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MINISTER HARGEY ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AFFORDABLE WARMTH ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced changes to the Affordable Warmth Scheme eligibility criteria in order to help more households who are in fuel poverty. The changes are:- Increasing the income threshold from £20,000 to £23,000 and; Dis-applying of certain benefits from the calculation of income; namely Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), […]

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FINANCE MINISTER VISITS LOCAL ARMAGH MANUFACTURER

Finance Minister Conor Murphy visited Impact Fabrications this week to see how the company has benefited from the recent £25,000 manufacturing grant scheme.  Based in Armagh and employing a team of 30 people, the steel fabrication firm manufactures chassis and bulkhead parts for classic Land Rovers, exporting their products globally. Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: “I am […]

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MALLON ALLOCATES BUDGET OF £19M FUNDING FOR FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEMES

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has allocated £19 million for flood protection projects across the North in her 2021/22 budget This includes £11 million to progress numerous flood alleviation projects to improve flood protection to properties located within significant flood risk areas including Belfast, Newcastle, Lisburn and Newry. An additional £8 million has been allocated to […]

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‘Terrifying Incident’ At Mullaghbawn Shop Condemned

Slieve Gullion Sinn Féin Councillor Mickey Larkin has called for anyone with information relating to a robbery at the Today Shop in Mullaghbawn recently to contact the PSNI. “At around 7pm on Tuesday (8th June) evening a man entered the Today Shop and rifled the till. When discovered by a member of staff he produced […]

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Boylan Writes to Minister Over Decrease in Taxi Drivers

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has written to the Minister for Infrastructure asking her to look at ways to help the taxi industry get itself back on firm footing coming out of COVID-19. The Newry and Armagh MLA: “People looking to get into the taxi industry have expressed massive frustrations with the process, citing costs, difficulties and […]

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COUNTY DOWN MAN FINED £2,000 FOR WASTE OFFENCES

County Down man Brendan Small (48) of Flush Road, Newcastle, was today fined a total of £2,000 (plus a £15 offender’s levy) at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court for breaches of waste management legislation. Northern Ireland Environment Agency officers investigated a site on Flush Road, Newcastle, from September 2018 to February 2019, where they found large quantities of […]

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LONG: REMOVING PROFITS AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN FIGHT AGAINST ORGANISED CRIME

Removing the proceeds of crime is a powerful tool when it comes to disrupting the activities of organised crime groups, Naomi Long has said. The Justice Minister was speaking as she begins the process of bringing Northern Ireland into line with legislative provisions elsewhere. Four Northern Ireland codes of practice issued under the Proceeds of Crime […]

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ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO LICENSING MODERNISATION

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has taken a Bill to modernise liquor licensing here through the next stage in the legislative process. The Assembly will have an opportunity to vote on amendments to The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill, which was introduced to it on 19 October last year.  There will then only be […]

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COMMUNITIES MINISTER HARGEY COMMISSIONS DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT REVIEW

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced the appointment of an expert panel to review the Discretionary Support (DS) scheme which provides financial support to individuals in crisis situations. The Independent Review panel will be chaired by Professor Grainne McKeever, a professor of Law and Social Justice at the University of Ulster. Professor McKeever will be […]

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FIRST MINISTER REASSURES ADULTS WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY THEIR VOICES MATTER

The First Minister has told adults with a learning disability their voices matter and their views should be heard. Arlene Foster was speaking as she visited the Association For Real Change in Enniskillen, an organisation that works to improve the quality of life for people with a learning disability. During the visit she took part […]

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Local Jobs Lost at Newry Covid Testing Site in Favour of Limavady Group

Covid 19 was a shock to our system, a shock to our community and an unstoppable force that terrorized our communities’ right across Northern Ireland for well over a year. BBC news Northern Ireland reported on the 27th February 2020 the first case of Covid 19 confirmed by the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland. […]

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Newry and Mourne Councillor Convicted of Assaulting a Female Police Officer

Henry Reilly, 62, of Ballynahatten Road in Kilkeel, is an Independent Unionist Councillor on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has been convicted of assaulting a female police officer. Mr Reilly was convicted of two counts of assaulting a female police officer at his home in September 2019. He was also convicted of resisting two […]