Latest releases
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147 releases
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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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Eastwood: Rebalancing student numbers will stop North West being ‘left out’
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood calls for the Executive to force universities to rebalance student numbers from Belfast to Derry, citing Belfast's near 60,000 students against Derry's 6,500, and urges delivery of the Magee expansion promised to the city.
Education Issue: Secretary of State Chris Bryant's Derry visit on North West university provision Original release: Eastwood: Rebalancing student numbers will stop North West being ‘left out’ (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Executive must force universities to rebalance student numbers
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood calls on the Executive to step in and redistribute university places, citing Derry's roughly 6,500 students against nearly 60,000 in Belfast. He points to the review of a Derry medical school and the scrapping of a sports dome as evidence of commitments being rolled…
Education Issue: Ulster University review of Derry medical school plans Original release: Eastwood: Executive must force universities to rebalance student numbers (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Department admits Higher Education crisis threatens Magee and City Deal delivery
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says Department for the Economy correspondence to the Economy Committee admits the Higher Education funding crisis threatens City Deal projects, including the School of Medicine at Magee. She calls on ministers to provide the funding needed to keep these projects…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Department for the Economy correspondence on Higher Education funding and City Deal delivery Original release: McLaughlin: Department admits Higher Education crisis threatens Magee and City Deal delivery (opens in a new tab)
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Binning Derry Air Dome Sports Facility is Premature and Reckless
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls the scrapping of the Ulster University Air Dome sports facility in Derry premature and reckless. He urges Economy Minister intervention and Executive support to deliver Magee expansion projects, and calls for accountability from the university and…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University Magee air dome project scrapped over funding pressures Original release: Binning Derry Air Dome Sports Facility is Premature and Reckless (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Scrapping of sports arena raises further questions around Magee expansion
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA says scrapping the air dome project at Ulster University's Magee campus, which the university attributed to funding pressures, raises further doubts about the wider expansion of Magee. She calls on the Economy Minister and Executive to…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University Magee air dome project scrapped over funding pressures Original release: McLaughlin: Scrapping of sports arena raises further questions around Magee expansion (opens in a new tab)
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Harkin: Stand with Workers to Defend UU Jobs and Magee Expansion
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the Economy Minister and Stormont Executive to intervene over proposed Ulster University redundancies and Magee expansion, backing trade union demands to pause redundancies and rule out compulsory job losses. He also urges a new higher education…
Economy and employment Education Issue: Ulster University proposed redundancies and Magee expansion Original release: Harkin: Stand with Workers to Defend UU Jobs and Magee Expansion (opens in a new tab)
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Slashing Apprenticeship Funding is a Political Choice. Reverse the Cuts.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin calls on the Economy Minister to reverse cuts to apprenticeship funding, arguing they will hit care workers, construction workers and international care staff and worsen health and social care recruitment and retention.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Stormont Executive apprenticeship funding cuts Original release: Slashing Apprenticeship Funding is a Political Choice. Reverse the Cuts. (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Economy Minister cannot wash hands of cuts to apprenticeships
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan accuses Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald of trying to blame civil servants for ApprenticeshipsNI funding cuts, which take effect for existing apprentices from 27 July. He says the Minister remains responsible for her department's decisions.
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: ApprenticeshipsNI funding withdrawal for existing apprentices from 27 July Original release: Durkan: Economy Minister cannot wash hands of cuts to apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)
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Eastwood: Executive cannot abandon commitment to Magee
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood says the Executive must honour its commitment to expanding Ulster University's Magee campus in Derry, after reports the planned growth in student numbers is in jeopardy. He criticises Ministers for inaction and calls for expansion to 10,000 students.
Education Issue: Magee campus expansion to 10,000 students in jeopardy Original release: Eastwood: Executive cannot abandon commitment to Magee (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes new ATU measures to support students applying through CAO system
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Atlantic Technological University’s new measures that will better support northern students applying through the CAO system, praises ATU’s leadership and urges the Irish government to remove barriers to all‑Ireland mobility.
Education Issue: ATU introduces new CAO support measures for northern students Original release: Delargy welcomes new ATU measures to support students applying through CAO system (opens in a new tab)
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Donna McGettigan TD welcomes changes to ATU’s admissions process to improve access for students from the North
Sinn Féin further and higher education spokesperson Donna McGettigan TD welcomes Atlantic Technological University’s new admissions scoring system that recognises mixed A‑level and alternative qualifications, saying it improves access for students from the North. She also welcomes the Dundalk IT‑QUB
Education Issue: Atlantic Technological University admissions policy changes Original release: Donna McGettigan TD welcomes changes to ATU’s admissions process to improve access for students from the North (opens in a new tab)
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Cuts to skills programmes undermines economic potential and could have devastating effects, says Nicholl
Alliance economy spokesperson and All-Party Group on Skills chair Kate Nicholl MLA says she is disappointed and concerned for the economy after the Department for the Economy announced major cuts to skills development programmes.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Department for the Economy skills development programme cuts Original release: Cuts to skills programmes undermines economic potential and could have devastating effects, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Finucane welcomes continuation of Gaza Student Scheme
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomes the announcement that the Gaza Student Scheme will continue for the 2026/27 academic year, offering students a route to continue their studies. He says his office will support students applying to the scheme.
Education International affairs Issue: Gaza Student Scheme continuation for 2026/27 academic year Original release: Finucane welcomes continuation of Gaza Student Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin raises concerns over uncertainty surrounding Magee expansion target
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA expresses concern that a senior Department for the Economy official suggested the 2032 target of 10,000 students at Magee is unlikely to be met. She calls on the Economy Minister to act urgently on higher education funding.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Magee University expansion 2032 target review Original release: McLaughlin raises concerns over uncertainty surrounding Magee expansion target (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes steps to help students with cost of living
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes the Economy Minister's 2.7% inflationary uplift to maximum Higher Education maintenance grants and loans, following last year's 20% rise. He says the Good Jobs Bill's tips and zero-hours measures will also help student workers.
Economy and employment Education Issue: Higher Education maintenance grants and loans 2.7% inflationary uplift Original release: Delargy welcomes steps to help students with cost of living (opens in a new tab)
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TUV ongoing concern over Coleraine campus
TUV leader Jim Allister says he shares concerns about the long-term commitment to Ulster University's Coleraine campus and will watch whether it loses out as redundancies are sought. TUV's Timothy Gaston calls on Executive parties to explain what support Coleraine is getting, arguing it has been…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: TUV ongoing concern over Coleraine campus (opens in a new tab)
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Coleraine central to Three Campus UU - DUP
DUP representatives warn that Coleraine campus must remain central to Ulster University's three-campus model amid proposed redundancies, following a meeting with the Vice Chancellor. East Londonderry MLA Alan Robinson calls for clarity for staff and students and says Coleraine must not be left…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: Coleraine central to Three Campus UU - DUP (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll to Host Workers and Unions at Stormont as Ulster University Job Cuts Fight Comes to Parliament Buildings
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll is hosting a panel at Parliament Buildings with workers and trade unions opposing Ulster University's decision to cut 450 jobs. He criticises the Teams-call notification and university spending on the Belfast campus and events.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: Carroll to Host Workers and Unions at Stormont as Ulster University Job Cuts Fight Comes to Parliament Buildings (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin challenges Minister over UU job losses and impact on Magee
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA challenges the Economy Minister over up to 450 potential job losses at Ulster University, including 108 at Magee, which she says contradicts the Department's own financial assessment and plans for expansion in the North West.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: McLaughlin challenges Minister over UU job losses and impact on Magee (opens in a new tab)