Latest releases
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4,066 releases
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Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals…
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says delayed patient discharges have passed 600, citing trust-level figures and a rise of 77 in six weeks. She calls for a senior figure to be given responsibility for the issue and says the Department's current approach has not worked.
Health Issue: Delayed hospital discharges exceed 600 across Northern Ireland trusts Original release: Delayed discharges “like having both Antrim and Mater Hospitals… (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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Stormont’s £5 million spin bill
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston says Executive departments have spent about £5 million on press officers since devolution returned, criticising delayed Assembly answers from the Health Department and calling the spending a diversion from frontline services.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Stormont Executive departments' press officer spending figures since devolution Original release: Stormont’s £5 million spin bill (opens in a new tab)
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Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s recent tour of Daisy Hill Hospital, praises staff and reduced waiting lists, and calls for additional long‑term funding, expanded resources and stronger North‑South health cooperation to sustain progress.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visit to Daisy Hill Hospital Original release: Minister’s visit highlights progress, now more action needed to back Daisy Hill – Hughes (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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Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew presses the Communities Minister to publish the analysis behind cutting funding for housing associations, after new research claimed the move would halve social home numbers, particularly in Belfast and Lisburn.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Communities Minister's social housing funding changes and housing associations review Original release: Communities Minister must explain why he cut funding to housing associations – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Gannon: New Western Trust chief must engage on SWAH
SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader Councillor Adam Gannon urges the incoming Western Trust chief executive, following Neil Guckian's retirement, to reset relations with local communities. He calls for visits, meetings with campaigners, and proper engagement with the Save Our…
Health Issue: Western Trust chief executive Neil Guckian retirement announcement Original release: Gannon: New Western Trust chief must engage on SWAH (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says repeated Executive failures directly contribute to the high number of homeless deaths, reacting to new statistics recording 58 such deaths in 2024. He calls for sustained investment in prevention, housing, mental health and addiction…
Housing Health Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure (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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Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly
Danny Donnelly MLA, Alliance health spokesperson and Health Committee deputy chair, says patient safety is at risk and urges the Health Minister to act urgently after TERN data showed Northern Ireland has the UK’s highest level of corridor care, calling for swift transformation proposals.
Health Issue: TERN data reveals highest corridor care in NI Original release: Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes describes Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at the Oireachtas committee on the Good Friday Agreement as constructive, welcoming his backing for all-island health collaboration and a forthcoming joint health strategy between north and south.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt's appearance at GFA Committee on healthcare Original release: Minister Nesbitt’s attendance at GFA Committee constructive and useful – Dáire Hughes MP (opens in a new tab)
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No way to start the winter period - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says a Written Question response shows 529 inpatients fit to leave were still in hospital on 1 October, and calls for a senior figure to be tasked with resolving delayed discharges before winter pressures worsen.
Health Issue: Written Question response on 529 delayed discharge inpatients in Northern Ireland hospitals Original release: No way to start the winter period - Dodds (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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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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Neurology services must be improved to support patients and restore public confidence – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to improve neurology services ahead of an Assembly motion, citing long waiting lists and delays in diagnosis and treatment. He calls for an implementation plan for the recommendations of a 2025 neurology services report.
Health Issue: 2025 neurology services report recommendations implementation plan Original release: Neurology services must be improved to support patients and restore public confidence – McGuigan (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)
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Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall
UUP Finance Spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA accuses the Executive of a chaotic budget monitoring round that leaves a £31m shortfall in the health budget, questioning earlier health pay commitments and the delay in reallocating A5 project funding.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: Executive’s “Ghost Of Christmas Present” Gift To Health workers A £31m Shortfall (opens in a new tab)