Category Archives: Children and young people

Mr Beggs is the Assembly Party Group Member on the All Party Group on Children and Young People

Beggs welcomes East Antrim schools identified for capital works investment

Beggs welcomes East Antrim schools identified for capital works investment East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party Assemblyman Roy Beggs MLA has welcomed news that 4 East Antrim schools have been identified for capital works investment and are to advance in planning under the major capital works programme. Commenting on news that a number of East Antrim schools are to Advance in Planning under the Major Capital Works Programme, Roy Beggs MLA said “It is welcome and long overdue that the 4 East Antrim schools have been prioritised by the Department of Education for capital works at Larne High School, Larne Grammar School, Carrickfergus Academy and Belfast High School. Larne Grammar, Larne High and Belfast High School will all be in line to receive much needed funding to upgrade and improve facilities which will be to the benefit of pupils and the wider community. Carrickfergus Academy moves one step closer to the … Continue reading

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Beggs calls for help to address educational under attainment

Roy Beggs, East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party MLA has welcomed an announcement from the Education Minister that an expert panel has been formed to make recommendations and to development an action plan to tackle educational underachievement and he recently reminded the minister that parts of Larne had the highest proportion of less than 85% attendance at school of any ward in NI. Roy Beggs MLA said “I have been raising the very real issue of educational underachievement within some disadvantaged communities and the unacceptable high levels of absenteeism for several years. I welcome the appointment of the expert panel and would urge the schools, parents and the local community to work together to improve the life-time opportunities of young people from Larne that can come from all recognising the value of education. Some of the statistics given to me in a recent Assembly answer on absenteeism in parts of Larne … Continue reading

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Ulster Unionists congratulate first ever NI Children’s Hospice Youth Ambassador

East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party MLA Roy Beggs has joined with the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Andrew Wilson, to congratulate local girl Madison Wright on becoming Youth Ambassador for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Roy Beggs MLA said “Well done to local Carrickfergus campaigner Madison Wright on becoming the first ever Youth Ambassador for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. She has proven to be a tireless advocate for the Children’s Hospice over a number of years and has raised thousands of pounds to support the vital work of the Charity. Her fundraising exploits have benefited the Children’s Hospice palliative care work assisting terminally ill children, and by providing a support network for their families from all over Northern Ireland.” Deputy Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, Councillor Andrew Wilson added “Madison is a superstar fundraiser – she has devoted so much time and effort to champion for the Children’s Hospice so … Continue reading

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Beggs welcomes announcement that local schools are to benefits from the School Enhancement Programme

Beggs welcomes announcement that local schools are to benefit from the Schools Enhancement Programme. Roy Beggs MLA has welcomed the announcement that 3 schools serving the East Antrim area are to benefit from part of the £40m Schools Enhancement programme: Greenisland Primary School, Carrickfergus Grammar School and Hill Croft School, Newtownabbey Roy Beggs said, “There have been concerns that local schools had not been benefited from previous announcements of the School Enhancement Programme. I therefore welcome the news that detailed planning on school improvement is to commence on upgrading facilities at Greenisland Primary School, Carrickfergus Grammar School and Hill Croft School, Newtownabbey. However, there remains a need for major investment at Carrickfergus Academy following school amalgamation and this is an issue I will continue to lobby on. Whilst schools are temporarily closed during the current COVID-19 health crisis, it is important that we continue to plan for the future.” Ends

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Beggs Welcomes Selection of Islandmagee PS for Next Detailed Planning Stage

Roy Beggs MLA, who had long pressed for the development of the new primary school for Islandmagee has welcomed the selection of Islandmagee Primary to be one of ten schools with an estimated cost of £40m in NI to proceed to the next detailed planning stage. Roy Beggs MLA said, “The building of a new school for Islandmagee is clearly needed given the numbers of children on Islandmagee. In 2003, locally it had been agree to amalgamate the then 3 schools into one.  It has taken far too long to get to this final development stage of the new school for Islandmagee. I answer to an Assembly question in December, the Minister had said “No capital investment has been made to date on a new site for Islandmagee Primary School (PS).” Roy Beggs MLA said, “This new build proposal has taken so long that officials did not recognise that £1m … Continue reading

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