Latest releases
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3,448 releases
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McCrossan: Pathway Fund must be protected from cuts
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan calls for the Pathway Fund to be protected from cuts, warning that interim funding for early years providers ends in June and that over 10,000 children could lose support.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed removal of the Pathway Fund Original release: McCrossan: Pathway Fund must be protected from cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Bengoa reforms cannot proceed due to Barnett funding squeeze: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says an incoming Executive could not fund the Bengoa health reforms under current budgets and calls on the Government to reform the Barnett formula, citing evidence from the NICS Head of Civil Service to the NI Affairs Committee.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: NI Affairs Committee evidence on Barnett formula funding and Bengoa reforms Original release: Bengoa reforms cannot proceed due to Barnett funding squeeze: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Government must provide mental health supports for Mothers – Mark Ward TD
Sinn Féin mental health spokesperson Mark Ward TD says the HSE’s World Maternal Mental Health Day campaign highlights the need for a specialist perinatal inpatient unit and urges the Government to set a firm timetable for the 10‑bed unit at St Vincent’s, noting the 2024 target may be missed.
Health Issue: World Maternal Mental Health Day HSE campaign launch Original release: Government must provide mental health supports for Mothers – Mark Ward TD (opens in a new tab)
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An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan
Alliance education spokesperson and North Down MLA Connie Egan calls for a standardised, inclusive, evidence-based RSE curriculum in schools, following an ETI report finding almost half of Northern Ireland schools teach little or nothing on consent, LGBTQ+ issues and related topics. She says she…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education and Training Inspectorate report on relationship and sexuality education Original release: An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Solutions needed to reverse bleak health picture
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath warns that a near 10% health budget cut will worsen waiting lists, raise car parking charges and hit community and voluntary groups. He calls for the Triple Lock proposal to resist the cuts and says a future Executive should seek extra funding from London.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Department of Health flat cash budget allocation 2023 Original release: McGrath: Solutions needed to reverse bleak health picture (opens in a new tab)
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Father of three and TUV candidate speaks out on proposed loss of Causeway maternity services
TUV candidate Jonathan McAuley expresses disappointment at the proposed closure of the Causeway Hospital maternity ward, arguing Antrim cannot cope with current workload and that women are transferred from Antrim to Causeway. He says staff feel the 14-week consultation was a waste of time and…
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital maternity services proposed closure consultation Original release: Father of three and TUV candidate speaks out on proposed loss of Causeway maternity services (opens in a new tab)
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Queen’s University must reverse decision to cut staff pay – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy calls on Queen’s University to reverse its decision to cut pay for staff participating in an examinations and assessment boycott, urging the university to respect workers’ right to campaign for fair pay and to work with the UCU on urgent solutions.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Queen’s University staff pay cut decision Original release: Queen’s University must reverse decision to cut staff pay – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Ending of Pathway Fund would punish our most vulnerable children, says Egan
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA calls for an extension of the Pathway Fund, which ends in June 2023 without extra funding, saying cuts would hurt the most vulnerable early years children. She has written to the Permanent Secretary of Education and blames the DUP for the lack of a…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed removal of the Pathway Fund Original release: Ending of Pathway Fund would punish our most vulnerable children, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Long and Bradshaw hold "useful and helpful" meeting with hospital group
Alliance MLAs Naomi Long and Paula Bradshaw describe their Enniskillen meeting with campaign group SOAH as useful, saying they will follow up its concerns with the Western Trust and Department of Health over South West Acute Hospital services. Bradshaw calls for a locally accountable health…
Health Issue: Alliance meeting with SOAH group on South West Acute Hospital Original release: Long and Bradshaw hold "useful and helpful" meeting with hospital group (opens in a new tab)
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Budget a hammer blow for education: Dodds
