 Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)HealthThe SDLP believes the health service is grossly under-funded but that available resources must be more efficiently used.
We want to see a primary-care led health service with GP fund-holding replaced by fully empowered primary health and social care groups, bringing together all primary care professionals and community representatives on a genuine partnership basis to address local needs on a “bottom-up” basis, rather than the “top-down” arrangements proposed by the Minister, with Groups as committees of the Boards.
We want to see the number of Boards and Trusts reduced and savings reinvested in front-line health and social care to address staff shortages and waiting lists.
We are campaigning for fair access to health services for the rural community including the retention of maternity services for low-risk patients in local hospitals and believe provision can be enhanced through the work of “CAWT”, the cross-border co-operative strategy.
Additional priorities include the implementation of the Assembly Committee’s report on Children’s Residential Care and the implementation of the Royal Commission report on long-term care for the elderly.
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EnvironmentSustainable development is a central SDLP policy, which we believe, should underpin all government decisions.
We want to see government commit to a 3 year programme to clean up waterways & meet Kyoto targets on air quality.
On waste management, we promote waste reduction as first priority, followed by reuse, recycling and energy recovery as the option of last resort.
Fundamental reform of the planning system is required to streamline the system and ensure balance between the needs of the community, business needs and the need to protect the environment & wildlife. EducationThe education system is a cornerstone of society: it is a fundamental human right as well as a key driver of the economy and a central requirement for personal development.
We want to see a fairer funding mechanism introduced and we support fully-funded pre-school education for all children.
The SDLP has campaigned since its inception for the abolition of the 'eleven plus' and the introduction of a new all-ability system to offer education on an inclusive basis, guaranteeing equality of opportunity for all, respecting choice and building parity of esteem between "academic" and "vocational" learning.
The party welcomed many aspects of the Report of the Post-Primary Review ("Burns Report") including the end of selection and improved co-operation between schools to give children more choices, although the report does not endorse our vision of all-ability education.
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