Latest releases
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3,378 releases
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Armstrong calls on Prime Minister and Taoiseach to create an emergency fund to save 1700 jobs in the Community Sector
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, Chair of the All Party Group on Learning Disability, calls on the UK and Irish governments to fund a £40million rescue package to replace expiring European Social Fund money. She says it would keep 1700 community sector jobs and support 17000 people with disabilities…
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: End of European Social Fund money affecting community sector jobs Original release: Armstrong calls on Prime Minister and Taoiseach to create an emergency fund to save 1700 jobs in the Community Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to school counselling service will negatively impact young people – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan criticises reductions to the Happy Healthy Minds service that provides counselling in schools, warning it will harm children and remove mental health support, and says the party has told the Education Department more investment is needed.
Education Health Issue: Happy Healthy Minds school counselling service funding reduction Original release: Cuts to school counselling service will negatively impact young people – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Childcare announcement a missed opportunity : Forsythe
DUP childcare spokesperson and South Down MLA Diane Forsythe says the Chancellor's Budget childcare announcement for England was a missed opportunity, arguing the staggered extra hours will not help parents now and the 30-hour rise may slip past the next General Election. She calls for an increase…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Spring Budget 2023 childcare measures and Northern Ireland exclusion Original release: Childcare announcement a missed opportunity : Forsythe (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: New research confirms academic selection not delivering for all young people
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says new Stranmillis College research shows academic selection is not working for young people, arguing that scrapping the transfer test alone would not fix problems and calling for a wider cultural change and investment in education reform.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Stranmillis College research on transfer test cancellation and grammar school intake Original release: McCrossan: New research confirms academic selection not delivering for all young people (opens in a new tab)
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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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School Holiday Food Grant Must Be Extended - Cllr Doyle
Aontú Cllr Emmet Doyle calls on the Department of Education to confirm funding beyond March for the school holiday food grant, which pays £27 a fortnight to families of children receiving free school meals. He says a Council motion will seek that assurance.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Uncertainty over Easter school holiday hunger payments Original release: School Holiday Food Grant Must Be Extended - Cllr Doyle (opens in a new tab)
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Budget Day With Workers And Communities On Streets
People Before Profit says workers and community rallies on Budget Day 2023 show that one-day strikes are not enough, calling for sustained, longer strikes to pressure government and employers, citing NIPSA's 85% strike mandate and Unite's NIHE strike.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Budget Day 2023 strikes and union rallies across Northern Ireland Original release: Budget Day With Workers And Communities On Streets (opens in a new tab)
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Spring Budget means that Northern Ireland families will fall further behind on access to quality and affordable childcare - Deputy Leader, Lesley Veronica
Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica says the Spring Budget will leave Northern Ireland families further behind on affordable childcare. She questions where the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy is and calls on the DUP and Executive parties to restore devolved government.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Spring Budget 2023 childcare measures and Northern Ireland exclusion Original release: Spring Budget means that Northern Ireland families will fall further behind on access to quality and affordable childcare - Deputy Leader, Lesley Veronica (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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Dickson cautiously welcomes additional Higher and Further Education funding in Spring Budget
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA cautiously welcomes an extra £40m for Higher and Further Education in the Spring Budget but says it is hard to see how it can be spent without a functioning Executive. He also calls for restoring Stormont to access £80m Levelling Up funding.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Spring Budget additional Higher and Further Education funding Original release: Dickson cautiously welcomes additional Higher and Further Education funding in Spring Budget (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland left even further behind on childcare, says Egan, after announcement of Spring Budget
Alliance MLA Connie Egan says Northern Ireland families are left further behind after the Spring Budget childcare measures, which do not extend to NI parents. She calls for a restored Executive and a Childcare Strategy, citing 44% of parents facing childcare difficulties.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Spring Budget 2023 childcare measures and Northern Ireland exclusion Original release: Northern Ireland left even further behind on childcare, says Egan, after announcement of Spring Budget (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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Action to address childcare needs required from budget statement – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the British Government to act in the upcoming budget statement on childcare costs and provision in the north, after writing to the Chancellor. She says childcare costs are out of control and that proper public investment is needed to make them affordable.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Chancellor's upcoming budget statement on childcare costs Original release: Action to address childcare needs required from budget statement – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Vital holiday hunger payments must continue – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Department of Education to guarantee holiday hunger payments for families over the Easter school holidays, warning that uncertainty over funding is deeply concerning. He calls for an Executive to be formed now to tackle holiday hunger.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Uncertainty over Easter school holiday hunger payments Original release: Vital holiday hunger payments must continue – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Shameful children face paying the price for political failure – Butler
UUP education spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA says children and struggling families are suffering as Stormont's political deadlock delays confirmation of school holiday hunger payments for the Easter break. He calls on the Department of Education to extend the £27-a-fortnight food grant during the…
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Uncertainty over Easter school holiday hunger payments Original release: Shameful children face paying the price for political failure – Butler (opens in a new tab)
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School Holiday Food Grant Scheme must be extended to prevent holiday hunger, says Egan
Alliance MLA Connie Egan calls on the Education Department to fund the school holiday food grant, which replaces free school meals for over 100,000 families during holidays, for at least the next financial year. She says it is being considered due to budget pressures and urges a long-term fix once…
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Education Department considering funding of holiday food grant scheme Original release: School Holiday Food Grant Scheme must be extended to prevent holiday hunger, says Egan (opens in a new tab)