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

SDLP Launches ‘Childcare Guarantee’

The SDLP has published a proposal to transform early education and childcare provision in Northern Ireland and halve costs for parents by 2030. The SDLP’s proposal aims to guarantee: · Affordability for parents, through the publication of an Early Learning and Childcare Strategy that contains an ambition to cap costs to reduce them by 50% […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Lifestyle Stormont

Minister Announces Funding to Expand Access to Debt Advice Across Northern Ireland

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has announced £1.3m for an Integrated Advice Partnership Fund to be administered by local councils. The Minister made the announcement in an Oral Statement in the Assembly. The fund will boost existing debt services by providing alternative pathways to debt advice for people across Northern Ireland. Councils will use the funding […]

Categories
Business Campaigns Community Consumer Council NI Cost of Living

Power NI Tariff to Increase by 4%

Northern Ireland’s biggest energy supplier, Power NI is set to increase its domestic electricity tariff by 4% effective from 1 December 2024. A typical Power NI customer with a credit meter will see their bill rise by around £38 per year, while customers with a keypad (PAYG) meter will see a yearly increase of about £37. […]

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

McNulty: Hardship Payments Needed As Pensioners Miss Out on Winter Fuel Support

SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has called for urgent clarity on a one-off payment for pensioners who are set to miss out on the Winter Fuel Allowance. In response to several Assembly Written Questions tabled by the SDLP, Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons has indicated that his department is exploring options to issue […]

Categories
Business Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Government Lifestyle Newry Newry and Armagh Westminster

High Insurance Premiums Impacting Workers and Families In Newry and Armagh – Hughes

Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes has slammed the ever-increasing cost of home and motor insurance for residents of the BT34 and BT35 areas. Dáire Hughes said: “My office has been inundated with people reporting massive increases to the cost of their car and home insurance policies.   “Home insurance costs in particular have drastically risen, with […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Government Lurgan Politics Upper Bann Westminster

MP Expresses Concern at Budget Implications

With the Labour Government’s Budget just days away, Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has expressed her concerns about the possible implications for farmers and agri-food businesses in Northern Ireland. “The facts remain unknown, but there is strong speculation in Westminster that the 2024 Budget will focus on significant tax hikes and spending cuts. Chancellor Rachel […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Health Politics Stormont Westminster

UNISON Disappointed No NHS Pay Offer Made

By UNISON NI Statement: UNISON NIs Health Committee is deeply disappointed at the fact that no pay offer has yet been made to Health staff.  This leaves us once again almost a year behind other parts of the UK and NHS and in a situation where pay parity is not being maintained as was promised.  […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Politics Stormont

Pensioners to Protest at Stormont Over Removal of Winter Fuel Payment

Draft programme for government provides nothing to Northern Ireland pensioners What: National Pensioners Convention protest When: 11am-1pm Monday October 7th 2024 Where: Bottom of steps at Stormont buildings (some protesters gathering at entrance gates from 10.30am) The National Pensioners Convention in Northern Ireland will host a protest at Stormont over the government’s failure to address the needs of older […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Education Government Lurgan Politics Upper Bann Westminster

MP Carla Lockhart Welcomes Pay and Grading Review Agreement for School Support Staff

Carla Lockhart MP has welcomed the good news that school support staff across Northern Ireland will benefit from an agreed pay and grading review. This resolution, delivered by DUP Minister Paul Givan MLA in partnership with representative unions, marks a significant step forward for the dedicated staff who play such a vital role in supporting […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Health Politics Westminster

SDLP MPs Oppose Cuts to Winter Fuel Payments

SDLP MPs have voted against proposed cuts to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners in the House of Commons this afternoon. Speaking from Westminster, Claire Hanna MP said: “The cut to Winter Fuel Payments runs the very real risk of pushing pensioners into fuel poverty over the coming months. The targeting is too narrow and the […]

Categories
Campaigns Community Cost of Living Government Westminster

Extend Child Benefit For Your Teen By 31st August

Parents have less than two weeks to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) their 16-19 year-old is continuing education or training, or their Child Benefit payments will stop. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers will decide on their future this week as they receive their GCSE results on Thursday (22 August 2024). For parents of 16-19-year-olds […]

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

McNulty: No Action Is Being Taken to Address Housing Crisis

SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has said the Executive have no plan to solve the current housing crisis. Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said: “It has been clear for some time that we are dealing a serious housing crisis in the North and the failure to respond to these warning signs have left us in a […]