Latest releases
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2,755 releases
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Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding
DUP Education spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Independent Review of Education panel was told Education budgets are underfunded, citing real-terms cuts of around £150 million and calling for Education to be treated as 'mission critical'. She also highlights rising Special Educational Needs…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Review of Education panel meeting on school funding Original release: Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding (opens in a new tab)
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Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities
UUP MLA Robbie Butler warns that budget uncertainty at Stormont risks ending the Department for Infrastructure's Disability Action Transport Scheme and Shopmobility, which have no funding guarantee beyond next month. He blames the lack of an Executive and multi-year budgets.
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Department for Infrastructure disability transport schemes funding at risk Original release: Butler warns cuts to key transport service will disproportionately impact people with disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Extension of Veterans Mobility Fund welcome - Allen
East Belfast UUP MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes the Government's decision to extend the Veterans Mobility Fund, crediting Veterans Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer MP after repeated representations. He also welcomes a £20 million Veterans Capital Housing Fund and says he has sought a meeting on support…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Veterans Mobility Fund extension announcement Original release: Extension of Veterans Mobility Fund welcome - Allen (opens in a new tab)
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We must invest in housing strategy to build enough social housing, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for investment in the housing strategy to deliver enough social homes, and for a strategy to maintain existing stock and meet climate targets. She also warns that rent rises of up to 50 per cent in Belfast push renters out and urges a new Communities Minister…
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Private Tenancies Act rent cap omission and Belfast rent rises Original release: We must invest in housing strategy to build enough social housing, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan welcomes date for A5 public inquiry
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomes the scheduling of the next phase of the A5 Western Transport Corridor public hearings, due to resume on 15 May, and urges those opposing the road to weigh its safety and economic impact. He cites 48 deaths on the A5 since 2008.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 Western Transport Corridor public inquiry resumption date set Original release: McCrossan welcomes date for A5 public inquiry (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Launch of crucial Autism Strategy in jeopardy
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says vital autism legislation and the Autism Strategy may be delayed without an agreed budget, citing Health Permanent Secretary Peter May's warning about financial uncertainty and the unfilled Independent Autism Reviewer post. He calls for the strategy to proceed without…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Health Permanent Secretary warning on Autism Strategy delivery without budget Original release: Durkan: Launch of crucial Autism Strategy in jeopardy (opens in a new tab)
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Government figures highlight Northern Ireland’s lead on Gigabit…
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says Government figures show Northern Ireland leads the UK on gigabit-capable broadband, with 90.6% of premises covered against a UK average of 74% and a 2025 target of 85%. He credits DUP-secured funding for the progress.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Government figures on gigabit-capable broadband access in Northern Ireland Original release: Government figures highlight Northern Ireland’s lead on Gigabit… (opens in a new tab)
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Aontú Deputy Leader Welcomes Seachtain na Gaeilge
Aontú deputy leader Gemma Brolly celebrates Seachtain na Gaeilge, urging that the Irish language be accessible to all year round and calling for greater support in schools and councils, especially where it is currently limited.
Disability and equality Issue: Seachtain na Gaeilge 2023 Original release: Aontú Deputy Leader Welcomes Seachtain na Gaeilge (opens in a new tab)
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Allen urges Housing Executive to resolve the ongoing pay dispute
UUP MLA and Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MBE urges Housing Executive chief executive Grainia Long and her senior team to end the strike by its direct labour maintenance workers over a pay dispute. He says the action has left thousands of repairs undone and calls for officials to seek…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: NIHE direct labour workforce pay dispute industrial action Original release: Allen urges Housing Executive to resolve the ongoing pay dispute (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers calls for facts to be gathered before any rushed decision is taken to scrap key transport service
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA calls on the Department of Health to conduct an impact assessment of the dial‑a‑lift transport service, which provides about 200,000 journeys a year, before any decision to scrap it is made.
Infrastructure and transport Health Issue: Proposed scrapping of dial-a-lift health transport service Original release: Chambers calls for facts to be gathered before any rushed decision is taken to scrap key transport service (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: SEN children must get support they need
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says children with special educational needs must get the support they need, after parents described their struggle to secure help. He cites reports that the Education Authority has conceded most SEN appeals and calls for a complete overhaul of the assessment…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Reports of Education Authority conceding most SEN appeals Original release: McCrossan: SEN children must get support they need (opens in a new tab)
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Boylan requests urgent meeting over Community Transport funding
Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan asks the Department for Infrastructure to meet urgently after it only extended Community Transport funding for a month, warning that cuts would jeopardise a vital service for older, disabled and isolated people in rural north.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI one-month community transport funding extension Original release: Boylan requests urgent meeting over Community Transport funding (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin invite public to have their say on Mournes Project
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard urges residents to attend a Thursday information session in Newcastle on the proposed Mournes Gateway project. He says it needs rigorous appraisal of environmental, ecological and economic concerns, including visitor pressure on the Donard area and costs for ratepayers.
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Mournes Gateway project information session in Newcastle Original release: Sinn Féin invite public to have their say on Mournes Project (opens in a new tab)
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DUP expresses concern on future of community transport
Phillip Brett MLA, DUP Infrastructure Spokesperson, says the Department for Infrastructure’s temporary extension of funding for the ‘dial‑a‑lift’ community transport service to end‑April 2023 threatens rural residents and urges the department to work with the Community Transport Association to keep
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI one-month community transport funding extension Original release: DUP expresses concern on future of community transport (opens in a new tab)
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International Women’s Day
People Before Profit marks International Women's Day by arguing that housing, cost of living and health service pressures disproportionately affect women, and that women still earn 14% less than men on average. It calls for a broader fight for women's rights, including full bodily autonomy North…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Original release: International Women’s Day (opens in a new tab)
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We deserve every seat we have at every table, says McAllister, marking International Women’s Day 2023
Alliance North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister marks International Women's Day 2023 by paying tribute to female party colleagues, citing legislation under Naomi Long as Justice Minister and Michelle Kelly's Belfast City Council changes. She calls for continued work on equity, including accessible and…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: We deserve every seat we have at every table, says McAllister, marking International Women’s Day 2023 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Loss of community transport will leave vulnerable isolated
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter warns that uncertainty over Department for Infrastructure funding for the dial-a-lift community transport service could leave elderly and disabled people isolated. She says she has raised concerns with the department's Permanent Secretary and urges Stormont…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: DfI one-month community transport funding extension Original release: Hunter: Loss of community transport will leave vulnerable isolated (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Staff and road safety bearing brunt of winter service cuts
SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says budget pressures are limiting the Department for Infrastructure's winter services, citing FOI figures showing spending cut sharply over five years. He has written to the Permanent Secretary seeking urgent reform of road maintenance pay amid…
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI winter service cuts and road maintenance workers strike action Original release: Durkan: Staff and road safety bearing brunt of winter service cuts (opens in a new tab)
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A restored Assembly must deliver for women – Sheerin
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin tells a Glasgow event marking March 8th that a restored Assembly and Executive must act to advance equality and deliver better for women, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBT+ women and women with disabilities.
Disability and equality Original release: A restored Assembly must deliver for women – Sheerin (opens in a new tab)
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Community Transport Providers Left Behind
Alliance MLAs Kellie Armstrong and Andrew Muir criticise the Department for Infrastructure's one-month extension of community transport funding, warning it leaves providers facing staff redundancy notices. Muir says he has written to the department's Permanent Secretary about its budget position.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: DfI one-month community transport funding extension Original release: Community Transport Providers Left Behind (opens in a new tab)