VOTE FOR SCHOOLS, ROADS AND JOBS

Tuesday 19 April 2011

SDLP Assembly candidate Thomas Burns has welcomed the Party’s latest economy paper, which has identified the potential to create thousands of jobs in a schools building scheme and urgently needed regional roads maintenance and construction.

Mr Burns said: "Last year parents, teachers and pupils all over the North, were left disappointed after plans for new schools were shelved by the Department of Education. The SDLP plan identifies new sources of finance to build many of those schools and so aid the construction industry and provide improved facilities for future generations.

"The Party has also set out a roads investment plan to deal with our decaying roads, with every pothole a constant reminder of inept roads administration and investment."

In its document "Creating Jobs, Building Prosperity", the latest in a series of Party economic papers, the SDLP has set out a short, medium and long term vision for the economy here. At its heart though is identifying new ways of funding which can help create thousands of jobs, particularly in the construction industry.

Assembly candidate Thomas Burns says SDLP ministers in government will argue for just such a strategy. "This is good news for the South Antrim constituency which is daily reminded of the poor conditions of its roads and the M2 needs to be extended through to the Castledawson roundabout.

"South Antrim could also benefit greatly by an investment in its schools estate and we just have to look at Parkhall School, which is waiting for a new build school."