DAERA has launched a public consultation exercise to inform a review of the list of bodies and persons set out in the Schedule to the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016. The Act aims to help improve the quality of life of people in rural areas by ensuring that the social and economic needs […]
The Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA, has called on older people here to consult with the Northern Ireland Assembly on the key issues impacting their lives. The call comes ahead of the ‘Older People’s Parliament, ’ which is scheduled to take place in Parliament Buildings on Saturday, 12 October. This will be an […]
Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the registration of almost 10,000 children for his Department’s new Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme within just two weeks of its opening. The Scheme has been introduced to ease the financial pressures on households and enable more parents to remain in or return to work. The Minister […]
The Department for Communities (DfC) is encouraging all those with an interest in the current Welfare Supplementary Payment schemes to put forward their opinions in a survey on the DfC website. The Welfare Supplementary Payment (WSP) schemes survey is open to all and is available for completion on the website until Friday 6 […]
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins has slammed those responsible for a spate of racially motivated incidents in recent weeks, stating that there is no place in society for racism or racist acts. She was speaking after meeting local healthcare workers and business owners, some of whom were subjected to abuse. Liz says, “We […]
The Department for the Economy has opened a public consultation on the Postgraduate Award (PGA) Scheme. The consultation seeks views on a number of options for potential reform of the PGA Scheme, including enhancing the support available. In addition, the consultation seeks views on proposed changes to existing PGA Scheme terms and conditions. […]
Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (PACE NI) Codes of Practice. The proposed changes are to Codes of Practice A to H and the introduction of new Code I. Justice Minister Naomi Long says, “The Codes of Practice […]
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Justice Minister Naomi Long have launched a new Care Pathway and Model to provide streamlined access to Community Forensic Services. The purpose of the Care Pathway and Model is to ensure that people requiring specialist support in the community receive a quality service that is safe, consistent, accessible, […]
Local charity Bolster Community recently welcomed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Fleur Anderson to Whitegates in Newry for an informal discussion around the transformation of public services, the UKSPF funding agenda and the urgent need to escalate recommendations emerging from Ray Jones review of children’s health and social care services to action. […]
The Executive Office has launched a competition to appoint a new Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland (COPNI). Launching the competition, First Minister Michelle O’Neill says, “It is vital we have a dedicated Commissioner for older people. “The new Commissioner will play a pivotal role in ensuring we continue to safeguard and […]
