Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Disability and equality: remove filter
- Infrastructure and transport: remove filter
- Social security and welfare: remove filter
4,301 releases
-
Murray disappointed and frustrated by risk posed to potential cycling infrastructure
Alliance Balmoral Councillor Micky Murray says he is disappointed and frustrated that planned Belfast cycling infrastructure, including Lisburn Road and Malone Road routes, may be displaced by the Department for Infrastructure's new Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan. He questions the…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Belfast Cycle Network Plan displacement by Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan Original release: Murray disappointed and frustrated by risk posed to potential cycling infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
-
Dodds meets EA about annual SEN chaos
DUP Education spokesperson Diane Dodds, Upper Bann MLA, says a meeting with the Education Authority exposed the yearly chaos in Special Educational Needs placements, blaming education cuts and under‑funding and urging Treasury funding, transformational reform and immediate placement of vulnerable p‑
Education Disability and equality Issue: Annual chaos in Special Educational Needs allocations Original release: Dodds meets EA about annual SEN chaos (opens in a new tab)
-
Allen advocates for a comprehensive approach to address poverty
Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen MBE calls on the Head of the Civil Service to set up an all-party poverty task force, involving government departments and the community and voluntary sector, responding to a Trussell Trust report on hunger in Northern Ireland. He also calls for a ten-year plan to…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Trussell Trust Hunger in Northern Ireland report Original release: Allen advocates for a comprehensive approach to address poverty (opens in a new tab)
-
Most vulnerable in society will continue to be hit hardest as financial pressures continue, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says the most vulnerable will keep being hit hardest as financial pressures grow, citing a Trussell Trust report finding one in six people in Northern Ireland face hunger. She urges the DUP to put people ahead of political games and restore the…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Trussell Trust Hunger in Northern Ireland report Original release: Most vulnerable in society will continue to be hit hardest as financial pressures continue, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
-
Latest climate change report demonstrates disgraceful lack of meaningful action, says Blair
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA says a latest Climate Change Committee report shows the UK has lost climate leadership and Northern Ireland is behind on climate targets, calling for a Green New Deal and blaming the absence of an Executive for stalled action.
Environment and climate Issue: UK Climate Change Committee progress report on net zero emissions Original release: Latest climate change report demonstrates disgraceful lack of meaningful action, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
-
Skills system needs to urgently align with the scale of climate challenge, says Eastwood
Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood calls for the UK Government to publish an evidence-based net zero skills action plan, following a Climate Change Committee progress report that she says shows no progress in the past year.
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: UK Climate Change Committee progress report on net zero emissions Original release: Skills system needs to urgently align with the scale of climate challenge, says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
-
Doherty backs calls for Anti-Poverty Strategy
SDLP councillor Paul Doherty backs calls for an Anti-Poverty Strategy for the North, saying child poverty in west Belfast is severe and blaming the lack of a functioning government, which he links to the DUP's Stormont boycott, for stalling the strategy.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Stormont event on Anti-Poverty Strategy for the North Original release: Doherty backs calls for Anti-Poverty Strategy (opens in a new tab)
-
DUP’s blockade Executive will result in children going hungry this summer – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the DUP's boycott of the Executive and Assembly will leave thousands of children without hot meals over the summer holidays, as holiday hunger payments are withheld. He calls for an Executive to be formed now to protect these payments.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Withholding of summer holiday hunger payments due to no Executive Original release: DUP’s blockade Executive will result in children going hungry this summer – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
-
Robbie Butler Urges Secretary of State to Act Now to Address Underinvestment in Special Education Needs
UUP education spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA urges the Secretary of State to act now on underinvestment in Special Educational Needs provision, saying shortfalls in SEN places in special and mainstream schools are failing children and families, with no Executive or Assembly in place.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Robbie Butler Urges Secretary of State to Act Now to Address Underinvestment in Special Education Needs (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong encourages homeowners and private landlords to prepare to move to net zero
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA urges homeowners and private landlords to play their part in reaching net zero by 2050, citing the Future Homes in Northern Ireland report from Electrical Safety First on electrical safety risks in older housing stock.
