Categories
Uncategorized

HARGEY TO PROGRESS IRISH AND ULSTER SCOTS STRATEGIES

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced work is to commence on the development of an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy.  The Minister advised the Executive that her department is to proceed with the work of the Expert Advisory Panels. She said: “I am pleased that work is now underway on these […]

Categories
Uncategorized

MINISTERS MEET ORGAN DONATION CAMPAIGNERS AS NEW LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD

The First Minister, deputy First Minister and Health Minister have met with organ donation campaigners to mark significant progress in new soft opt-out organ donation legislation. Paul Givan, Michelle O’Neill and Robin Swann welcomed campaigners Dáithí, Maírtín and Seph Mac Gabhann to Stormont Castle after the Executive signed off the Health Minister’s proposed legislation on […]

Categories
Uncategorized

ONLINE APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS AND UNIFORM GRANTS

Families entitled to extra support with school meals and uniforms can now apply online. Paper application forms continue to be available on request for applicants who do not have digital access. Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen said: “The Education Authority (EA) has sought to improve services for families by making it easier for them to apply for […]

Categories
Uncategorized

MINISTER MALLON TACKLES DRINK DRIVING RE-OFFENDING RATES

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced a change to drink driving legislation which will automatically offer all those convicted of drink drive offences the opportunity to undertake rehabilitation training. The changes take effect from Monday 28 June. At present referral to the course is at the discretion of the Court however the change to the law […]

Categories
Uncategorized

VACCINE CERTIFICATION UPDATE

A vaccine international certification scheme will go live in Northern Ireland by – or before – 19 July, the Department of Health has announced. Work is focussed on delivering the scheme ahead of that date – potentially as early as 5 July – and should be possible providing cyber security checks are cleared successfully. Ensuring […]

Categories
Uncategorized

SWANN WELCOMES HEALTH ALLOCATIONS

Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed June monitoring round allocations of funding for the health service. Mr Swann was speaking after the allocations were announced by Finance Minister Conor Murphy. These include £31.5m for alleviating waiting lists and £17.7m for pharmaceutical pressures. The Health Minister stated: “The additional waiting list monies will be targeted at long waits […]

Categories
Uncategorized

MCILVEEN WELCOMES MONITORING ROUND ALLOCATIONS

Special Educational Needs (SEN) funding proposed by the Minister for Education, Michelle McIlveen has been allocated £35.7 million in the June monitoring round process. A further £3.3 million to support education with a number of COVID-19 pressures was also confirmed by the Finance Minister Conor Murphy today as part of the monitoring allocations. The Minister said: “Today’s […]

Categories
Uncategorized

MURPHY ALLOCATES OVER £220 MILLION INCLUDING FUNDING FOR WAITING LISTS

The Executive has agreed allocations of over £220 million including funding for waiting lists, Special Educational Needs and the Victims Payment Scheme. Announcing the allocations which are part of the June 2021 monitoring round process, Minister Murphy said: “The Executive is committed to ensuring our health service has the funding it needs as it continues to […]

Categories
Uncategorized

Narrow Water Bridge to Go Ahead

The Irish Government has announced €3m in funding to progress work on the cross-border Narrow Water Bridge, which will link the Mourne mountains area with the Cooley peninsula. The money from the Shared Island Fund will see the project brought to tender stage, based on the current design of the bridge and existing planning permission. […]

Categories
Uncategorized

MINISTER PUBLISHES DETAILED RECOVERY PLAN FOR CANCER SERVICES

A three-year blueprint for rebuilding cancer care in Northern Ireland has today been published by Health Minister Robin Swann. The recovery plan sets out a series of short and medium term initiatives to enhance services badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department is currently finalising a 10-year Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland.  The plan […]

Categories
Uncategorized

Saoradh Newry Disrupt PSNI Events

Saoradh party members target two Crown Force “normalisation” events on Tuesday [June 22] with protests taking place in Newry and Meigh in South Armagh. Both events were disrupted as a result of peaceful protests. In just over a fortnight this brings to a total of five RUC events that we have successfully cancelled or disrupted […]

Categories
Uncategorized

Saoradh Newry Condemn Planned Parades

Slamming the upcoming planned twelfth parades Saoradh’s Newry representative Stephen Murney said “As Covid restrictions ease and people get back to a sense of normality, sectarian bigots are straight of the traps to don bowler hats and sashes, the regalia of hate. “Local residents from various parts of Newry have contacted our office recently with […]