Latest releases
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5,194 releases
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SEN summer scheme debacle must never be repeated – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says special school summer schemes must go ahead this year and that the chaos over SEN summer schemes must not recur. She calls for families and providers to receive information promptly and accuses Education Minister Paul Givan of deflecting blame.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: SEN summer scheme debacle must never be repeated – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Fein play politics with SEN support – Martin
DUP MLA Peter Martin accuses Sinn Fein of using an Assembly debate on SEN summer provision to make a personal attack on Education Minister Paul Givan. He says the party is blocking SEN capital investment by delaying a paper from reaching the Executive.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on SEN summer provision and draft budget cuts Original release: Sinn Fein play politics with SEN support – Martin (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Welcomes Removal of “Inappropriate” Political Placards in Ballycastle
TUV MP Jim Allister KC welcomes the Department for Infrastructure's removal of political placards at the Mary Street and Cushendall Road junction in Ballycastle, after he raised residents' concerns with DfI Roads on 25 March.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ballycastle political placards removal at Mary Street junction Original release: Allister Welcomes Removal of “Inappropriate” Political Placards in Ballycastle (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Executive used SEN children as political pawns
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the Executive used SEN children as political pawns in a row over special school summer schemes, which were reinstated after a U-turn. He questions why the issue was not escalated to the Executive and calls the handling unnecessary distress…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: McGrath: Executive used SEN children as political pawns (opens in a new tab)
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Barr welcomes Council Motion on women’s health and praises Minister Nesbitt’s clear action plan for Gynaecology services
UUP Councillor Alan Barr welcomes Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's motion on women's health after Endometriosis Awareness Month and praises Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's £3.5 million ring-fenced gynaecology plan, with targets of a 40% waiting list cut by March 2027.
Health Local government Issue: Mid and East Antrim Council women's health motion on gynaecology waiting lists Original release: Barr welcomes Council Motion on women’s health and praises Minister Nesbitt’s clear action plan for Gynaecology services (opens in a new tab)
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Outrageous decision to grant UK bus contract to China
TUV MP Jim Allister calls the award of most of a £45 million Scottish Government zero-emission bus and coach contract to a Chinese manufacturer outrageous, arguing UK taxpayers' money should back British firms such as Wrightbus instead.
Economy and employment Infrastructure and transport Issue: Scottish Government £45 million zero-emission bus contract awarded to Chinese manufacturer Original release: Outrageous decision to grant UK bus contract to China (opens in a new tab)
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British government must reverse community and voluntary cuts – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew accuses Westminster of showing contempt for community groups in the north ahead of a 64% funding reduction for community and voluntary organisations taking effect on 1 April. He says the cut will bring job losses and reduced services and calls on the British government…
Public finance and taxation Issue: £15.8 million cut to Community and Voluntary Sector funding Original release: British government must reverse community and voluntary cuts – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong urges UK Government to act now on soaring fuel costs
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA urges the UK Government to cut fuel duty substantially and immediately, with a long-term plan, saying working families and businesses are being squeezed by high pump prices and tax.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: Armstrong urges UK Government to act now on soaring fuel costs (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers must answer for SEN summer scheme debacle, says Guy
Alliance's Michelle Guy MLA says the Education and Health Ministers must answer for briefly halting special educational needs summer schemes, then reversing the decision a day later. She calls for an Assembly recall motion tomorrow and demands an apology to families.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SEN summer schemes cancellation and reversal by Education and Health Ministers Original release: Ministers must answer for SEN summer scheme debacle, says Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Ministers must provide transparency over ‘shambolic handling’ of SEN summer schemes – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls on the Education Minister to give guarantees at Tuesday's Assembly recall that the cancellation of special school summer schemes will not recur, and demands full transparency over who made the decision and why.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Ministers must provide transparency over ‘shambolic handling’ of SEN summer schemes – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna: Local Growth Fund fiasco shows Executive prioritising blame over supporting people
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP accuses the Executive of failing to resolve the Local Growth Fund cliff edge, which she says could cost 11,000 people access to services and 400 jobs, and calls for urgent action on jobs and services.
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Local Growth Fund cliff edge and Executive funding failure Original release: Hanna: Local Growth Fund fiasco shows Executive prioritising blame over supporting people (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Slams Special School Summer Scheme Fiasco
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll welcomes the reversal of a decision on special school summer schemes but says the fiasco should never have happened. He calls for those who made the original cancellation decision to be identified and says families of children with additional needs were…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Carroll Slams Special School Summer Scheme Fiasco (opens in a new tab)
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Immediate Investigation into the Cancellation of SEN Summer Schemes
Aontú calls for an urgent, transparent and independent investigation into the Education Authority's decision to cancel SEN Summer Schemes, announced on 26 March and reversed the next day. It welcomes the reinstatement but demands accountability and safeguards against a repeat.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Immediate Investigation into the Cancellation of SEN Summer Schemes (opens in a new tab)
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U-turn on SEN summer schemes welcome but cancellation should have never happened – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the reversal of a decision to cancel special educational needs summer schemes, which will now go ahead. He says the cancellation should never have happened and will seek answers from the Education and Health Ministers on who made the decision, why, and a…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: U-turn on SEN summer schemes welcome but cancellation should have never happened – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Decision to protect female sport welcome — and a wake-up call to local politicians
TUV equality spokeswoman Ann McClure welcomes a move to tighten protection for women's categories in Olympic sport, but says local politicians should take note of funding for violence-against-women schemes going to groups that include men. She claims TUV exposed this and criticises the Executive…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Olympic participation rules decision on women's category eligibility Original release: Decision to protect female sport welcome — and a wake-up call to local politicians (opens in a new tab)
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Public input is vital for safer journeys to schools - Erskine
Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA Deborah Erskine welcomes the Department's public consultation on overtaking and passing school buses and urges parents, drivers, schools and the public to respond. She says she previously pressed the Infrastructure Minister to review school journey safety…
Infrastructure and transport Education Issue: Safer Journeys to School consultation on bus passenger safety launch Original release: Public input is vital for safer journeys to schools - Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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5,500 Children with Special Needs Abandoned by a Dysfunctional Executive
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll condemns the cancellation of summer schemes for more than 5,500 children with special educational needs, blaming the Executive's failure and urging families and education workers to mobilise against the decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: 5,500 Children with Special Needs Abandoned by a Dysfunctional Executive (opens in a new tab)
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TUV backs Assembly recall on SEN summer school cancellation
Education Disability and equality Original release: TUV backs Assembly recall on SEN summer school cancellation (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin supports Assembly recall to address removal of SEN summer schemes – Mason
South Down MLA Cathy Mason says Sinn Féin will back Alliance's petition to recall the Assembly over the cancelled SEN summer schemes. She urges Education and Health Ministers to resolve the issue quickly, calling the decision deplorable and criticising the DUP and UUP ministers' blame exchange.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: Sinn Féin supports Assembly recall to address removal of SEN summer schemes – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA calls on the Health and Education Ministers to cooperate and restore the cancelled special school summer schemes, urging the Executive to provide nursing support and reverse the decision.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Failure to provide special school summer programmes Original release: McGrath: Ministers must work together to deliver special school summer schemes (opens in a new tab)