Assembly off on holiday again and still no real progress on ending segregation

12.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jul 2008

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA

As the Assembly closes for the summer, Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA has attacked the Executive over their failure to tackle segregation for the second summer in succession. Maintaining a divided society here costs over £1 billion every year and Alliance has campaigned for years to break down these barriers.

Kieran McCarthy MLA stated: "The Stormont Executive has failed local people for the second summer running. This time last year the Assembly was closing for the summer and nothing had been done to tackle division - it's the same situation this year. Their summer report card reads: 'Must do much better'.

"How long do the people of Northern Ireland have to wait until the Executive starts breaking down the Berlin Wall of segregation that exists here? Over one billion pounds is being wasted every year by them on maintaining the vestiges of division.

"We need to see more integrated schools and more shared services replacing the divided facilities that Northern Ireland currently has to foot the massive bill for. The only Minister to do anything on this issue was Margaret Ritchie in her housing strategy.

"We are moving into another summer recess at the Assembly and yet again there has been very little effort on the part of the Executive to address this vitally important issue. Ending segregation has to be made a priority because investment from overseas cannot be maximised until this issue is tackled."

ENDS