Latest releases
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2,513 releases
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We must seek to tackle division in NI education system, says Mathison, calling for creation of single managing authority for schools
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA calls on the Education Minister to prioritise a single managing authority for all schools over a separate new authority for controlled schools. He says the minister's proposals, submitted to the consultation, depart from the Independent Review of…
Education Issue: Department of Education consultation on controlled schools managing authority Original release: We must seek to tackle division in NI education system, says Mathison, calling for creation of single managing authority for schools (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison calls for urgent clarity on EA Home to School Transport provision
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA urges the Education Minister to give schools and parents swift certainty on EA home-to-school transport and to protect pupils. He questions the EA's request that taxi drivers cut rates by 10% and asks for the evidence…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: EA request for taxi drivers to cut rates by 10% Original release: Mathison calls for urgent clarity on EA Home to School Transport provision (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister comments following December Monitoring Round…
Education Minister Paul Givan says his Department faces a current funding shortfall of c£267m for 2025-26 after receiving £25.6m for teachers' pay against £37m requested, and will take a Ministerial Direction to the Executive. He also welcomes £22m in capital funding and calls for a larger…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: Education Minister comments following December Monitoring Round… (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA calls the Communities Minister's cut to social housing grant reckless and inhumane amid a supply crisis, citing Simon Community homelessness figures and an NI Audit Office finding, and urges him to reconsider priorities.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister cut to social housing funding cruel and inhumane, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches a public consultation on the draft ten-year Executive Disability Strategy for 2025 to 2035, with commitments including a Regional Disability Forum, a review of disability legislation and an annual Disability Data compendium. The consultation runs…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: Lyons launches consultation on ten-year Executive Disability Strategy (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister launches a new literacy framework for Northern…
Education Minister Paul Givan has launched Strong Foundations, a new literacy framework for primary schools, unveiled at the TransformED Literacy Symposium, alongside published guidelines to help schools build a whole-school approach to literacy.
Education Issue: Strong Foundations primary school literacy framework launch Original release: Education Minister launches a new literacy framework for Northern… (opens in a new tab)
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New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomes the Department for Communities' draft Disability Strategy, published as it goes out for public consultation, calling it a step toward real equality for disabled people. He urges the Communities Minister to bring forward legislative change and encourages people…
Disability and equality Issue: Executive Disability Strategy 2025-2035 public consultation launch Original release: New strategy must mark step toward delivering real equality for those with disabilities – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan says delays by the Environment Agency in responding to planning consultations are holding back economic development in mid Ulster. He says the Agriculture and Environment Minister declined his request for an urgent meeting, and calls for updates and transparency for…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Environment Agency planning consultation backlog in mid Ulster Original release: Environment Agency delays holding mid Ulster back – Mallaghan (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister announces expansion of Pre-School education…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan has approved 102 more pre-school settings to move to full-time, 22.5-hour sessions from September 2026, the second cohort under the Pre-school Standardisation programme.
Education Issue: Pre-school Standardisation programme second cohort approved for September 2026 Original release: Education Minister announces expansion of Pre-School education… (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams Sinn Féin of ‘Fantasy Politics’ Over Tuition Fee Abolition Claims
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin of fantasy politics over claims to abolish tuition fees, saying the Economy Minister's claim to have alone kept fees low is untrue and calling for an explanation of how Magee expansion would be funded and a debate on lifting the MaSN…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Economy Minister's social media video on abolishing tuition fees Original release: Armstrong Slams Sinn Féin of ‘Fantasy Politics’ Over Tuition Fee Abolition Claims (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA calls on the DAERA Minister to break a planning deadlock stalling farm improvements, urging adoption of a mitigation-and-betterment model like Natural England's. He also criticises the Department's reliance on the Office for Environmental Protection and a…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must listen to the public on need for reform of Religious Education, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson and Education Committee chair Nick Mathison MLA welcomes a study showing broad public backing for a more pluralistic Religious Education approach. He urges Education Minister to take that support into account when shaping a more inclusive curriculum.
Education Issue: Religious Education pluralistic approach public support study Original release: Education Minister must listen to the public on need for reform of Religious Education, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon welcomes the response to her consultation on a Bill that would give legal protection to breastfeeding in public and require businesses and service providers to make premises breastfeeding-friendly. She urges councils, businesses and public facilities to display…
Disability and equality Issue: Linda Dillon breastfeeding in public Bill consultation closure Original release: Dillon welcomes progress on Legislation protecting right to breastfeed in public (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister opens new £16.5million Elmgrove Primary School
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan marks the official opening of the £16.5million Elmgrove Primary School, a new build with 21 classrooms, SEN rooms, a Nurture room and a double Nursery unit. He praises the investment and the efforts of those who delivered it.
Education Issue: Elmgrove Primary School official opening Original release: Education Minister opens new £16.5million Elmgrove Primary School (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY: GIVAN MUST ADDRESS TEACHER WORKLOAD CONCERNS
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly calls on the Department of Education to shift from confrontation to collaboration and take action on teacher workload, following the Independent Review of Teacher Workload. She criticises the Education Minister's legal action over industrial action as adversarial.
Education Issue: Independent Review of Teacher Workload publication Original release: BROLLY: GIVAN MUST ADDRESS TEACHER WORKLOAD CONCERNS (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, calling for better public services, expanded supports, a narrower employment gap and accessible transport and public spaces.
Disability and equality Original release: McGuigan marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council
Alliance says a motion it brought forward, proposing that Belfast City Council explore nature-friendly burials, has passed the People and Communities committee. Cllr Hedley Abernethy says the motion would consider the feasibility of natural burials as an alternative to traditional burial and…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Belfast City Council People and Communities committee passes nature-friendly burials motion Original release: Alliance proposal to explore nature-friendly burials passes in Belfast City Council (opens in a new tab)
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We must do all we can to protect and grow our ‘world-class’ agri-food industry – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer urges continued support for Northern Ireland's agri-food sector, opposing cattle culls and warning that cutting local production could raise emissions through imports, ahead of an Assembly food security debate.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Assembly motion on food security Original release: We must do all we can to protect and grow our ‘world-class’ agri-food industry – McAleer (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall accuses the Economy Minister and the Executive of stalling Safe Leave, which would give paid leave to domestic abuse victims, and says the delay is letting victims down. She links the criticism to new Women's Aid figures on refuge use and referrals in 2024/25.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Safe Leave legislation delay and inaction Original release: Green Party Cllr Kendall Again Condemns Executive Over Continued Delay of Safe Leave (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 29 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston raises concerns about Palestinian protest with Education Minister
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says he will table questions for the Education Minister after parents complained about pro‑Palestine protests and the NASUWT’s ‘Stand for Palestine’ vigils in schools, calling the activities inappropriate and demanding guidance on political impartiality.
Education International affairs Issue: Pro‑Palestine protests in Ballycastle schools Original release: Gaston raises concerns about Palestinian protest with Education Minister (opens in a new tab)