Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins has welcomed £350 million worth of funding for health which has been allocated by Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald. This means the majority of available funds will go to the health department. The party’s health spokesperson comments, “Today’s announcement that £350 million will be going to the health department […]
Education Minister Paul Givan has responded to the announcement by a number of teachers’ unions that they plan to ballot their members for industrial action over 2024/25 pay. Earlier this year the Minister provided funding for the successful resolution of the long-running industrial dispute on teachers’ pay for 2021-24. The pay settlement agreed […]
Economy Minister Conor Murphy recently raised several key economic issues with British Government Ministers during a visit to London. The discussions included concerns about the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme, support for renewable energy developments, and the previously paused Enhanced Investment Zone for the north of Ireland. Speaking afterwards Minister […]
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is urging all bird keepers in Northern Ireland to prepare for the increasing threat of avian flu this winter as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N5 is confirmed in England. On Tuesday 5 November 2024, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) confirmed HPAI H5N5 […]
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has announced £1.3m for an Integrated Advice Partnership Fund to be administered by local councils. The Minister made the announcement in an Oral Statement in the Assembly. The fund will boost existing debt services by providing alternative pathways to debt advice for people across Northern Ireland. Councils will […]
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a series of initiatives to protect key health and social care services during another highly challenging winter period. The measures are detailed in a 2024/25 Winter Preparedness Plan published this week. They will not eliminate winter pressures on the HSC system but will help to alleviate their […]
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has welcomed the announcement of over €15 million for the development of a Down GAA ‘Centre of Excellence’ at Ballykinlar. The South Down MP says, “I welcome the announcement that over €15 million has been awarded for the development of a Down GAA Centre of Excellence. “This is […]
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at Westminster. The Bill aims to introduce a progressive smoking ban to gradually end the sale of tobacco products across the UK, so that anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to legally be […]
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes has slammed the ever-increasing cost of home and motor insurance for residents of the BT34 and BT35 areas. Dáire Hughes comments, “My office has been inundated with people reporting massive increases to the cost of their car and home insurance policies. “Home insurance costs in particular have drastically […]
Economy Minister Conor Murphy has announced Multiply, a new, free-to-access programme aimed at improving adult numeracy skills. Funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Multiply will support the delivery of numeracy training to more than 3,000 adults through 115 initiatives delivered by further education colleges, universities and local councils in partnership with voluntary […]
