Alliance condemns 'total quangoisation' of SEELB

1.18.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 7th Jul 2006

Alliance Castlereagh Councillor, Michael Long

Alliance Vice Chair and Castlereagh Councillor, Michael Long, has condemned the decision of Education Minister, Maria Eagle, to replace Board members in the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) with four Commissioners as an attack on democracy. He stated that Alliance would be asking for a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Board and the Education Minister to discuss the matter.

Cllr. Long, who attended the Union-organised protest at the SEELB HQ yesterday, said, "I am absolutely disgusted at the total quangoisation of the SEELB, as announced by the Minister. I believe that it is vital that democratically elected representatives have a say on this Board, as it takes extremely important decisions regarding the educational needs of local children. As a result of the Minister's decision, any semblance of accountability and legitimacy has been removed.

"Alliance will now be asking for meetings with the Chief Executive of the Board and the Education Minister to discuss this serious situation and to ask exactly how they propose to include the views of elected representatives in future, as it is vital that our opinions are not excluded when decisions are being taken. Elected representatives should not be denied a say on important issues as cuts to special needs budgets, proposed closures of schools and the future of classroom assistants."

ENDS