McCrossan: welcomes new cap on payday loan charges

SDLP West Tyrone Candidate for Westminster has welcomed the introduction of a cap on charges associated with payday loans which came into effect in the New Year.

He said:

“Pay Day Loan companies continue to take advantage of the poor and the most vulnerable. They exploit the difficulties facing the unemployed and the underpaid by offering them short term financial relief while handcuffing them to huge interest rates. 

The SDLP has long argued for greater regulation of these companies and I’m now glad that their rates will be capped at 0.8% per day of the amount borrowed. Furthermore, I’m pleased that under new regulations, no-one will be forced to pay back more than twice the amount they borrowed.

“The SDLP has been unrelenting in our pursuit of these legal loan sharks. From the Assembly to Westminster we have supported every attempt to cap and control predatory lending practices.  In particular, my party colleague Mark Durkan MP has been a fierce advocate of greater protection for ordinary people against pay day lenders and has proposed robust amendments to Westminster legislation to that end.

“There are other forms of credit available to people who find themselves in financial difficulties. I would encourage anyone who is struggling to speak to their local credit union to explore the options open to them with modest interest rates before turning toward pay day loan companies.

“More action is needed if we are to clamp down on excessive charges and irresponsible lending, and make sure that borrowers are being treated fairly whatever form of credit they are using. The SDLP will continue to press for higher standards and greater protections for the least well off.”

McCrossan: Education Cuts will limit the development of our Children

SDLP West Tyrone Westminster candidate Daniel McCrossan has criticised the Department of Education and Minister John O’Dowd for his tunnel vision approach to Education cuts and the impact of such cuts on local schools and young people.

Mr McCrossan warned of the devastating impact of education cutbacks throughout the Districts of Omagh and Strabane and across West Tyrone.

He said: “It is time Minister O’Dowd woke up and realised that Education is not a cost, but an investment. It’s an investment in our young people, in our communities and in our future. To threaten education threatens the potential of our children and creates barriers to sustainable community development.

“Prior to the holiday period I attended a public meeting organised by the Irish National Teachers Union (INTO) and Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) in the Strule Arts Centre, which highlighted the devastating impact of the cuts in education which could result in up to 2,500 job losses.

“It is no surprise that these cuts will impact on every school, classroom, pupil and parent throughout this constituency which will ultimately result in increased class sizes as well as teacher and classroom assistant redundancies. This is quite clearly an attack on our education system which will threaten the development of our children.

“The SDLP is the only Party which has opposed the cuts to date and warned of the reality if implemented. It is essential that we protect educational services throughout West Tyrone, which are under tremendous pressure already. These cuts will make the situation worse.”

McCrossan: Roads Service must take action on Bailee Road

SDLP West Tyrone Westminster candidate Daniel McCrossan has criticised Roads Service for their failure to take action on the concerns of local Strabane residents regarding safety along Bailee road.

He said:

“Over the last few weeks I have been contacted by a number of residents concerned about dangerous conditions on the Bailee Road overlooking the old Strabane Glen. Regular users of the road is will know it’s very narrow with no passing places for vehicles. At one particular section there is only a few feet of grass verge between the road and a cliff, dropping almost 100 ft.

“The issue of safety was brought to my attention after a car sunk into the verge when pulling in to allow another car to pass.

“I contacted Roads Service who placed parking cones around the spot almost 8 weeks ago, but have done nothing to secure the area since. This stretch of road has the potential to cause a serious accident and poses a significant threat to road users unaware of the area.

“I am now calling for a barrier to be placed along this section to ensure road users are not put at risk. This is a rural country road with no lights; therefore action must be taken to secure the site immediately.”

ENDS

05.01.1

McCrossan condemns ‘mindless’ Omagh attack

McCrossan condemns ‘mindless’ Omagh attack

SDLP West Tyrone Westminster candidate Daniel McCrossan has condemned those behind a callous shooting in the McClay Park area of Omagh.

He said:

“The gun attack on seven people at a house in Omagh is a truly sickening and despicable incident. As a family, entering the New Year, the last thing they, or anyone else, needs is a callous attack like this.

“Thankfully no one was injured as a result of this mindless act of terror which had the potential to kill or seriously harm those in the home at the time.

