electric vehicle charging points, promote viable green energy projects and support the development of hydrogen buses by Wrightbus There must not be a rush to embrace any policy which gives the impression of being green Roads & rail More expenditure on the road network, particularly rural roads and fixing potholes and upgrading the A75 Support for major infrastructure projects such as the Enniskillen bypass, A1 upgrade and a rail link to Belfast International Airport The rationalisation of bus lane hours to ensure they do not operate outside peak periods to assist the flow of traffic Policing & justice Recruit more police officers to bring the total number to 7,500 and oppose any return to 50/50 recruitment Defend the proud record of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Oppose any amnesty for Troubles-related offences, reject any form of " truth commission" and push for the police to more robustly investigate historic terror offences Culture Oppose the introduction of an Irish language act which would lead to " discrimination" against non-Irish speakers Ensure that all cultures and traditions in Northern Ireland are celebrated with special treatment for none Agriculture Ensure agriculture is not jeopardised nor food production reduced by as a result of pursuing climate-related policies Fishing must experience and enjoy the benefits of being outside the EU s Common Fisheries Policy People Before Profit Leader Collective leadership Top priorities Protecting people from soaring prices and the cost of living crisis Tackling health crisis Dealing with climate crisis Cost of living Launch an Emergency Hardship Fund: distribute a direct payment of £1,000 to households hit by the cost of living crisis, including all but the top fifth of earners Put price caps in place on energy and fuel prices Infaltion-busting pay rise for all workers, and fight for minimum wage devolution with a view to increasing it Health Protecting NHS by ending current privatisation by stealth Rebuilding NHS with massive increase in investment to reduce waiting times Proper pay rise for health workers to help retain staff, counteract burnout, and reward pandemic efforts Economy Reorienting economy to prioritise the needs of people and planet over the profits of large corporations Taking key sectors of economy into public ownership, including fuel and energy companies Improving workers and trade union rights to help counteract decades of stagnant wages and deteriorating conditions Education Proper investment to reduce class sizes and improve staff pay Proper investment in integrated, non-selective education to provide a universal, accessible, lifelong education system, free at the point of access for all Protecting third-level education by removing tuition fees, and improving pay and conditions for university and college staff Border poll Support border poll as a basic democratic demand Use a referendum campaign to fight for a radical, reunified Ireland based on progressive socialist politics A new, radical constitution which enshrines equal rights for all NI Protocol Reject DUP moves to scaremonger over the issue to distract from their own internal crisis Reject the creation of a hard border, customs posts or immigration checks on the island of Ireland Reject moves to weaken economic and societal links between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland Climate A just transition and Workers Superfund which offer re-skilling/re-training on full pay for migration to green jobs Urgent action to deliver carbon neutrality by 2035 Oppose blue hydrogen, extraction licences, harmful dredging, gold mining and fossil fuel industry permits, in order to protect our natural environment and keep fossil fuels in the ground Roads & rail Free public transport Improve bus and rail networks and connectivity across Ireland - particularly the north west Pay Rise for Translink workers Policing & justice Oppose an amnesty for Troubles-related offences Public inquiry into the Noah Donohoe case - no Public Interest Immunity without justification to the Donohoe family Full implementation of both the Gillen review and CEDAW recommendations Culture Introduce a standalone Irish language act Greater investment into the arts with longer funding cycles A living wage for musicians and artists Agriculture More equitable funding for smaller farmers Transition from methane heavy production, with proper financial support to encourage more environmentally friendly, sustainable production Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín Top priorities Reform the political institutions to stop MLAs getting paid if they don t do their job and ensure the executive cannot be crashed by one party again Restore the Human Right to Life to all children and reverse the abortion law that " discriminates against children with disabilities" Create a New Ireland Forum to bring together all of political and civic society throughout Ireland in order to fix the problems created by Brexit, to unite our people and to plan for Irish Independence Cost of living Devolve the power to control excise duties and Vat from London to Stormont, reducing fuel costs for families until prices reduce Public transport must be reformed to provide a comprehensive widespread network and the cost must be reduced Support for the microgeneration of electricity must be increased to allow families to provide a larger portion of their own energy and to get the financial benefit of their energy being fed back into the grid Health Return the 800 hospital beds to the health services that were removed by the five executive parties over the past 10 years The delivery of a fully funded mental health strategy to support those who have suffered so much over the last two years €1...

... " In addition to funding Education Support, the BGC has worked with online platforms to introduce new safeguards...