NEWTON'S OPTIC: Rupert: On tonight's BBC Newslinewe examine how the cuts have caused the worst gorse fires in Northern Ireland's history.
Sophie: As you can see from this graph the number of gorse fires has increased in direct proportion to the cuts. Experts say this is no coincidence, as do sources and critics, and we'll be speaking to experts, sources and critics later.
Rupert: But first we take a look at our first line of defence against gorse fires, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service ad "I'm sorry I lit that gorse fire, so I am". Due to cuts this is only running on TV 15 times a day. Worse still, it has not been updated for several years, which, taking rising standards into account, represents a real cut of 3 per cent in shock value.
Sophie: Most gorse fires are started by disadvantaged young people who have literally been driven into the hills by cuts to leisure services. Many of these young people carry cigarette lighters due to cuts in health promotion. Unfortunately, the Health Service ad "I shouldn't smoke, so I shouldn't" has also not been updated for several years.
Rupert: We can now go over to our district journalist up a hill, Ben Gullion, who has been speaking to youth and community workers on the ground.
Ben: Yes, Rupert, I can confirm that youth and community workers say this is all due to cuts. As well as slashing health and leisure spending the Tories have threatened the Education Maintenance Allowance, forcing 16 to 18-year-olds to economise on cheaper and hence more flammable forms of alcohol. The inevitable results are written in scorched earth across the face of our troubled land.
Sophie: Could wealth inequality also be a factor? That is the claim by Dr Grant Hunt of the University of Jordanstown, who joins me in the studio.
Grant: I believe these fires symbolise the widening socio-economic gap in Northern Ireland due to the cuts. Hillwalking is a very middle-class activity, while disadvantaged young people are often too fat to walk up even the shallowest incline. As they watch the privileged elite stride past them in their fashionable weatherproofs and trendy day-sacks, creating a geographical expression of their social stratification, of course they are going to react with violence.
Rupert: However, it would be wrong to blame all the fires on marginalised youth. As gorse bushes erupt in a riot of yellow, even affluent youngsters will be reminded of the Liberal Democrat sell-out on university tuition fees. Could that be driving some of them to arson?
Grant: Well, duh.
Sophie: We now bring you a special Family Focus report on a family trapped up a hill by a gorse fire. If we train our camera on that family and adjust the long distance lens we can just about get them into focus. We can't see them clearly enough to lip-read but no doubt they are complaining about the cuts to mountain rescue. Heart-rending stuff there.
Rupert: Finally we can go to fireman Sam Trotter in the Mournes, with only this brief passing mention of his union involvement. Sam, what would you do about the gorse?
Sam: We used to cut it back every year. But now, because of the cuts . . .