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds, Upper Bann MLA, calls the Secretary of State's budget a hammer blow for education, saying a 2.4% cash-terms cut of about £70m will add to underfunding and that school building projects and a digital devices scheme have been suspended. She calls for a review…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Stormont budget cuts outlined by the Secretary of State Original release: Budget a hammer blow for education: Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Pathway Fund must remain – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart writes to the Department of Education’s Permanent Secretary urging the Pathway Fund to stay, saying its loss would devastate vulnerable young people and questioning the rationale for its removal.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed removal of the Pathway Fund Original release: Pathway Fund must remain – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Patients will come to harm following budget allocations - Chambers
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA warns that the flat cash budget allocation to the Department of Health will harm patients, citing cuts to waiting list, cancer and mental health funding and the £300m overspend. He calls for the health service to be treated as a priority.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Northern Ireland Department of Health flat cash budget allocation 2023 Original release: Patients will come to harm following budget allocations - Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Stormont Budget: Carroll Urges Grassroots Resistance To Cuts
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll calls the Stormont budget an outright attack on schoolchildren, the sick, vulnerable and workers, and says the party will organise grassroots resistance to the cuts set out by the Secretary of State.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Stormont budget cuts outlined by the Secretary of State Original release: Stormont Budget: Carroll Urges Grassroots Resistance To Cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Teacher strike action should be a catalyst for the DUP to get back to work, says Egan
Alliance Education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says teachers' full-day strike over pay should prompt the DUP to end its boycott of Stormont and restore the Executive and an Education Minister. She says teachers are undervalued and underpaid and calls for a negotiated pay solution.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Five teaching unions strike over pay in Northern Ireland Original release: Teacher strike action should be a catalyst for the DUP to get back to work, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Crucial integrated education recommendations are delivered upon, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA urges the Department of Education to act on the recommendations in its first Integrated Education Strategy, which sets out actions for the department and bodies such as the Education Authority. She welcomes the strategy as a step forward but says it needs to be more…
Education Issue: Department of Education first Integrated Education Strategy publication Original release: Crucial integrated education recommendations are delivered upon, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Department and Trust must work to protect Kilkeel GP services
DUP MLA Diane Forsythe calls on the Department of Health and the Southern Trust to act quickly to protect GP services in Kilkeel after a decision to hand back the surgery's primary care contract. She says the 9,000 affected patients need new contract holders appointed and services maintained.
Health Issue: Kilkeel Primary Care Centre GP contract handback Original release: Department and Trust must work to protect Kilkeel GP services (opens in a new tab)
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Sir Jeffrey - "Time for Treasury Rethink on Public Sector Pay"
DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP calls for a Treasury rethink on public sector pay, arguing the Barnett funding model needs re-examining so public services can recruit and retain staff lost to agencies or other countries.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Original release: Sir Jeffrey - "Time for Treasury Rethink on Public Sector Pay" (opens in a new tab)
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Children in our schools paying the price for ‘damaging and irreparable’ Tory cuts – Sheehan
SDLP... no. Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says children in schools are paying for Tory cuts, citing a halted device scheme for pupils and no new school buildings or extensions starting in 2023/24. He calls for the British government to invest properly in public services and for an Executive to be…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: British government cuts to Northern Ireland education budget 2023/24 Original release: Children in our schools paying the price for ‘damaging and irreparable’ Tory cuts – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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British Government should end cruel cuts and invest in public services – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy calls on the British Government to end cuts to local budgets and public services and invest seriously in them. He cites the Public Sector Chairs forum's challenge to Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris and school funding cuts, and says the Executive must be restored.
Public finance and taxation Education Issue: Public Sector Chairs forum challenge to Secretary of State over public spending cuts Original release: British Government should end cruel cuts and invest in public services – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Coronation certificates for Schoolchildren - Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says he has delivered King's Coronation certificates to pupils at 28 primary schools in East Londonderry, around 6,000 children in total, with each pupil's name added as a keepsake. He describes the response as extremely good and thanks school principals and staff.
Education Issue: King's Coronation commemorative certificates for primary school pupils Original release: Coronation certificates for Schoolchildren - Campbell (opens in a new tab)