Environment and climate Housing Issue: Future Homes in Northern Ireland report launch by Electrical Safety First Original release: Armstrong encourages homeowners and private landlords to prepare to move to net zero (opens in a new tab)
-
The Alliance Party and transgenderism
TUV's North Down branch president Patrick J. Roche accuses the Alliance Party of full commitment to transgenderism, citing Naomi Long's handling of a 'what is a woman?' question and a drag story reading, and MLA Connie Eagan's planned bill on relationship and sex education. He also attacks deputy…
Disability and equality Education Issue: Alliance Party stance on transgender issues and Gender Recognition Reform Bill Original release: The Alliance Party and transgenderism (opens in a new tab)
-
Cllr Rachel Woods slams changes to Affordable Warmth Scheme
Green Party NI councillor Rachel Woods, for Holywood and Clandeboye, criticises the decision to cut the Affordable Warmth Scheme without replacements and the removal of councils' eligibility assessment role from September. She calls for a fuel poverty strategy and tighter building regulations.
Housing Local government Issue: Affordable Warmth Scheme changes and removal of council eligibility role Original release: Cllr Rachel Woods slams changes to Affordable Warmth Scheme (opens in a new tab)
-
Armstrong welcomes increased support for families on Universal Credit
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes an increase in the maximum childcare costs families on Universal Credit can claim back, rising to 85% from 28 June. She says the change will help working families and enable more people into employment.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Universal Credit childcare cost maximum increase from June 2023 Original release: Armstrong welcomes increased support for families on Universal Credit (opens in a new tab)
-
McCrossan: Education Authority must find places for SEN children
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan calls on the Education Authority to find school places for over 800 children with special educational needs still awaiting confirmation of a place for next year. He says families need immediate clarity and urges investment in resourcing schools and…
Education Disability and equality Original release: McCrossan: Education Authority must find places for SEN children (opens in a new tab)
-
Fundamental review of children’s services ‘long overdue’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for a fundamental review of children's services, citing an independent review finding over 4,000 children waiting for assessments and support from social care, and pointing to rising demand, staffing pressures and budget strain.
Health Issue: Independent review finding over 4,000 children waiting for social care assessments Original release: Fundamental review of children’s services ‘long overdue’ – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
-
Confirmation Arvalee Special School will continue to have full-time ‘relief for parents and children’ – Brogan
Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan welcomes confirmation that Arvalee Special School in Omagh will keep full-time hours for nursery pupils after an Education Authority cut to two and a half hours was reversed. She says discussions between the EA and the school must continue and blames Tory cuts and the…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority cuts nursery hours at Arvalee Special School Original release: Confirmation Arvalee Special School will continue to have full-time ‘relief for parents and children’ – Brogan (opens in a new tab)
-
Long term plan needed to secure Daisy Hill – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says new proposals to stabilise Daisy Hill Hospital services are a step forward but need much more work to restore staff and community confidence. She says the Southern Trust must move quickly on a long-term plan, and she will press its leadership at a meeting the next…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital services stabilisation proposals Original release: Long term plan needed to secure Daisy Hill – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
-
Executive needed to support vulnerable children and young people – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says it is unacceptable that families of children with additional needs are anxiously waiting to learn whether they will secure a nursery place. He calls for an end to the DUP's boycott of the Executive so parties can work together to support vulnerable children and young…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Special educational needs nursery placement uncertainty and Executive impasse Original release: Executive needed to support vulnerable children and young people – Baker (opens in a new tab)
-
Executive needed to drive forward reform of children’s social care services, say Alliance representatives
Naomi Long, Alliance leader and MLA, and health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, MLA, welcome the children’s social‑care review report and say an Executive is required to act on its 53 recommendations, warning that delays will worsen outcomes for thousands of waiting children.
Health Issue: Children’s social care services review report publication Original release: Executive needed to drive forward reform of children’s social care services, say Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
-
Communities budget will reduce support for most vulnerable, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the Department for Communities budget allocations will reduce support for vulnerable people, including the homeless, people with disabilities, addiction service users and domestic abuse victims. She cites cuts to new homes and rising homelessness spending, and…
Public finance and taxation Housing Issue: Department for Communities budget allocations for the forthcoming financial year Original release: Communities budget will reduce support for most vulnerable, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)