Since Stormont returned to Northern Ireland a year ago, while many politicians will argue that plenty has changed, the public may beg to differ. Despite the Stormont Executive’s pledge to make childcare more affordable, mum-of-one Jessica Brown claims that it is still too expensive for many working families. Brown claims many parents still pay up to £600 per month for full-time childcare, making it difficult to justify being in full-time employment. Furthermore, childcare groups feel that the Executive urgently needs to deliver a comprehensive early learning and childcare policy. Education Minister Paul Givan has taken some actions to improve access to childcare, with the introduction of a £25m subsidy scheme, set to be extended into the new financial year, which offers savings to some families. However, he also warns that £400m is required to overhaul the childcare system entirely in the region.
While Stormont politicians face a backlog of problems, such as longer health waiting lists, authoritative conflicts over funding, and a lack of commissioners across a few areas, there is a more promising prospect from the recognition of sign language in Northern Ireland, which is more crucial for those in the deaf community, including Andy Reay and his deaf son Jude. After a ten-year delay, a bill officially recognising sign language has finally made its way to Northern Ireland’s assembly. Julie Graham of Action Deaf Youth views the bill with optimism, claiming that it is “definitely going in the right direction” and “about raising more awareness so that young deaf people can feel proud of their culture and language.”
Stormont has made strides to address violence against women and girls, with a dedicated £3m investment and strategic framework introduced last year. However, some ministers recognise the inadequacy of the sum of investment in relation to the gravity of the issue. While it is positive that a new Sinn Féin-DUP partnership has not destabilised Northern Ireland politics, the public must continue to push for real delivery from the Executive on matters that affect them.
Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (SAVIA)’s Margaret McGuckin warns that nothing has changed since Stormont’s power-sharing, resulting in having to lobby politicians to achieve any notice. McGuckin laments that it appears that no one is there, and the community needs leadership to improve its situation. Progress can feel slow in the northern Irish region, and although the return of Stormont is a significant milestone, if Stormont does not execute work that people feel benefits their lives, the return may be in vain
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