Below you will find some examples of how Roy is working for the people of East Antrim on various issues. To keep upto date with ALL the issues Roy is involved with please visit the latest news section.

The Issue: Enabling children to reach their full potential

What Roy is doing - Roy proposed a private motion in the Assembly, entitled ""That this Assembly notes with concern the high number of children whose attendance rate at school is less than 85% and that, in some areas, up to four tenths of children have an attendance rate below 85%; further notes that absence from school will reduce the likelihood of children reaching their full educational potential, will limit their future job opportunities and could contribute to cycles of deprivation; and calls on the Minister of Education to detail the specific action she has taken or plans to take to address this pressing issue."

What Roy is doing - Roy helped to set up Sure Start in Carrickfergus, which has helped parents and children alike reach their potential in the Sunnylands area.

What Roy is doing - Roy has written to the Minister for Education on behalf of Schools in Jordanstown, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey to try and secure funding or else a new school build. Roy has also tabled written questions to the Minister, to fight the corner of unionism within education to seek to reverse the trend of failing educational progress in unionist wards in Northern Ireland

The Issue: Job losses & relocation of civil service social security office jobs in East Antrim.

What Roy is doing - Roy is currently pressing the DSD Minister and has expressed his concerns about the relocation of the jobs in the assembly. Roy has also met with senior department of Agriculture officials at their Belfast headquarters about the proposal to close the Larne Agricultural Office. He has argued for the Crown buildings site to the included as a DARD Direct Office and this would lead to the retention of the 27 local jobs.

Environment

The Issue: Renewables & Sustainability

What Roy is doing - He has met with the Director of B9 Energy, David Surplus, to discuss the economic opportunities arising from the renewables energy agenda. B9, a Larne based company, is a recognised international leader in the field and a key player in the emerging Global Wind Alliance.

Translink

The Issue: Poor train quality on Larne Line

What Roy is doing - Roy has been in constant communication with the Minister Mr Murphy about the poor quality of the translink service on the Larne Line. Roy played a key role in the announcement in early 2009 that the larne Line is to recieve new trains which are to be phased in starting in 2011. This will relieve possible congestion that will occur due to the widening of the shore road due to commence in 2011.

Education

The Issue: SEN provision

What Roy is doing - Roy has tabled written questions asking about the funding for Special Education Needs in N.I and also within the East Antrim area with a view to press the Minister for Education to release the £25 million set aside for SEN, but which is currently being held back.

From pre school provision, the controversy over the Burns Report to adult education facilities in his constituency, Roy has been active in raising equality issues, and highlighting the need for more investment in education.

Roy has placed numerous parliamentary questions, spoken in Assembly debates, written to boards and Departments and issued public statements.