Latest releases
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3,379 releases
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Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA warns the EA faces another SEN placement crisis for 2026/27 after the Minister confirmed additional specialist provision secured so far will not meet projected demand. He urges the Minister to intervene urgently.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Minister confirms insufficient specialist SEN placements for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Mathison urges action to ensure SEN Placement crisis is averted (opens in a new tab)
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Prioritisation strategy outlines how best to deliver recommendations in All-Island rail review – Boylan
Sinn Féin transport spokesperson Cathal Boylan MLA welcomes the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy as progress on delivering the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, highlighting the Armagh-Portadown, Derry-Portadown and Lisburn-Antrim lines and commending Minister Kimmins.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy publication Original release: Prioritisation strategy outlines how best to deliver recommendations in All-Island rail review – Boylan (opens in a new tab)
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Meeting with Translink was ‘positive engagement’ on school transport issues – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says a meeting with Translink officials was a positive engagement on school transport, after students from Coláiste Feirste were refused a bus in Crumlin. She says Translink apologised and committed to better communication with drivers, pupils, the school and parents…
Infrastructure and transport Education Issue: Coláiste Feirste students refused bus in Crumlin Original release: Meeting with Translink was ‘positive engagement’ on school transport issues – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces £3.7million investment in RAISE Locality Led Projects…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces over £3.7million for 61 Locality Led Projects under the RAISE Programme, which aims to raise educational achievement and reduce disadvantage through place-based community work. Funding will support projects on attendance, standards and pathways for learners…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: RAISE Programme £3.7million Locality Led Projects funding announcement Original release: Givan announces £3.7million investment in RAISE Locality Led Projects… (opens in a new tab)
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26,000 vehicles still outstanding from Sellantis recall: Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell says the Department for Transport has confirmed around 122,000 of an estimated 148,000 Stellantis vehicles have been rectified after an airbag safety recall. He calls for every owner of the roughly 26,000 outstanding vehicles to respond to recall notices and for their…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Stellantis vehicle recall progress confirmed by Department for Transport Original release: 26,000 vehicles still outstanding from Sellantis recall: Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne
UUP MLA Diana Armstrong says she is shocked by the first confirmed case of invasive Quagga Mussel in Lower Lough Erne and criticises DAERA for failing to implement robust biosecurity measures. She calls for urgent action to protect waterways, citing gaps in guidance on power-washing and regulation…
Environment and climate Issue: First confirmed Quagga Mussel case in Lower Lough Erne Original release: Armstrong Slams DAERA Over Quagga Mussel Threat to Lough Erne (opens in a new tab)
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Middleton welcomes High Court judgment on RAISE Programme
DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton welcomes a High Court ruling dismissing challenges to the Education Department's funding allocation method for the RAISE Programme, saying the court confirmed the approach was lawful and rational. He says projects can now proceed without delay.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: High Court judgment on RAISE Programme funding challenges Original release: Middleton welcomes High Court judgment on RAISE Programme (opens in a new tab)
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Local community is in shock at latest road fatality – Murphy
Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy says the Fermanagh community is shocked by a further road death in the county on Thursday, offers condolences to the family of Francis Lynch, and urges drivers to take extra care. She also thanks first responders at the scene.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Fermanagh road fatality on Thursday Original release: Local community is in shock at latest road fatality – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison expresses disappointment to PAC appeal on Tullynagardy Wood Development
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison says he is disappointed that the developer of five proposed houses in Tullynagardy Wood, Newtownards, has appealed to the Planning Appeals Commission after the council's committee unanimously moved to reject the plan. He calls on the council to defend its position firmly…
Environment and climate Local government Issue: Tullynagardy Wood five-house development appeal to PAC Original release: Mathison expresses disappointment to PAC appeal on Tullynagardy Wood Development (opens in a new tab)
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The Irish language is thriving right across society – Reilly
Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly says the 227% rise in Irish language enrolments at Queen’s University Belfast shows the language is thriving across society and pledges Sinn Féin will keep supporting its promotion and preservation.
Disability and equality Education Issue: Queen’s University Belfast Irish language enrolment surge Original release: The Irish language is thriving right across society – Reilly (opens in a new tab)
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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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Dolan welcomes investment in public services and workers
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes Finance Minister John O'Dowd's monitoring round allocation of £162 million for capital projects and £104 million for public sector pay awards. She says it will improve roads, public transport, housing, healthcare and education, and urges parties to work together…
Public finance and taxation Economy and employment Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: Dolan welcomes investment in public services and workers (opens in a new tab)
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Time to move forward and build the A5 – Begley
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley says the A5 upgrade in the north west must stay a priority ahead of an appeal against a decision to proceed with the scheme. She calls on parties and campaigners to stay united and says she hopes work can soon begin to prevent further deaths.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: A5 road upgrade appeal against decision to proceed Original release: Time to move forward and build the A5 – Begley (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Quarter of a billion unspent capital underlines staggering Executive mismanagement
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the £250 million underspend revealed in the December monitoring round shows Executive financial mismanagement, criticises delays on the A5, Casement Park and Royal Victoria Children’s Hospital, welcomes PSNI and public‑sector pay allocations and
Public finance and taxation Infrastructure and transport Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: O'Toole: Quarter of a billion unspent capital underlines staggering Executive mismanagement (opens in a new tab)