Categories
Crime Newry

Woman charged with offences relating to Brian Phelan murder

Detectives from PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch investigating the murder of Brian Phelan in Newry, in July 2018, have charged a 26-year-old woman with perverting the course of justice, assisting an offender and withholding information. She is due to appear at Newry MC on Wednesday 10th March. As is normal procedure all charges are reviewed by […]

Categories
Health

VACCINATION PROGRAMME IS FURTHER EXTENDED

A major extension of Northern Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination programme has been announced. The programme will continue to be based on a twin track approach, with responsibilities divided between GP practices and the seven regional vaccination centres run by health trusts. The latest extension will see the start of a major vaccination drive for carers, with […]

Categories
Education Health

WEIR ANNOUNCES FURTHER MEASURES TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

Education Minister, Peter Weir has announced an extension to the Covid-19 Childcare Temporary Closure fund for the period January to March 2021. The Covid-19 Childcare Temporary Closure Support Fund will provide continued support for childcare providers who have been forced to close temporarily due to a Covid-related incident within their provision. Peter Weir said: “Up […]

Categories
Sport

SPORTS HARDSHIP FUND ISSUES £2M IN AWARDS

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced that the Sports Hardship Fund which was designed to help clubs and organisations maintain the facilities they own or lease during the Covid restrictions, has issued awards to over 900 clubs totalling £2million. The Sports Hardship Fund was open to sports clubs and sporting organisations from the voluntary and […]

Categories
Business

LYONS ANNOUNCES £1MILLION MICRO FOOD BUSINESS SCHEME

A £1million capital grant scheme to help existing micro food and drink manufacturing businesses to upscale production to secure new markets for their products will open in March, Rural Affairs Minster Gordon Lyons MLA has announced. The aim of the scheme is to enable eligible businesses that are processing primary agricultural or horticultural produce to […]

Categories
Newry Politics Uncategorized

Disappointment With Translink Failure To Put In Place Bus Shelter Provision Programme.

Newry Mourne & Down Sinn Féin Councillor, Declan Murphy, has expressed disappointment after learning from a report at the Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee that Translink has yet to put in place a programme for work for the provision of bus shelters. The Slieve Gullion area Councillor said, “Despite Translink having agreed in principle to partner […]

Categories
Health Uncategorized

MINISTER SWANN WELCOMES PRE-CONSULTATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND POST-VENTION SERVICES

Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the launch of the pre-consultation for suicide prevention and post-vention services. The pre-consultation is being undertaken by the Public Health Agency (PHA). It will include opportunities for people to provide feedback by registering their interest to take part either by completing the online survey or in a number of […]

Categories
Business Politics

FINANCE MINISTER WELCOMES ADDITIONAL £300 MILLION TOWARDS COVID RESPONSE

Finance Minister, Conor Murphy has welcomed the announcement from Treasury which provides a further £300 million for the Executive which can be used this year or carried forward into the 2021/2022 financial year. Commenting Conor Murphy said: “I welcome this additional £300 million which will be used towards our Covid-19 response. “Along with Finance Ministers […]

Categories
Business

MURPHY ANNOUNCES NEW RATE SETTING POWERS FOR COUNCILS

Finance Minister, Conor Murphy has put in place new legislation which will enable councils to tailor district rates to the needs of their local areas. This legislative change will for the first time give councils the option to strike different levels of household and business rates. The Finance Minister made the announcement following a recent […]

Categories
Politics

MALLON ANNOUNCES OPENING OF SECOND FINANCIAL SUPPORT SCHEME FOR TAXI-DRIVERS

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has opened a second financial support scheme for taxi-drivers. Minister Mallon said: “Coronavirus has caused many challenges across our community, disrupting the lives of all of our citizens and adding hardship for families across Northern Ireland. Many workers and businesses have felt the pain of the restrictions economically. While support has […]

Categories
Community

ARTS AND CREATIVE ORGANISATIONS TO BENEFIT FROM £10M OF FUNDING

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has said that £10million of funding being offered today to a wide range of arts and creative organisations, will help stabilise the sector which has been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. She made the comments as letters of offers totalling more than £10m were issued to 168 organisations who had […]

Categories
Health

ARE YOU 65-69? DON’T DELAY IN BOOKING YOUR VACCINE

People aged between 65 and 69 across Northern Ireland have been urged to book their Covid-19 vaccination appointments without delay. Online and telephone booking for this age group were introduced late last month, with a surge of initial bookings made. Demand has understandably slowed since then, and the Department of Health is advising that some […]