Latest releases
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2,141 releases
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McCrossan: A5 must be delivered as the cost of failure is too high
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says the A5 must be delivered ahead of a judgment due on 6 October, citing road safety deaths, economic harm and delays. He blames the Sinn Féin/DUP-led Executive for incompetence and dysfunction and calls for the Department to get the project right.
Infrastructure and transport Economy and employment Issue: A5 road judgment due 6 October 2026 Original release: McCrossan: A5 must be delivered as the cost of failure is too high (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Givan must reverse decision to restrict Education Committee scrutiny
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls on Education Minister Paul Givan to reverse his decision withdrawing departmental officials from the Education Committee, arguing it is a disproportionate overreach that hampers scrutiny of curriculum and education reform.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Hunter: Givan must reverse decision to restrict Education Committee scrutiny (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister playing games with children's education, says Mathison, following withdrawal of officials from Committee
Alliance Chair of the Education Committee Nick Mathison says the Education Minister's decision to withdraw departmental officials from committee is unprecedented and unacceptable, accusing him of avoiding scrutiny of SEN provision, school buildings and industrial relations.
Education Issue: Education Minister withdraws officials from Education Committee appearances Original release: Education Minister playing games with children's education, says Mathison, following withdrawal of officials from Committee (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 2 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Access to Public Transport Threatened if Attacks in Derry Don't Stop
People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin condemns a weekend attack on a Foyle Metro bus in Derry, which he says endangered children, passengers and the driver. He sends solidarity to those affected, says he has spoken to trade unions and backs the driver and workforce, and warns that attacks…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Foyle Metro bus attack in Derry Original release: Access to Public Transport Threatened if Attacks in Derry Don't Stop (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Stormont Stalemate Robbing Thousands of a Second Chance at Education
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll condemns the planned cut of almost 8,000 further‑education places, saying the Executive’s budget stalemate will hit working‑class, women returning to work and newcomers, and calls for emergency funding to restore the places.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Planned cuts of 8,000 further‑education places Original release: Carroll: Stormont Stalemate Robbing Thousands of a Second Chance at Education (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for…
DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces a new Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme for Primary 6 and 7 pupils, with up to £600,000 for schools in 2026/27 and expressions of interest open until 1 October.
Education Issue: Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme launch Original release: Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA calls for clear answers from Education Minister Paul Givan on a proposed £30,000 allocation for a football pitch at Richhill AFC, questioning changed departmental advice after the minister's visit and asking the Education Committee to investigate.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £30,000 funding allocation for Richhill AFC football pitch Original release: Clear answers must be provided on proposed Richill AFC funding allocation – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Teachers Right to Take stand. Minister Must Deliver Not Delay
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll backs teachers and school leaders in industrial action, urging Education Minister Paul Givan to deliver a funded plan cutting workload instead of seeking more time on the workload review's 27 proposals.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Teacher workload industrial action and Independent Teacher Workload Review implementation Original release: Carroll: Teachers Right to Take stand. Minister Must Deliver Not Delay (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Belfast Met cuts expose cost of Executive Budget failure
SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole says cuts of over 2,500 places at Belfast Met reflect the impact of the Executive's failure to agree a Budget, noting the college is on a contingency allocation with a shortfall of about £6.8m. He calls on the four Executive parties to resolve the Budget impasse.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Belfast Met student places cuts linked to Executive Budget Original release: O'Toole: Belfast Met cuts expose cost of Executive Budget failure (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: Broadband investment welcome but delivery is what matters
SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone Councillor Adam Gannon welcomes confirmation that 1,892 local premises are included in Project Gigabit, the highest of any constituency, and calls for prompt delivery. He urges the Economy Minister to begin planning now for what follows the project and identify…
Infrastructure and transport Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Project Gigabit premises figures for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Original release: Gannon: Broadband investment welcome but delivery is what matters (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Defend Public Transport - No Service Cuts, No Fare Hikes
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says public transport must be protected and expanded, not cut, ahead of a Derry and Strabane Council debate on his motion opposing Translink service cuts and fare rises. The motion would have the council write to Translink and the DfI Minister and invite…
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Translink consultation on service cuts and discount fare removal Original release: Harkin: Defend Public Transport - No Service Cuts, No Fare Hikes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must bring forward a plan to reduce teacher workload – Sheehan
Sinn Féin education spokesperson Pat Sheehan calls on Education Minister Paul Givan to present a credible plan that reduces teacher workload, saying teachers have warned for years and should not need industrial action to be heard.
Education Issue: Teaching unions announce industrial action short of strike Original release: Education Minister must bring forward a plan to reduce teacher workload – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Burrows urges Givan to act before workload dispute escalates to strikes
UUP leader and Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA urges Education Minister Paul Givan to return to talks and agree a time-bound plan to implement the Independent Review of Workload in full, ahead of teachers' action short of strike from 28 September.
Education Issue: Teaching unions announce industrial action short of strike Original release: Burrows urges Givan to act before workload dispute escalates to strikes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Stop Belfast City Airport Expansion
Green Party Northern Ireland calls on Belfast City Airport and decision‑makers to reject the plan to raise the yearly flight limit from 48,000 to about 61,000 and to stop extending operating hours to 10.30 pm, urging protection of noise safeguards for local residents.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast City Airport proposed increase in flight movements Original release: Stop Belfast City Airport Expansion (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 10 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Nearly £1 million spent on mothballed Careers Portal
UUP Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA says the Department for the Economy has spent about £889,000 on the paused Careers Portal Project, with nothing delivered, and demands the Minister state whether it will continue or close and show what benefits the spending has produced.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: Careers Portal Project spending revealed in Assembly question response Original release: Armstrong: Nearly £1 million spent on mothballed Careers Portal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Queen’s report highlights again the damaging impact of academic selection – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says a new Queen's University Belfast report shows academic selection harms children and the education system, and blames successive DUP Education Ministers for ignoring the evidence. He calls for a fairer post-primary transfer system.
Education Issue: Queen's University Belfast report on academic selection and post-primary transfer Original release: Queen’s report highlights again the damaging impact of academic selection – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford
UUP leader Jon Burrows says the party has chosen Councillor Richard Smart, a Newtownards councillor and former Ards and North Down mayor, to contest Strangford at next May's Assembly election. Mike Nesbitt, the outgoing Strangford MLA, offers his backing.
Other Local government Issue: Ulster Unionist selection of Richard Smart for Strangford Assembly candidacy Original release: Cllr Richard Smart selected as Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again
UUP Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken MLA warns that repeated delays to EU-UK reset talks, with the timetable slipping from July to October and now late November, leave agribusiness and manufacturing firms without needed certainty.
Education Economy and employment Issue: EU-UK reset talks timetable delayed again to late November Original release: Aiken warns of long and frustrating winter as EU-UK reset delayed again (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA calls for the education debate to shift from the transfer test to tackling brain drain and creating properly funded vocational pathways into apprenticeships, while defending parents' right to choose a child's school.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Brain drain and vocational pathways matter more than the transfer test row, says Burrows (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA calls on the Infrastructure Minister to pause commercial sand dredging on Lough Neagh until a review of permissions and environmental assessments is completed, citing evidence that dredging releases nutrients linked to algal blooms. He also urges…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Lough Neagh sand dredging nutrient release and NIEA licence review letter Original release: Infrastructure Minister must act on sand-dredging at Lough Neagh, says Blair (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)