Council to write to Stormont departments over lack of youth provision in Strabane

At October’s Derry City and Strabane District Council meeting, Councillor Boggs proposed writing to the Department of Education to request that they secure funding for a youth centre in the town.

The proposal read: “That this Council notes with concern the lack of an available, purpose built, youth facility in Strabane Town; recognises and commends the invaluable work that many community groups and youth workers are doing to support young people with the facilities currently available; calls on the Education Minister to secure funding from within his department’s budget and work closely and urgently with the Education Authority, to identify a suitable site for a youth centre and take the project through to completion.”

Councillor Boggs said that while there is “good work ongoing” by youth workers, the lack of a purpose-built Education Authority (EA) youth facility in Strabane was “not good enough”.

He added: “Truthfully, it is successive DUP Education Ministers that have failed to progress the project and it needs to stop.

“In 2021 when a business case was submitted the project was branded a priority, yet we have yet to see any progress.”

UUP alderman Derek Hussey agreed there was “tremendous youth work” within Strabane, but said there was an issue with facilities.

“One thing I would have concern with is [writing] to the Minister to secure funding from within his department’s budget,” he said. “I would say that’s limiting, because he should be looking at funding wherever it’s available from.

“There are sources of funding that can be worked with the community, who would have access to various philanthropic funds… to assist with developing this type of facility.”

People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin put forward an amendment to the proposal, stating: “Council will write to the entire Stormont Executive outlining that this is a cross-cutting issue arising from years of underinvestment in the Strabane area, and that it is immediately resolved as part of a rebalancing approach in the North West.”

Independent councillor Paul Gallagher supported the amendment and said it was “a well-known fact” that there is underinvestment in Strabane.

“Regardless of what certain politicians are saying around the North West… thriving, Strabane’s not thriving, the youth sector in Strabane is not thriving. We need investment in…. Strabane and the Government needs to put it in there.”

In response, Councillor Boggs said councillors should “speak positively [about] these issues and the need for them rather than trying to score cheap political points”.

“Part of this motion is giving a facility,” he said. “I don’t necessarily agree that it is a cross-cut an issue, but I’m not going to dance over the head of a pin on it.

“I don’t know why….the EA, which is under the responsibility of the Education Minister, all of a sudden becomes a bigger issue for the Executive, but I am happy to write to all Executive parties.”