Latest releases
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1,378 releases
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‘Step-change’ needed to tackle homelessness – Ferguson
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson, chair of the All-Party Group on Homelessness, has brought a cross-party Assembly motion to mark Homeless Awareness Week, calling for a major expansion of social and affordable housing via the Housing Executive and more British government funding for the Executive.
Housing Issue: Assembly motion marking Homeless Awareness Week 2024 Original release: ‘Step-change’ needed to tackle homelessness – Ferguson (opens in a new tab)
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Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer…
North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett calls for an urgent review of Ulster Boxing Council policies and procedures after the body agreed a settlement with boxer Daryl Clarke, who was excluded from the 2022 Commonwealth Games team. He also says he has contacted funders and wants Commonwealth Games NI to…
Disability and equality Community relations and legacy Issue: Daryl Clarke settlement with Ulster Boxing Council over 2022 Commonwealth Games selection Original release: Brett - Answers needed from Ulster Boxing Council on Protestant Boxer… (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says over £437,000 has been spent on Irish language interpretation in the Assembly, calling it a waste, and criticises the simultaneous translation system made permanent after a six-month review. His release also cites Assembly Commission answers on the Interpretation and…
Disability and equality Public finance and taxation Issue: Assembly Commission review of Irish language interpretation service Original release: Gaston exposes Assembly squander on Irish translation (opens in a new tab)
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Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with…
Education Minister Paul Givan announces a £1.2million pilot Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund for young children with special educational needs. Settings with a child undergoing statutory assessment will receive £750 per month per class, with payments in tranches.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Pre-School Education Inclusion Support Fund pilot announcement Original release: Givan announces £1.2m Pre-School Support Fund for children with… (opens in a new tab)
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Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes planning approval from Derry City and Strabane Council for 674 homes in the Waterside, a development she says is worth over £100 million. She also urges London to provide fairer funding to the Executive so more social and affordable housing can be built.
Housing Local government Issue: Derry City and Strabane Council approval of 674 Waterside homes Original release: Ferguson welcomes 674 new homes for Derry (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit.
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes plans to extend free sight tests, dental treatment and hospital travel help to Universal Credit claimants in Northern Ireland, saying realignment with the UK should happen within six months, followed by a six-week consultation.
Health Social security and welfare Issue: Universal Credit eyecare and health cost entitlement realignment with UK Original release: Armstrong welcomes increased health support for people in receipt of Universal Credit. (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls
SDLP Opposition MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the Executive must do more to support frontline services, after Women's Aid's annual report showed almost 11,000 referrals in 2023/24, up 600 on the previous year. She calls for greater investment across all departments.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Women's Aid annual report 2023/24 referrals increase Original release: McLaughlin urges Executive to do more to support women and girls (opens in a new tab)
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‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart
DUP MLA Carla Lockhart argues that the 'dignity' language used by assisted suicide campaigners, such as Dignity in Dying, is a misleading framing. She says legalising assisted suicide would lower the perceived worth of disabled, poor and homeless people, citing a Canadian poll on MAID eligibility.
Disability and equality Health Original release: ‘No Dignity in Lying’: Carla Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives
Education Disability and equality Original release: Disappointment at lack of details on SEN End to End Review, says Alliance representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Infrastructure Minister burying his head in the sand over NI Water funding, says McMurray.
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andy McMurray says the Infrastructure Minister is ignoring the crisis in NI Water’s funding, dismisses the minister’s claim the model works and urges adoption of Alliance’s mutualised funding blueprint to sustain water and wastewater investment.
Infrastructure and transport Public finance and taxation Issue: John O'Dowd comments on NI Water funding model Original release: Infrastructure Minister burying his head in the sand over NI Water funding, says McMurray. (opens in a new tab)
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Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion.
Alliance Comber Councillor Rachel Ashe welcomes Ards and North Down Borough Council's agreement to install communication boards in Tier 1 play parks, after the feasibility report on her motion was approved. Ashe says the boards will help children with speech, language or autism-related…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Ards and North Down communication boards in Tier 1 play parks Original release: Our parks must be accessible and inclusive for all, says Ashe, welcoming agreement on communication board motion. (opens in a new tab)
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Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the Department of Education to improve special educational needs support in Irish medium schools, saying they need access to educational psychologists who work in Irish and other health professionals. She welcomes the department's acknowledgement of the issues.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Children and young people with special educational needs in Irish medium schools must be supported – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker urges the Department of Education to publish its transformation plan for special educational needs services, noting over 200 recommendations from reports so far without a delivery plan. He calls on the Education Minister to release the SEN Reform Agenda and its delivery…
Education Disability and equality Original release: Special educational needs action plan must be published urgently – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says antisemitic graffiti has remained on a Royal Victoria Hospital wall in west Belfast for months after a complaint to the Belfast Trust, and calls on the Trust to explain why it has not been removed.
Disability and equality Health Issue: Antisemitic graffiti at Royal Victoria Hospital wall remains unremoved Original release: Antisemitic graffiti remains on hospital wall for 6 months (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling violence against women requires joined-up approach - Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomes a Government commitment to work with devolved institutions, including the Assembly, on tackling violence against women and girls. She cites 22,403 recorded offences in Northern Ireland and says the Minister has spoken to the PSNI Chief Constable and intends to visit…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Government commitment on violence against women and girls in Commons questions Original release: Tackling violence against women requires joined-up approach - Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Ferguson welcomes £64m funding to expand wastewater infrastructure and build more homes
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes a £64 million allocation from Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald for wastewater infrastructure and housing, saying it could deliver up to 1,400 social homes this year. She urges Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to release a refreshed housing supply strategy…
Housing Infrastructure and transport Issue: £64m Executive funding for wastewater infrastructure and housing Original release: Ferguson welcomes £64m funding to expand wastewater infrastructure and build more homes (opens in a new tab)
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Post Office branch closures will hit most vulnerable hardest, Alliance representatives have warned.
Alliance MLAs Sian Mulholland and Kellie Armstrong warn that closing local Crown Post Office branches will hit the most vulnerable hardest, after a list of branches at risk of closure or restructuring included Antrim, Belfast, Derry~Londonderry and Newtownards. Armstrong urges the Post Office to…
Infrastructure and transport Disability and equality Issue: Crown Post Office branches at risk of closure or restructuring list Original release: Post Office branch closures will hit most vulnerable hardest, Alliance representatives have warned. (opens in a new tab)
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Legislation needed to tackle unadopted roads: Erskine
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says she will bring forward a Private Members' Bill to tackle unadopted housing developments, arguing homeowners are left liable for repairs while current Department powers are rarely used and not strong enough.
Infrastructure and transport Housing Original release: Legislation needed to tackle unadopted roads: Erskine (opens in a new tab)
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People Before Profit Manifesto for Radical Change
People Before Profit launches its 2024 General Election manifesto, calling for a radical redistribution of wealth, a wealth tax on millionaires and billionaires, higher corporation tax, a ban on zero-hour contracts and rent caps at 20% of tenants' incomes.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Original release: People Before Profit Manifesto for Radical Change (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling and ending racist attacks will require urgent, concrete action, says Bradshaw
Alliance Executive Office Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA welcomes the Assembly's united opposition to racism and calls for a rapid review of the July and August racist attacks, with proposals from the First and deputy First Minister. She says the Racial Equality Strategy and Refugee Integration…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Assembly motion on July and August racist attacks review Original release: Tackling and ending racist attacks will require urgent, concrete action, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)