Latest releases
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43 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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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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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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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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McLaughlin to press Economy Minister on Ulster University job losses
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA says she will challenge the Economy Minister in the Assembly over up to 450 potential job losses at Ulster University. She says the Minister's Financial Needs Assessment shows no imminent crisis there, and asks what action is being taken.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: McLaughlin to press Economy Minister on Ulster University job losses (opens in a new tab)
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The Department for the Economy has failed Ulster University’s staff
Green Party NI Leader Mal O’Hara says the Department for the Economy has let down Ulster University staff as up to 450 jobs are at risk, and calls for an urgent higher‑education funding settlement, a clear plan from Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and a transparent consultation with unions to避免 (
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: The Department for the Economy has failed Ulster University’s staff (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 April 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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“450 jobs losses another example of Sinn Fein chaos” Brett
DUP economy spokesman Phillip Brett MLA says Ulster University's announcement of up to 450 job losses shows failure by Sinn Féin ministers at the Department for the Economy, and calls for urgent intervention on university funding.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: “450 jobs losses another example of Sinn Fein chaos” Brett (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong responds to news that 450 potential job cuts at Ulster University
UUP Deputy Leader and Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA urges all parties to avoid compulsory redundancies after Ulster University consulted on up to 450 potential job cuts. She calls for a wider debate on higher education funding and says the Economy Minister must engage with university…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: Armstrong responds to news that 450 potential job cuts at Ulster University (opens in a new tab)
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Potential job losses at Ulster University deeply concerning and staff must be supported, says Nicholl
Alliance Economy spokesperson Kate Nicholl MLA says she is concerned but not surprised by Ulster University's plans to cut jobs amid financial pressures. She calls on the Economy Minister to reflect on her Department's slow higher education funding review and to work with the University to avoid…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Ulster University job cuts announcement Original release: Potential job losses at Ulster University deeply concerning and staff must be supported, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin: Magee expansion at critical stage due to funding gap
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin says the Magee campus expansion has reached a critical stage after a Permanent Secretary briefing on funding risks. She opposes raising student fees and calls on the Executive to secure the funding needed for expansion to 10,000 students.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Magee expansion funding gap raised at Economy Committee briefing Original release: McLaughlin: Magee expansion at critical stage due to funding gap (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong Slams Sinn Féin of ‘Fantasy Politics’ Over Tuition Fee Abolition Claims
UUP economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA accuses Sinn Féin of fantasy politics over claims to abolish tuition fees, saying the Economy Minister's claim to have alone kept fees low is untrue and calling for an explanation of how Magee expansion would be funded and a debate on lifting the MaSN…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Economy Minister's social media video on abolishing tuition fees Original release: Armstrong Slams Sinn Féin of ‘Fantasy Politics’ Over Tuition Fee Abolition Claims (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes additional funding for St Mary’s and Stranmillis University Colleges
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: Delargy welcomes additional funding for St Mary’s and Stranmillis University Colleges (opens in a new tab)
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Maskey welcomes additional annual investment in St Mary’s University College
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's decision to give St Mary's University College an extra £400,000 a year, an increase of a third on its current funding. He says the money will support the college's community role and recognises the value of higher education…
Education Economy and employment Issue: St Mary's University College additional annual funding increase Original release: Maskey welcomes additional annual investment in St Mary’s University College (opens in a new tab)
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Delargy welcomes ‘transformative’ Teaching and Student Centre project at Magee
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy welcomes Ulster University's search for a contractor to build a Teaching and Student Centre at its Magee Campus in Derry, funded by £29m from the Shared Island Fund. He says it will expand north west higher education and strengthen links with Atlantic Technical…
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Ulster University Magee Teaching and Student Centre contractor tender Original release: Delargy welcomes ‘transformative’ Teaching and Student Centre project at Magee (opens in a new tab)
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Last-minute funding request doesn’t provde long-term solution for…
DUP Economy spokesperson Phillip Brett, North Belfast MLA, says the Economy Minister's last-minute request for extra university funding is stopgap money that offers no long-term solution. He calls for proper dialogue with Ministers and universities and a strategic approach to higher education…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Economy Minister's request for additional university funding Original release: Last-minute funding request doesn’t provde long-term solution for… (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Archibald to seek additional funding for universities from Executive
Sinn Féin's Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald says she has asked Executive colleagues to prioritise Higher Education in the June Monitoring Round, and will not support student fee rises beyond the usual level of inflation.
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Economy Minister's request for additional university funding Original release: Minister Archibald to seek additional funding for universities from Executive (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Sinn Féin must live up to their commitments to young people
SDLP youth spokesperson and East Derry MLA Cara Hunter urges Sinn Féin to firmly rule out raising university tuition fees after Northern Ireland universities jointly called for an increase. She argues students already face debt and housing pressures and calls on Sinn Féin, which controls the…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Northern Ireland universities joint call for tuition fee increase Original release: Hunter: Sinn Féin must live up to their commitments to young people (opens in a new tab)
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Brett welcomes confirmation of Shore Road Skills Centre funding
North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett welcomes confirmation of £2.2 million for the Shore Road Skills Centre at Crusaders FC's Seaview Stadium, the last outstanding City and Growth Deals project, which he says was in jeopardy after being paused last September.
Education Infrastructure and transport Issue: Shore Road Skills Centre City and Growth Deals funding confirmation Original release: Brett welcomes confirmation of Shore Road Skills Centre funding (opens in a new tab)