Latest releases
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1,990 releases
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“We need common sense and compassion in the midst of the ongoing crisis within Education.” - Gemma Brolly
Aontú education spokeswoman Gemma Brolly criticises the Education Minister's warning to teachers that industrial action could breach contracts, and calls on the minister to value school staff and prioritise education funding amid school deficits and SEN pressures.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Education Minister warning teachers over industrial action and contract breach Original release: “We need common sense and compassion in the midst of the ongoing crisis within Education.” - Gemma Brolly (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed to invest in our public services including education – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says the education funding crisis, including a reported £200 million shortfall, stems from Tory cuts and the DUP blocking an Executive. He calls for ring-fenced special educational needs funding, a three-year budget and a restored Executive.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Reported £200 million shortfall in education funding Original release: Executive needed to invest in our public services including education – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons announces additional £2.8 million student hardship funding
Economy Minister Gordon Lyons announces an extra £2.8 million for 2022/23 to help higher education students facing financial hardship, citing cost of living pressures on student households. Institutions will assess needs and issue the payments.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Additional £2.8 million higher education student hardship funding 2022/23 Original release: Lyons announces additional £2.8 million student hardship funding (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for health Trusts to clarify how ending free lateral flow COVID tests from Monday will affect respite and day‑care provision, urging assurances that these services are restored to pre‑pandemic levels.
Health Disability and equality Issue: End of free lateral flow COVID tests Original release: Armstrong calls for clarification around the end of free lateral flow tests (opens in a new tab)
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Sheehan congratulates students on results
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan congratulates students receiving BTEC, AS and A Level results, acknowledging the difficult past couple of years. He encourages young people to discuss their options with parents, schools and careers advisers, and urges those celebrating to do so safely.
Education Issue: A-Level results announcement 2022 Original release: Sheehan congratulates students on results (opens in a new tab)
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Forsythe congratulates A & AS -Level recipients
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe congratulates students receiving AS and A-Level results, noting about 25,000 young people received grades that compare well with 2019. She urges them to consider further education colleges and apprenticeships as well as university.
Education Issue: A-Level results announcement 2022 Original release: Forsythe congratulates A & AS -Level recipients (opens in a new tab)
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Egan praises students as A-Level results announced
Alliance Education Spokesperson Connie Egan MLA praises students and teachers across Northern Ireland for their work as A-Level results are announced. She calls on colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers to recognise this year's cohort's circumstances and help pupils with next steps.
Education Issue: A-Level results announcement 2022 Original release: Egan praises students as A-Level results announced (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants
SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan calls for a review of how Maternity Allowance is treated under Universal Credit, where it is deducted from awards unlike Statutory Maternity Pay, and urges the Communities Minister to press Westminster on the policy.
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Original release: Durkan seeks fairer policy on Maternity Allowance for Universal Credit claimants (opens in a new tab)
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Teachers deserve fair pay- Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason urges the DUP to return to the Executive so teachers and school staff can receive fair pay amid the cost of living crisis. She criticises the education minister's suggestion that pay could be docked for industrial action.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Education minister's suggestion of pay deductions for teacher industrial action Original release: Teachers deserve fair pay- Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent action needed to cut school uniform costs – Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD
Sinn Féin's education spokesperson Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD calls for urgent action to reduce school uniform costs, saying families face spiralling back-to-school bills amid the cost of living crisis. He points to his party's legislation requiring affordable uniform policies and urges the…
Education Economy and employment Original release: Urgent action needed to cut school uniform costs – Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD (opens in a new tab)
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“Back-To-School Costs Pushing Families Against the Wall” - Mullen
Aontú deputy leader Cllr Denise Mullen says back-to-school costs are pushing families into debt, citing an average uniform price of £826 and a 38% debt figure, and calls on Stormont to end its political impasse. She describes the uniform grant increase as inadequate.
Education Economy and employment Original release: “Back-To-School Costs Pushing Families Against the Wall” - Mullen (opens in a new tab)
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Families cannot afford to wait months for action on school uniforms- Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes the education minister's plan to look at making school uniforms more affordable but calls for action now. He urges insisting on competitive tendering, removing branded-item requirements and allowing cheaper high street alternatives, and calls for an Executive to…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education Minister instructs officials on school uniform costs Original release: Families cannot afford to wait months for action on school uniforms- Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison: Minister must follow through with action on school uniform crisis
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison says Education Minister must follow through on rising school uniform costs after she instructed officials to look for a common approach, calling the move too little too late for families facing hardship. He says he will bring forward private member's legislation if she…
Education Issue: Education Minister instructs officials on school uniform costs Original release: Mathison: Minister must follow through with action on school uniform crisis (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister taking action on school uniform costs
The DUP says Education Minister Michelle McIlveen is acting to ease the cost of school uniforms and to require schools to make uniforms more affordable in future years.
Education Original release: Education Minister taking action on school uniform costs (opens in a new tab)
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Parents need Executive formed to help cut school uniform costs – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls for an Executive to be formed so a Sinn Féin plan can lower school uniform costs, urging legislation for competitive tendering, removal of branded requirements and use of cheaper high‑street alternatives, after welcoming the recent uniform grant increase.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Uniform grant increase Original release: Parents need Executive formed to help cut school uniform costs – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison: We must address school uniform hardship
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison calls for changes to school uniform pricing, saying community second-hand schemes are not sustainable. He says he will bring forward a Private Member's Bill at the first opportunity and blames the DUP's refusal to return to Executive work for greater hardship.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Mathison: We must address school uniform hardship (opens in a new tab)
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Doherty: Targeted intervention needed to help families deal with back to school costs
SDLP West Belfast representative Paul Doherty calls for a targeted intervention before September to help families with back to school costs, saying demand for uniforms at his Foodstock preloved uniform scheme has grown sharply. He urges Education Minister McIlveen to act on interim measures.
Education Social security and welfare Original release: Doherty: Targeted intervention needed to help families deal with back to school costs (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent intervention needed for adult ADHD provision – Kearney
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, calls on Health Minister Robin Swann to intervene urgently for adult ADHD services after a constituent was refused NHS medication following a private diagnosis and the Northern Trust reportedly refuses adult referrals.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Urgent intervention needed for adult ADHD provision – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane expresses dismay at attempts to stop children and young people playing Gaelic Games at Victoria Park in East Belfast. He calls for work on a playing surface there to continue, saying discrimination based on choice of sport has no place in society.
Disability and equality Issue: Victoria Park East Belfast Gaelic Games pitch works halted Original release: No place for discrimination against children because of choice of sport – Finucane (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: McIlveen should focus on resolving teachers pay dispute
SDLP Education Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan calls on Education Minister Michelle McIlveen to focus on securing a fair pay increase for teachers after she confirmed striking staff could face pay deductions. He says talks with unions on pay and working conditions should take priority.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Education minister's suggestion of pay deductions for teacher industrial action Original release: McCrossan: McIlveen should focus on resolving teachers pay dispute (opens in a new tab)