Latest releases
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2,489 releases
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Minister announces festive funding boost for homeless service…
The DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £150,000 goodwill grant, distributed via Homeless Connect, to fund Christmas meals, social events and small gifts for people experiencing homelessness during Homelessness Awareness Week.
Housing Social security and welfare Issue: Communities Minister £150,000 festive goodwill grant for homelessness services Original release: Minister announces festive funding boost for homeless service… (opens in a new tab)
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Ferguson welcomes funding to tackle homelessness
Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson welcomes a £6.7 million communities ministry funding package for homelessness, and says the party will bring forward a Private Members' Bill to lengthen the homeless prevention window from 28 days to at least 56.
Housing Issue: £6.7 million homelessness funding allocation by communities minister Original release: Ferguson welcomes funding to tackle homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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Minister announces additional funding for homelessness
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces an extra £3.7 million for homelessness and £3 million for NIHE service delivery, backs an Assembly motion on the issue, pledges to publish a Housing Supply Strategy and thanks sector partners for their work.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: DUP announces extra homelessness funding Original release: Minister announces additional funding for homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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Tipping point in how we manage water, say McReynolds, following sewage investigation
Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds says Northern Ireland is at a tipping point in water management after an investigation found high sewage levels in Belfast Lough. He calls on Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to commission the expert-led review of NI Water's funding and governance that the Audit…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Investigation finds high sewage levels in Belfast Lough Original release: Tipping point in how we manage water, say McReynolds, following sewage investigation (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive has failed to deal with housing emergency
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says the Executive has pushed thousands of individuals and families into homelessness through cuts to prevention services. He says he has sought assurances from the Communities Minister that no family will be moved out of temporary accommodation over Christmas.
Housing Issue: Homelessness Awareness Week 2024 Assembly motion on homelessness Original release: Durkan: Executive has failed to deal with housing emergency (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP: Executive dysfunction means freshwater failure
SDLP Opposition calls for Executive Ministers to work together on the crisis at Northern Ireland Water after an investigation found raw sewage in Belfast Lough pushed bacteria beyond legal limits. Mark H Durkan says NI Water's funding model and the status quo need fundamental change, while Patsy…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: Investigation finds high sewage levels in Belfast Lough Original release: SDLP: Executive dysfunction means freshwater failure (opens in a new tab)
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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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Kimmins welcomes passing of motion calling for improved regulation for non-surgical cosmetic treatments
SDLP MLA Liz Kimmins welcomes Assembly passage of Sinn Féin's motion urging better regulation of aesthetic procedures like injectables and fillers. She wants the health minister to ensure safe storage and administration by qualified practitioners and to bring forward proposals.
Health Issue: Assembly motion on regulating non-surgical cosmetic treatments passed Original release: Kimmins welcomes passing of motion calling for improved regulation for non-surgical cosmetic treatments (opens in a new tab)
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Plan needed to address waiting times for PEG surgery - Dodds
DUP Health Spokesperson Diane Dodds says she welcomed Parents4Pegs to Stormont and calls for a plan to cut waiting times for PEG insertion surgery at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, where a backlog of 55 children is reported. She also wants parents better informed about ongoing discussions…
Health Issue: Parents4Pegs visit to Stormont over PEG surgery waiting times Original release: Plan needed to address waiting times for PEG surgery - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance South Down representatives to present petition to Economy Minister opposing Gondola development.
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray says he and Mournes councillor Jill Truesdale will hand a petition to the Economy Minister opposing the Gondola and visitor centre at Thomas's Quarry, urging him to press Newry Mourne and Down Council to rethink.
Infrastructure and transport Local government Issue: Mourne Gateway Gondola petition presented to Economy Minister Original release: Alliance South Down representatives to present petition to Economy Minister opposing Gondola development. (opens in a new tab)
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Vote a disappointing step towards monumental change: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the Commons Second Reading vote on the assisted dying bill is disappointing, though she welcomes that most Northern Ireland MPs voted against it. She says the Bill's flaws will be highlighted at Committee Stage and before the final vote.
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: Vote a disappointing step towards monumental change: Lockhart (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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We should protect life: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the NHS must focus on protecting life and the vulnerable ahead of Friday's Commons debate on assisted dying. She argues palliative care must be properly addressed, claims assisted suicide schemes widen over time, and says the bill's safeguards lack detail on preventing…
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: We should protect life: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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‘Positive news’ medical students now able to access tuition fee loans for Magee – Delargy
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes an announcement by Economy Minister Conor Murphy that graduate entry medical students at Magee can access tuition fee loans from September 2025. He says the change removes a barrier to study and supports staffing in health services.
Education Health Issue: Tuition fee loans for graduate entry medical students at Magee Original release: ‘Positive news’ medical students now able to access tuition fee loans for Magee – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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Assisted dying bill "an act of humanity for those facing the end of life" - Lesley Veronica
Green Party deputy leader Lesley Veronica backs the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill ahead of the Commons vote, rejecting claims it would undermine palliative care and citing other countries' figures on who requests assisted dying.
Health Issue: Commons debate and vote on assisted dying bill Original release: Assisted dying bill "an act of humanity for those facing the end of life" - Lesley Veronica (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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Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote.
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair calls the AERA Committee's rejection of tougher penalties for repeat waterway polluters "shameful", blaming Sinn Féin, DUP, UUP and SDLP for blocking the restrictions and demanding they account for their reversal on environmental protection.
Environment and climate Issue: AERA Committee vote on tougher waterway pollution penalties Original release: Other parties' decision to protect polluters shameful, says Blair, following AERA Committee vote. (opens in a new tab)
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Record health waiting lists product of political dysfunction, says McAllister
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says record diagnostic waiting list figures, showing 506,612 people awaiting specialist diagnosis as of September, reflect political dysfunction at Stormont. She calls on all parties to back health reform.
Health Issue: Quarterly diagnostic waiting list statistics published November 2024 Original release: Record health waiting lists product of political dysfunction, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Relevant decision makers must be held accountable for hospital fiasco…
Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds, the DUP's health spokesperson, welcomes the Belfast Trust and Department of Health being called to brief the Health Committee on the new Royal Victoria maternity hospital. She calls for accountability over delays, rising costs and bacteria in water pipework.
Health Infrastructure and transport Issue: Belfast Trust and Department of Health appearance before Health Committee on maternity hospital Original release: Relevant decision makers must be held accountable for hospital fiasco… (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn welcomes plan to improve addiction services
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes the health minister's newly launched plan to strengthen substance misuse support for vulnerable people and their families. She says drug and alcohol deaths continue, often in working-class areas, and calls for a Belfast-based residential rehab service.
Health Issue: Health minister's substance use plan launch Original release: Flynn welcomes plan to improve addiction services (opens in a new tab)