
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has taken urgent steps to put the Housing Executive rent increase on hold. The Housing Executive’s rent increase of 2.7% that was due to come into effect today, 6 April, will now not come into effect until 1 October 2020. Speaking to Newry Times, Minister Deirdre Hargey said, […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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Another 7 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland have died in the last 24 hours. The total of deaths in the country has now risen to 70. In the last 24 hours, the Public Health Agency said 254 tests have been carried out. Out of those 254 people tested, 69 […]

Finance Minister Conor Murphy, Economy Minister Diane Dodds and Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon today spoke with Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps and urged him to put in place support for our airports and ports. Minister Murphy said, “Today I reinforced to the Transport Secretary the urgent need to support airports. “It […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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Education Minister Peter Weir is calling for more volunteers to give urgent assistance in the provision of supervision for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, in response to the threat of the COVID-19 virus. Speaking to Newry Times, the Minister said, “On Friday 27 March I issued a call for volunteers from the […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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The world’s largest randomised clinical trial of potential coronavirus treatments is well underway in the UK as part of the race to find a treatment. A number of promising treatments are being tested and, if the science supports it, will be given to NHS patients as quickly as possible. Definitive results on whether the treatments […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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COVID-19 testing for healthcare workers has commenced at the SSE Arena. The Public Health Agency is involved in the testing initiative with input from HSC Trust colleagues and complements work undertaken by Trusts to scale up their own testing capabilities. Testing at the SSE Arena is for healthcare workers only and is by […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has announced that in the coming days a new weekly service commences which will see 10,000 food boxes being delivered to the most vulnerable in society during the COVID-19 lockdown. This support by the Department for Communities will allow a weekly box of mainly non-perishable goods to be delivered directly […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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Health Minister Robin Swann today visited the main distribution centre for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for frontline health and social care workers. The Belfast visit came on the day the first batch of a fresh order from the NHS was delivered to Northern Ireland. The order will comprise some 5.5 million items in total. […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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Stick to the rules on social distancing if you don’t want a ban on outdoor exercise. That’s the message from Health Minister Robin Swann as Northern Ireland begins another week of staying at home and keeping our distance. Commenting on the latest PHA Covid-19 surveillance report, Mr Swann said, “My deepest sympathies go […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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Following a second weekend of reports of no-one sleeping on the streets of Belfast and Derry, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has thanked everyone who is working hard to support all those in a homelessness situation. Speaking to Newry Times, Minister Hargey said, “For the second weekend in a row, it has been reported that there […]
Apr 6 2020 | Posted in
Coronavirus |
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