Francois Vincent

Mid Ulster District Council is set to consider responding to the consultation on the School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill after Sinn Féin councillor Jolene Groogan argued that schoolgirls should be able to choose between skirts and trousers. Groogan also urged a response to the TransformED draft Northern Ireland Curriculum Framework 2028, emphasizing inclusive education and support for teachers. Chief Executive Adrian McCreesh said the council could respond corporately to the uniform consultation but suggested that the politically sensitive curriculum consultation should receive separate responses from political parties; DUP councillor Paul McLean supported that approach.

Councillor Dan Kerr has warned that Translink’s consultation on service and fare changes could lead to cuts, particularly to rural services in Mid Ulster, increasing isolation for residents who rely on public transport. Translink says reduced real-term funding, rising costs and projected losses are threatening the network’s financial sustainability. Mid Ulster District Council agreed to include an appeal for meaningful engagement with trade unions in its response, although its chief executive said the council could not bring external bodies into the process to prepare its submission.

Mid Ulster councillors are seeking the district’s inclusion in Fáilte Ireland’s Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands tourism brand. The request follows correspondence with Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald, whose department said Fáilte Ireland is not currently considering further extensions but encouraged the council to make its case directly. Councillors Gael Gildernew and Barry Monteith proposed contacting Fáilte Ireland and consulting Fermanagh and Omagh District Council about how neighbouring Fermanagh secured inclusion. Officials from the Department for the Economy and Tourism NI will continue discussions on cross-border tourism collaboration.

Mid Ulster councillors are seeking a meeting with senior Northern Ireland Housing Executive officials over complaints about grass cutting, hedge cutting, overgrown vegetation and the maintenance of pathways and other green areas. The Housing Executive says contractor performance is monitored through inspections, key performance indicators, financial penalties and remedial action plans, with a 90% pass-rate target for planned works. Councillors argue that the reported monitoring does not match conditions on the ground and want senior officials involved in discussions about contract awards, inspection standards and more regular reviews.

Councillor Frances Burton has urged Mid Ulster District Council officers to continue pursuing a mixture of Heritage, PEACE and other funding to transform a derelict 1830 workhouse on Tullybroom Road, Clogher, into a Childcare Hub. The proposed facility would include seven practice rooms for up to 124 children, along with preschool and Sure Start services for disadvantaged children and families. Burton said the project may need to be delivered in stages rather than as one large development and called for continued engagement with funders.

Mid-Ulster District Council initiatives aimed at ending violence against women and girls are being delayed because the Northern Ireland Executive Office has not issued a grant letter of offer. Councillors warned that community groups could be affected if funding does not arrive until August or September. Council officers said grant assessments and project preparations are complete and that work will begin once funding is secured. Members also supported expanding access to Called Out, an awareness-raising play, through additional civic venues or school visits.

Mid-Ulster councillors are urging officers to continue seeking funding for a pathway linking the Hill of the O’Neill in Dungannon with Tullyhogue Fort, a site associated with the O’Neill dynasty. They also want outdated interpretive signage upgraded. Council officials said they would coordinate with tourism and heritage teams, while pursuing support from the Historic Environment Division and Heritage Lottery Fund. The wider project has been delayed by budget constraints, although efforts to secure full or partial match funding are continuing.

Councillor Eugene McConnell has called for improved procedures after 50 cattle were shot over two days in fields outside Clogher during hot weather, with members of the public watching. He said the animals, including four calves and a bull that escaped, appeared healthy and that the operation caused significant distress locally. McConnell questioned whether future culls could be carried out away from public view and sought clarity over responsibility for removing the carcasses. DAERA ultimately hired a private contractor to dispose of the animals, while council chair Deirdre Varsani acknowledged the incident’s impact on the community.

Mid Ulster District Council is continuing discussions with users of the phone mast at Dungannon’s historic Hill of the O’Neill site, with a fuller update expected at a future DEA meeting. Councillor Dominic Molloy requested progress information, while council official Claire Linney said the matter would be scheduled for discussion. The council is also seeking Department for Communities funding for regeneration plans that could include a statue or artwork commemorating Hugh O’Neill and the site’s importance as the historic seat of the O’Neill dynasty.

Mid-Ulster District Council has approved the final concept design for the Gortgonis Leisure and Wellbeing project in Coalisland, allowing detailed design work to proceed and construction to target early 2027. The development will include a leisure and community centre, a six-lane shale and tarmac track, a 3G pitch and a play park, with delivery expected to take 15 months. Councillors welcomed progress on the long-delayed scheme while raising concerns about maintaining lighting and track access before construction, electricity connections, and safely accommodating walkers and runners. A new Irish-medium primary school is also planned beside the facility, with construction scheduled to begin in July 2026.

Mid Ulster District Council’s Development Committee expressed broad support for Smartphone Free Childhood NI’s Parent Pact, which encourages parents to delay giving children smartphones until at least age 14 and social media access until at least 16. Campaign representative Roisin Fee proposed council-backed publicity, public information events, youth debates, coordinated school policies, smartphone-free activities and educational partnerships. Councillors highlighted online bullying, peer pressure, artificial intelligence-generated harms and the need for stronger regulation of technology companies. The committee agreed that the council should write to the Health Committee chair and Health Minister to raise awareness of the campaign and seek greater public-health involvement.

Roisin Fee of Smartphone Free Childhood NI urged Mid Ulster councillors to support the Parent Pact, which encourages families to delay giving children smartphones until at least age 14 and social media access until 16, while keeping smartphones out of schools. She cited concerns about distraction, online abuse, pornography, mental-health problems, self-harm and emerging AI-related risks, alongside claimed improvements in behaviour and academic performance at schools using basic phone-only policies. More than 190,000 UK families have signed the pact, including over 4,500 children locally, and committee members expressed strong support for the campaign.

Mid Ulster councillors commended residents, schools, clubs and community groups for participating in the annual Big Spring Clean, which collected more than 4,500 bags of litter through 50 events. Representatives highlighted the initiative’s value in promoting civic pride and educating young people, while the SCRIBE Team and council staff were recognised for logistical support. Several groups exceeded 200 bags collected, reflecting broad community engagement across the district.