
With just days left until the closing date for 2020 Single Applications, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has urged farmers to complete their applications immediately to avoid incurring a financial penalty. Embed from Getty Images The application period for both the Single Application and Environmental Farming Scheme Tranche 4 closes at midnight on 15 […]
May 6 2020 | Posted in
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Economy Minister Diane Dodds has commended Northern Ireland’s further education (FE) colleges for the action they have taken to maintain essential services and support learners during the Covid-19 crisis. All six colleges have rapidly introduced virtual learning so that learners, including apprentices, can continue their studies, and more than three-quarters of learners are now engaging […]
May 6 2020 | Posted in
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The £700million investment package agreed this week by The Executive will be crucial in helping to rebuild the economy after the Coronavirus emergency, First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have said. The funding has been announced for infrastructure, regeneration and tourism projects across Northern Ireland and includes £562million match funding for […]

One of the unintended consequences of lockdown and people spending more time in their gardens or yards could be an increased risk of sunburn, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. Embed from Getty Images The two bodies are using Sun Awareness Week [4 – 10 May] to encourage […]
May 5 2020 | Posted in
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Newry MLA Liz Kimmins has branded a recent spike in eco-crime and arson attacks on local woodland and shrubbery as acts of ‘community vandalism’. Embed from Getty Images The Sinn Féin MLA was speaking following a noticeable uptick in deliberate fires started in forested areas and dense shrubbery, marking an almost annual increase in […]
May 5 2020 | Posted in
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Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced further measures to enable more TB herd tests to be completed safely on farms. Embed from Getty Images From 4 May 2020 calves under 180 days old may be exempt from all bovine TB (bTB) herd test types if they cannot be tested safely in accordance with […]
May 1 2020 | Posted in
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Economy Minister Diane Dodds has announced the establishment of a Tourism Recovery Steering Group to lead the planning and preparations for the recovery of tourism in Northern Ireland. Embed from Getty Images Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism and hospitality industry employed 65,000 people and generated £1 billion in revenue in 2019. […]
Apr 29 2020 | Posted in
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The Council Consumer is advising consumers in Northern Ireland to review how they are spending, as household outgoings are changing with many of us spending more time at home. Embed from Getty Images The Council Consumer has a free online interactive budgeting tool that can help you do this and identify areas where you […]
Apr 29 2020 | Posted in
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Channel 4 has announced the commission of a four-part DIY and home craft series from Dick and Angel Strawbridge as part of its commitment to help people navigate through the extraordinary challenges we all now face. Under the Lockdown Academy banner Dick and Angel’s Make, Do & Mend, will see the Strawbridges offering tips and […]
Apr 28 2020 | Posted in
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Dear Editor, Imagine a fire has just swept through Northern Ireland. With concentrated effort from everyone in society, it has been largely put out, but we aren’t out of danger yet – small secondary fires continue to burn and if these fires aren’t attended to, they can spread just as quickly, causing even more devastation. […]