“What price children’s safety?”

Carla Lockhart MP • March 28, 2023

DUP MP for Upper Bann Carla Lockhart has written to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Infrastructure to request reconsideration of the decision to withdraw funding for the provision of cycling proficiency in schools.

Carla Lockhart said:

“The decision by the Department to do away with funding for paying teachers or instructors to deliver cycling proficiency is deeply regrettable.

The Department talk about encouraging Active Travel to school, yet they are taking away the means by which children are taught how to cycle to school safely. That is inconsistent and illogical.

We want to be encouraging safe active travel amongst our young people, and the best time to learn the basics is as a child. I remember doing my cycling proficiency at school and to pass the test gave a great deal of personal achievement. The Department is taking this away from children too.

I have written to the Permanent Secretary to urge the Department to reconsider this short-sighted decision. I know that difficult choices lie ahead, but we have to ask what price we put on children’s safety?”

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