Latest releases
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3,450 releases
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Minister tells INTO conference resolution of industrial action is…
Education Minister Paul Givan tells the INTO Northern Conference that resolving ongoing industrial action in schools is critical, saying teachers should receive a pay award after three years without one. He says he will seek additional capital resources from the Executive's 2024-25 budget.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Minister tells INTO conference resolution of industrial action is… (opens in a new tab)
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McAllister calls for urgent review of decision to stop providing specialist counselling for sexual abuse victims
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister calls for an urgent review of the Department of Health's decision to end Nexus NI's specialist counselling contract for sexual abuse victims, after the group confirmed no other provider had been contracted. She has asked the Health Minister to update MLAs.
Health Issue: Department of Health ends Nexus NI specialist counselling contract Original release: McAllister calls for urgent review of decision to stop providing specialist counselling for sexual abuse victims (opens in a new tab)
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Life should be valued: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, Chair of the All Party Pro-Life Group, says society should focus on protecting life and improving palliative care rather than advancing assisted dying, following a Health and Social Care Committee report.
Health Issue: Health and Social Care Committee report on assisted dying Original release: Life should be valued: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan reaffirms his commitment to transform the Special Educational Needs system in Northern Ireland, following a visit to Fleming Fulton School. He says children with SEN do not always achieve the same outcomes as peers and will press Executive colleagues for…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Transformation of Special Educational Needs essential – Givan (opens in a new tab)
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Committee evidence shouldn’t be based on misinformation or…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says comments to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee suggesting pupils at Controlled schools could be at risk of joining paramilitary groups were outrageous. She says earlier evidence on Integrated Education was inaccurate, citing claims about Stranmillis College and…
Education Issue: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Integrated Education evidence session comments Original release: Committee evidence shouldn’t be based on misinformation or… (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must act now to support childcare sector ahead of April cliff edge, says Nicholl
Alliance's childcare spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA says the Education Minister's pledge to meet providers "in the coming weeks" on short-term support is inadequate, and calls for emergency help before the April minimum wage rise. She warns of price hikes for parents and possible closures.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister response on childcare sector support before April minimum wage rise Original release: Education Minister must act now to support childcare sector ahead of April cliff edge, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Economy Minister needs to step in to reset Further Education industrial relations, says Eastwood
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood calls on the Economy Minister to direct officials to reset relations between further education colleges and unions, after three unions withdrew trust in Belfast Met's executive leadership team. She says pay and conditions disputes have run for years.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Belfast Met trade unions withdraw trust in executive leadership team Original release: Economy Minister needs to step in to reset Further Education industrial relations, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people across the island deserve better access to mental services – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for better children's mental health access across the island, citing a Dáil bill by Mark Ward TD on youth mental health services in the south. She urges north-south ministerial cooperation and calls on the Health Minister to bring forward a plan to increase…
Health Issue: Mark Ward TD youth mental health legislation in the Dáil Original release: Children and young people across the island deserve better access to mental services – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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More help needed to support carers – Dillon
SF MLA Linda Dillon says more help is needed for carers, especially women forced to cut hours or leave jobs, reacting to a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report. She calls for investment in social care, stronger workers' rights and better childcare, and welcomes the Economy Minister's…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: More help needed to support carers – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood
Alliance's Sorcha Eastwood MLA says carers need far more support, citing a Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report finding nearly 60% of unpaid carers are women. She backs its recommendations, including paid carer's leave, and says she has asked the Economy Minister to include it in a…
Economy and employment Disability and equality Issue: Carers NI and Women's Regional Consortium report on female carers Original release: Career or Care report lays bare the failure to support our unpaid carers, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Funding reprofiling is act of vandalism, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the UK Government's reprofiling of £150 million for shared and integrated schools is vandalism, and calls on the Secretary of State to reverse it and on Education Minister Paul Givan to secure the funds for his Department.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Integrated schools denied Fresh Start funding Original release: Funding reprofiling is act of vandalism, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must outline transformation plans, says McAllister
Alliance Health Spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister says the Health Minister must set out his plans for reforming local health services after a speech that listed problems without follow-up proposals. She urges him to implement the Bengoa reforms and bring constructive proposals to…
Health Issue: Health Minister speech on current health service problems Original release: Health Minister must outline transformation plans, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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‘Delivering high quality, affordable childcare is a priority’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says affordable childcare is a priority ahead of Employers for Childcare's presentation to the Education Committee this week. She has urged the Education Minister to provide immediate support for providers and to finalise a new childcare strategy.
Education Issue: Employers for Childcare presentation to Education Committee Original release: ‘Delivering high quality, affordable childcare is a priority’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes progress towards agreed pay settlement for health workers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes progress towards 2023/24 pay settlements for health workers, noting a proposal restoring pay parity with England for Agenda for Change staff. He hopes further announcements on doctors' and dentists' pay will follow soon.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care 2023/24 pay settlement proposal Original release: Chambers welcomes progress towards agreed pay settlement for health workers (opens in a new tab)
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Executive parties must explain integrated funding axe: SDLP
SDLP Opposition demands that Executive parties explain how and why capital funding for new integrated schools and shared education campuses was cut after being ring-fenced under Fresh Start. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter says the Assembly will seek to call the Education Minister to explain the decision.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Integrated schools denied Fresh Start funding Original release: Executive parties must explain integrated funding axe: SDLP (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Excuses won’t cut it for integrated schools
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter says the Education Minister gave no assurances to schools after ten across the North lost ring-fenced Fresh Start capital funding for new buildings, and calls for clarity on completion dates. Matthew O'Toole says the Executive must reveal what it knew and calls for the UK…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Integrated schools denied Fresh Start funding Original release: Hunter: Excuses won’t cut it for integrated schools (opens in a new tab)
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Nick Mathison calls on Education Minister to protect Integrated Education funding
Alliance Education Spokesperson Nick Mathison calls on the Education Minister to prioritise 10 integrated schools denied Fresh Start funding for capital investment and to redirect £150m taken from the scheme to projects ready to progress.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Integrated schools denied Fresh Start funding Original release: Nick Mathison calls on Education Minister to protect Integrated Education funding (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance's Nick Mathison MLA, Chair of the Assembly's Education Committee, urges the Education Minister to direct any extra SEND funding to pupils and the workforce ahead of a Monday Assembly debate. He says the current support system has failed pupils, parents and schools and warns against a…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on special educational needs and disabilities provision Original release: Education Minister needs to prioritise and invest in special educational needs and disabilities, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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Mason asks Education Minister to consider interim support for childcare providers
SDLP... no, Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Education Minister to examine short-term funding for childcare providers, citing providers at breaking point, some running at a loss and recent closures. She says a fully funded childcare strategy is needed.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Mason asks Education Minister to consider interim support for childcare providers (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council
Alliance councillors, through South Belfast Councillor Tara Brooks, call for Belfast City Council to lead by adopting transparent methods for recording and reporting the gender pay gap, noting Northern Ireland has no legal obligation to do so.
Disability and equality Local government Original release: Alliance calls for gender pay gap reporting in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)