Latest releases
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4,394 releases
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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)
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Health workers deserve fair pay and conditions – Dillon tells London demo
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says the British Government must deliver fair pay and safe conditions for health and social care workers, urging an end to Tory cuts and a new investment deal to retain staff.
Health Economy and employment Issue: SOS NHS demonstration in London Original release: Health workers deserve fair pay and conditions – Dillon tells London demo (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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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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Education system still failing to provide parental choice for those who wish to participate in integrated education, says Armstrong
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong says the education system still fails to offer parental choice for integrated schooling, citing a Good Relations Indicator report showing children unable to get a first-preference integrated place rose from 20 to 24 per cent.
Education Issue: Good Relations Indicator report on integrated school places Original release: Education system still failing to provide parental choice for those who wish to participate in integrated education, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Transformation of school would be resounding vote of confidence for integrated education, says Egan
Alliance Education spokesperson MLA Connie Egan says the move by Bangor Academy’s governors to ballot parents on becoming an integrated school would send a powerful signal of support for integrated education and urges families to take part.
Education Issue: Bangor Academy governors ballot on integrated status Original release: Transformation of school would be resounding vote of confidence for integrated education, says Egan (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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Maskey urges Heaton-Harris to engage with health unionsv
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey urges Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to engage directly with northern trade union leaders over the health pay dispute and reach a fair pay deal that avoids further strike action. He also calls for more public service investment and an Executive to be restored.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Health workers' pay dispute and strike action in Northern Ireland Original release: Maskey urges Heaton-Harris to engage with health unionsv (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)
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Parties need to explain rejection of enhanced health provision for public, say Alliance MLAs
Alliance MLAs Andrew Muir and Paula Bradshaw urge other parties to explain their rejection of proposed enhanced urgent care at a new Dundonald centre, which they say would ease pressure on the Ulster Hospital emergency department.
Health Issue: Council debate on proposed Urgent Care Centre at Ulster Hospital Original release: Parties need to explain rejection of enhanced health provision for public, say Alliance MLAs (opens in a new tab)
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Lollipop men and women face the axe under EA plans – Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart calls the Education Authority's freeze on recruiting School Crossing Patrol staff, including temporary cover, 'madness', warning it will increase safety risks at schools. She says she has urged the EA to rethink, and that MLA Diane Dodds will raise it again at a meeting.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Education Authority freeze on School Crossing Patrol recruitment Original release: Lollipop men and women face the axe under EA plans – Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Cost-of-Living Public Meeting on March 13th at 7.30pm in Newry - Aontú
Aontú's Daniel Connolly, Armagh DEA Rep, announces a public meeting in Newry on 13 March at 7.30pm, where Peadar Tóibín and local representatives will address rising living costs, council rates and Daisy Hill services.
Economy and employment Health Original release: Cost-of-Living Public Meeting on March 13th at 7.30pm in Newry - Aontú (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Cuts to further and higher education would be devastating
SDLP Economy Spokesperson and Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin warns that potential cuts of up to 20% to further and higher education, shown in Department for the Economy modelling, would be devastating. She calls for investment instead, including a properly resourced university in Derry.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Department for the Economy modelling of further and higher education cuts Original release: McLaughlin: Cuts to further and higher education would be devastating (opens in a new tab)