We asked you what you really want the Assembly to deliver, here's what you said
By Valerie Martin
Published 15th Feb 2024, 17:41 BST
Updated 15th Feb 2024, 17:52 BST
The return of MLAs to Stormont has brought with it an expectation from the public that badly-needed improvements for Northern Ireland will be put firmly top of the agenda.
We asked our readers to name one thing the Assembly could do to make a big difference to their lives and we were literally inundated with replies.
While some people expressed an opinion that life wouldn’t get any better as a result of Stormont getting up and running again, plenty of others said they wanted MLAs to put party politics behind them and just get on with the job in hand to make improvements for everyone.
Here’s a snapshot of what the public across Northern Ireland have on their Stormont ‘wishlist’.
Here’s a snapshot of what the public across Northern Ireland have on their Stormont ‘wishlist’.
5. More social housing
The need for more suitable social housing is something many people feel should be given urgent priority by Assembly members. When asked what would be top of their Stormont wishlist, one reader said: "More social houses built! Waiting three years for a bungalow for my husband who has many health issues. People are being left homeless because landlords are selling up or putting rent up." Another said: "There are people in temporary housing for years that's not suitable for them or their families." Photo: unsplash
6. Help with childcare costs
The difficulties facing working parents struggling to meet the cost of childcare is another issue many of our readers hope the Assembly will address. One parent urged MLAs to "reform childcare and make it once again possible for parents who want to work get back to it. If you want people out to earn a living you need to make that possible. £1500 for two kids only three days a week in childcare is criminal." Another said: "Sort the childcare mess out, me and my partner both work and it's so expensive pretty much all of one of our wages goes towards paying childcare." Photo: unsplash
7. A more integrated society
Many people feel the future for Northern Ireland lies in a more integrated, inclusive society. One person urged Assembly members to concentrate on "Integrated education, community centres etc, because it always cost more to duplicate everything. Get rid of segregation and become a modern multi-cultural society." Photo: unsplash
8. Parity of pay
The need for parity in pay for teachers and healthcare workers is another important issue for Stormont to tackle, according to our readers. One NHS worker said: "Pay us the same money as the same grades earn, in the same roles on mainland UK. We aren’t worth any less than our job titles demand elsewhere!". Another voiced: "Give all us WORKERS the wages we DESERVE... treat us as equals to rest of the UK!" Photo: unsplash