“This is not only an attack on those targeted; it is an attack on the entire community here. I know that local people will rally round the family at this very distressing time.

“These attacks must be stopped and utterly condemned -  I would call on anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward to the PSNI.

 As we begin 2015 we must all take a zero tolerance approach to these mindless acts of terror and thuggery.”

ENDS

Ulster Bank approach betrays an utter lack of social responsibility

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne has said that he is disappointed by the attitude of Ulster Bank following a meeting this morning where he pushed for the retention of services in their Gortin branch.

Ulster Bank has previously indicated that they intend to close the branch servicing the rural village.

Mr Byrne said

“Following the announcement of the closure of several Ulster Bank branches across the North, I was keen to meet with bank officials to pursue the retention of services for the rural area surrounding Gortin. Banking facilities are vital to the lives of small towns and villages across the region and Gortin is no exception.

“I met with officials today and made clear our frustrations with both the process and the outcome of the cavalier decision to close this branch. Ulster Bank saw fit to consult with none of their local customers prior to making this decision and made the announcement of the closure in the media where local people were left to deal with it.

 “Their approach betrays an utter lack of social responsibility. This is a geographically remote and isolated part of the North. Local services like banking are the lifeblood of villages and towns like Gortin and Ulster Bank have decided to cut it off.

“I have asked bank officials to seriously consider retaining a part time service at the Gortin branch. Mondays and Fridays remain the busiest banking days and it may therefore be more viable to open the local bank on those days, offering the company savings and local people an accessible service. I will continue to press for this option to be taken up and look forward to working more constructively with the officials in the weeks and months ahead.”

McCrossan selected to contest West Tyrone Westminster seat

Daniel McCrossan has been selected by SDLP members in West Tyrone to contest next year’s Westminster election.

Speaking after his selection, Mr McCrossan said:

“I am deeply honoured to have been selected by party members in West Tyrone to contest next year’s Westminster election. I plan to repay the faith they have shown in me with a fighting campaign to bring representation back to this part of the North and ensure the voices of local people are heard at the highest levels.

“It has been my great privilege to work with the people of Strabane and Omagh over the last number of years offering support and advice on everything from jobs and benefits to planning and education. Along with other members of the SDLP, we’ve put our shoulders to the wheel to make sure West Tyrone gets the best deal from local councils and from the Assembly. 

“Unfortunately an abstentionist MP has stunted the growth of our towns and singularly failed to advance the interests of the North/West one bit. It’s time to change that. The big decisions that can transform our area, for better or for worse, are taken at Westminster. Welfare reform, corporation tax, freezing fuel bills, the annual budget- these are all issues that can make a real difference to the vulnerable here.

“As a West Tyrone MP, I’ll put people first. We need a robust investment package to create new jobs, form a wage subsidy scheme to lift low paid workers out of poverty and support new graduates into full time employment. My priority is creating communities that people want to live and work in. With the support of local people, I’ll drive a hard bargain with any future Westminster government.”

Byrne: DARD Minister needs to be active in Europe on Dairy Crisis

Joe Byrne SDLP MLA and vice chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee voiced his concern over the increasing strain on the dairy industry. Mr Byrne said:

“The time has come for the Agriculture Minister to lead a delegation to Brussels on the current farming crisis within the Dairy Milk Industry.

“For months the price of farm gate milk has dropped to 24/25 pence per litre, about 3 pence below the cost of production. This is causing big cash flow problems for many of our dairy farmers. The Ukraine political turmoil which has resulted in the Russian imports ban on EU food products has depressed milk and dairy produce prices on the world market.

“EU action is now needed on this matter with national and regional governments in order to deal with the milk crisis as it affects farmers. Concerted action is needed, and indeed direct intervention is now required with adequate financial resources to stabilise the market. A private storage scheme of Intervention along with export grants is needed over the next year in order to stabilise the milk market across Europe.

''Dard must give a lead on this issue and by some positive action signal to the farming community that the Assembly and the Department of Agriculture are willing to fight for farmers in London and Brussels.

“DARD indifference on the plight of the dairy farmer is now in question on this issue. Dairy farmers and the Agri sector need to see the Minister of Agriculture, Assembly and DARD dealing with the poor farm gate prices as a current priority. They need to know their interests are being protected at the highest level.''