Latest releases
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3,933 releases
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Vulnerable children and young people should not be paying the price for budgetary uncertainty, says Egan
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA expresses disappointment that the Healthy Happy Minds primary school mental health programme is at risk of being scrapped due to Department of Education budget cuts, and calls for protection of vulnerable children and a restored Executive.
Education Health Issue: Healthy Happy Minds programme at risk of being scrapped Original release: Vulnerable children and young people should not be paying the price for budgetary uncertainty, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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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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Bradshaw calls for crackdown on assaults to emergency workers
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw calls for a crackdown on assaults against ambulance crews and other emergency workers, saying they must be protected from physical and sexual aggression and urging stronger consequences.
Justice and policing Health Issue: Petition to extend Harper's Law to Northern Ireland Original release: Bradshaw calls for crackdown on assaults to emergency workers (opens in a new tab)
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Health and social workers entitled to fair pay and safe working conditions – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says health and social care staff deserve a fair pay rise and safe conditions, praising their resolve after winter strike action. She calls on the British Government to engage with unions and invest more in health, and urges parties to return to the Executive.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health and social care pay strikes and Executive absence Original release: Health and social workers entitled to fair pay and safe working conditions – Dillon (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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Chambers warns that it’s essential NI health workers are included in latest pay offer
UUP Health Spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA warns it is essential the latest pay offer for health workers in England is quickly extended to staff in Northern Ireland to avoid further strikes and service disruption. He calls on the Department of Health to act locally given the absence of a…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Latest health workers pay offer in England extension to Northern Ireland Original release: Chambers warns that it’s essential NI health workers are included in latest pay offer (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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Givan comments following Dept of Health budget briefing
DUP Health Spokesperson Paul Givan, Lagan Valley MLA, says the funding gap between Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland and England is widening after a Department of Health 23/24 budget briefing, and calls on HM Treasury to fund population needs. He also welcomes Budget pension rule changes…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health financial briefing on health service funding shortfall Original release: Givan comments following Dept of Health budget briefing (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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Good Friday Agreement Anniversary Without Democratic Institutions Will Be A Hallow Affair- Tóibín
Constitutional affairs Health Original release: Good Friday Agreement Anniversary Without Democratic Institutions Will Be A Hallow Affair- Tóibín (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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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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McGrath alarmed at dire financial situation facing health service
SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says he is alarmed by the health service's financial position after a Department of Health briefing, warning of a shortfall in the hundreds of millions. He says options such as charging for hospital parking and home care support would hit people hardest and…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health financial briefing on health service funding shortfall Original release: McGrath alarmed at dire financial situation facing health service (opens in a new tab)
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Real priority is to provide the political leadership needed by our health service – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the health service needs an Executive formed immediately to tackle the deepening hospital and frontline care crisis, after a joint warning from Royal Colleges. She urges all parties to return to the Executive table to prevent health service collapse.
Health Issue: Royal Colleges joint statement on health service crisis Original release: Real priority is to provide the political leadership needed by our health service – Dillon (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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World Social Work Day brings home how much needs to be done in children's and young people’s interests, says Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA says World Social Work Day should prompt politicians to return to work urgently, citing alarming social work vacancies and children and young people being excluded from services.
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Executive needed to help families in need of care packages – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for an Executive to be formed now to help families waiting for care packages, citing Department of Health figures showing 2,780 people on the waiting list and a sharp winter decline in packages delivered.
Health Issue: Department of Health figures on people waiting for care packages Original release: Executive needed to help families in need of care packages – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)