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Campaigns Community Cost of Living Education Government Politics Stormont

Minister Announces £55 Million Childcare Scheme

Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a £55 million package of measures for early learning and childcare that will include an extension of the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme to cover school-age children. Speaking after Executive approval of the support measures, the Minister said: “Today, the Executive agreed an additional £55m investment in early learning and […]

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Business Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Newry Newry and Armagh Politics

Grant: Cashless Society Is Dangerous for Working Class

Commenting on the blackouts that took place in Spain and Portugal Nicola Grant Workers Party representative said this major event should serve as a warning to working class people about the dangers inherent in a cashless society. The blackouts flagged up the profound consequences of being reliant on technology to access goods and service. Nicola […]

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ABC Council Business Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Council Government Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council South Down Upper Bann

Employ Me Programme Marks Milestone with 1,700 Participants Supported

Launched in 2022 the Employ Me programme has had a massive impact on community residents within the Newry, Mourne and Down District, and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Councils.  At the celebration event on Southern Regional College’s Newry campus on Tuesday 27th March, programme partners and guests came together to celebrate the vast impact of the […]

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Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Politics Stormont Westminster

SDLP Questions Executive Parties’ Rejection of Welfare Cuts Support

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has questioned the Executive parties’ rejection of support for those impacted by welfare cuts from the UK Government. He was speaking after an SDLP proposal for the Communities Minister to work with the Finance Minister on the development of a mitigation package was defeated. Mr Durkan said it was […]

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Armagh Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Government Newry Newry and Armagh Politics South Armagh Westminster

Hughes Slams Latest Round of British Government Austerity Cuts

Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh, Dáire Hughes, has slammed the latest round of British government austerity cuts. Speaking after the British Chancellor, in her Spring Statement, announced billions of spending on British militarisation funded by cuts to essential welfare and international aid, Dáire said; “It is astonishing at a time when public services […]

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Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Politics Stormont Westminster

SDLP: Cutting Welfare Support Not The Way to Balance The Books

SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has said that those receiving welfare support should not have to bear the brunt of the UK Government’s cuts to stabilise the economy.  She was speaking after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Statement on Wednesday. It’s estimated that over 3m families will lose out as a result to changes […]

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ABC Council Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Council Government Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council Politics

Councillor Pay to Rise By 5%

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced that the Executive has agreed an increase of 5% to the basic allowance for local councillors with effect from 1 April 2025. The Minister also said that he will amend the legislation to permit his department in future to determine the rate of the basic allowance to be paid […]

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Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Politics Stormont Westminster

SDLP Welcome Rebrand of Support Fund For Universal Credit 5-Week Wait

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has welcomed the renaming of the Contingency Fund to ensure accessibility for new claimants seeking financial support to navigate the five-week wait for Universal Credit. It follows an Assembly Motion tabled by the SDLP Opposition last month highlighting the impact of this wait and the link to illegal money […]

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Armagh Business Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Newry and Armagh

Grant: Santander Bank Closures Massive Blow to Economy

Responding to the news that Santander will close seven branches across Northern Ireland Nicola said the closure of these branches is a major blow to these towns which serves not only the urban centers but the rural townlands that provides all the essential services for sizeable populations. She continued the loss of 750 jobs is […]

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Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Government Newry Newry and Armagh Politics Westminster

Benefits Row: Grant Concerned With Potential Benefit Cuts

Commenting on the announcement from Westminster that there will be a massive cut amounting to more than £6billion from the Welfare budget. Nicola said it Is a matter of great concern for Northern Ireland as we have learned from the winter fuel payments debacle that where Westminster goes our Executive very quickly follows. She said […]

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Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Government Newry Newry and Armagh Politics South Armagh Stormont Westminster

Benefits Row: Finnegan Writes to Minister Over Westminster Benefit Cuts

Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan has said it is time for the British government to move beyond cuts and austerity and towards real investment in public services. She was speaking after media reports on Friday suggested the Labour government is planning to cut the welfare budget by £5 billion. “The same British government who just […]

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Campaigns Community Cost of Living Education Government Politics Stormont

School Uniforms Bill Introduced In Assembly

A new Bill to reduce the costs of school uniforms has been introduced in the Northern Ireland Assembly by Education Minister Paul Givan. The Bill will provide the necessary powers to make a difference in terms of affordability of school uniforms.  Paul Givan said: “Today’s introduction of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill is a major […]