Latest releases
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108 releases
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Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients
Health Minister Robbie Butler welcomes the conclusion of GP contract negotiations with the NI General Practitioners Committee, including £17.384million for 2026/27 and an extra £40m over two years to improve patient access. He says NIGPC has committed to easier access and to the Neighbourhood…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces £1.95 million for endometriosis care, with £700,000 for the regional centres in the Belfast and Western Trusts and £1.25 million across all five trusts to support a new regional pathway.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler announces major expansion of bowel cancer screening programme
UUP Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a phased widening of bowel cancer screening invitations, starting with those aged 59 from 2 November 2026, 58-year-olds from April 2027, and full eligibility for ages 50 to 74 by 2031.
Health Issue: Bowel cancer screening expansion to younger age groups from November Original release: Butler announces major expansion of bowel cancer screening programme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme
UUP reports Health Minister Robbie Butler has announced £500,000 to extend the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme for another year, funding voluntary groups to offer free support to people on HSCNI waiting lists. Applications open 25 September 2026 and close 6 November 2026.
Health Issue: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme extension announcement Original release: Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for…
DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces a new Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme for Primary 6 and 7 pupils, with up to £600,000 for schools in 2026/27 and expressions of interest open until 1 October.
Education Issue: Primary Literacy and Numeracy / Transitions Support Programme launch Original release: Givan launches programme to boost support for pupils preparing for… (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 1 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Paul Lawless Launches Mayo Bones Bus to Help Orthopaedic Patients Access Treatment
Aontú TD Paul Lawless announces the Mayo Bones Bus, an initiative to help people with hip, knee and other bone or joint conditions obtain information on cross-border treatment options amid long orthopaedic waiting lists. It follows his Mayo Cataract Bus, with an information session planned in…
Health Original release: Paul Lawless Launches Mayo Bones Bus to Help Orthopaedic Patients Access Treatment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a £1.25million second-year Cancer Charities Grant Scheme with Macmillan Cancer Support, funding community wellbeing, rehabilitation, transport and practical support for people affected by cancer.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support (opens in a new tab)
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Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan has confirmed that only benefits named in the outgoing regulations will count for priority in next year's pre-school admissions, ending the reading-in of replacement benefits. He announced this alongside a public consultation on the Socially Disadvantaged…
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Education Minister immediate changes to pre-school Socially Disadvantaged Circumstances criterion Original release: Givan levels playing field in pre-school admissions for hard working… (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches enhanced support programme for newly qualified teachers
Education Minister Paul Givan launches an online induction platform and expanded programme offering learning modules, webinars and face-to-face courses for newly qualified teachers in Northern Ireland's schools, covering literacy, numeracy, SEN, behaviour and classroom practice.
Education Issue: Northern Ireland Teacher Induction Online Platform launch Original release: Givan launches enhanced support programme for newly qualified teachers (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister highlights gynaecology care closer to home
Health Minister Robbie Butler highlights primary care gynaecology services, including HRT, heavy menstrual bleeding, LARC and pessary replacement, that avoid hospital referral, after visiting Lisnaskea Primary Care Centre. He says the model is reform in practice and cites around 650 patients…
Health Original release: Health Minister highlights gynaecology care closer to home (opens in a new tab)
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Expert committee announced to provide advice on major HSC service changes
The UUP says the Health Minister, Robbie Butler, has published the Hospitals consultation outcomes and will set up an independent reconfiguration committee to advise on major or controversial service changes, with its advice published. The party reports that hospital categorisation proposals will…
Health Issue: Proposed Independent Reconfiguration Committee for hospital reform Original release: Expert committee announced to provide advice on major HSC service changes (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister announces three post-primary school projects to…
The DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan announces that three post-primary school works projects, paused due to budget constraints, will move forward to planning and design. The schools are Belfast High School, Ballyclare High School and St Brigid's College, Londonderry, with capital investment…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Three post-primary school capital projects advance to planning and design Original release: Education Minister announces three post-primary school projects to… (opens in a new tab)
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Givan: A new way forward for integrated education
DUP's Education Minister Paul Givan has published a Position Paper on integrated education to clarify the legal framework after a recent court judgment and transformation applications. It also introduces an Integrated Education Support Programme and plans a community background category.
Education Issue: Integrated education transformation criteria and Court of Appeal ruling debate Original release: Givan: A new way forward for integrated education (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches consultation on legislating for mobile phone-free…
The DUP reports Education Minister Paul Givan has opened a 12-week consultation on possible legislation to back phone-free schools and issued stronger guidance saying pupils should not routinely have personal devices during the school day, citing a King's College London evaluation of a pilot.
Education Issue: Mobile Phone-Free Schools Pilot evaluation and phone-free schools consultation Original release: Givan launches consultation on legislating for mobile phone-free… (opens in a new tab)
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Robbie Butler MLA appointed Minister of Health
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says he has nominated Robbie Butler MLA to become Northern Ireland’s next Minister of Health, pledging full confidence and urging swift, patient‑focused reforms to improve access to care.
Health Issue: Robbie Butler appointed Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Robbie Butler MLA appointed Minister of Health (opens in a new tab)
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Givan launches consultation on new Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028
Education Minister Paul Givan has opened a 16-week public consultation on a proposed Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028, setting out what children should learn from Year 1 to Year 10. The DUP says the draft, developed with teachers and international experts, aims to give every pupil the same…
Education Issue: Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028 public consultation launch Original release: Givan launches consultation on new Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028 (opens in a new tab)
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Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving…
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the completion of the final legislative stage for baby loss certificates, which open for applications in June, giving formal recognition to parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving… (opens in a new tab)
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Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says the baby loss certificate regulations, coming into effect in June, will let parents and families have their loss formally acknowledged. She commends the Finance Minister and department for bringing the scheme forward.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister welcomes additional £100m Transformation and National Lottery funding
UUP Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes over £100m in Public Service Transformation Bid funding, including £42m for an ePharmacy programme to replace paper prescriptions and £29.2m for Together for Families, plus £30m from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive Transformation Fund allocations announcement Original release: Health Minister welcomes additional £100m Transformation and National Lottery funding (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite secures commitment to recognise contribution of women to Belfast
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite says Council has agreed to honour women's contribution to the city with the Freedom of Belfast, after raising the gender imbalance among past recipients. Proposals will be developed with the women's sector to name four women for the honour…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast Freedom of the City honour for women proposal Original release: De Faoite secures commitment to recognise contribution of women to Belfast (opens in a new tab)