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Community Lurgan Upper Bann

£250k Council Spend on Jubilee Criticised- Cllr Mackle

Speaking after Unionist Councillors on ABC Council voted to spend £250k of ratepayers money on Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee. Cllr Mackle said: ‘At a time when  workers and families across the Borough are facing rising food and fuel prices and many have lost jobs the decision by unionist councillors to spend over £1/4M of ratepayers money […]

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Community Election 2022 Government Health Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

O’Dowd Supports Parental Bereavement Bill

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has hailed progress on putting into law the right to paid leave following the death of a child, stillbirth or miscarriage. Mr O’Dowd, who spoke and voted in favour of the Bill in the Assembly, said: “This legislation will ensure workers whose child dies or who suffer stillbirth have the right […]

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Crime Election 2022 Government Stormont Upper Bann

Tennyson Welcomes Latest Stage of Protection from Stalking Bill

Alliance Upper Bann representative Eóin Tennyson has welcomed the passage of the latest stage of the Protection from Stalking Bill in the assembly and said once completed, it will do a number of key things to support victims. Councillor Tennyson was speaking after the Consideration Stage of the Bill in the Assembly. The bill from […]

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Community Election 2022 Government Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

Kelly: Hargey Must Issue Fuel Support Payment Before Next Planned Gas Hike!

The SDLP has written to Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, urging her to take the plight of people here seriously in the face of yet another price hike.   Gas suppliers have contacted customers this week warning of a 33.57% tariff increase in addition to already record high energy costs. SDLP Upper Bann MLA […]

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Community Education Election 2022 Government Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

Kelly Highlights Challenges Facing Local Schools 

SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has highlighted a number of issues facing schools across the area. Mrs Kelly invited Education Minister Michelle McIlveen to the constituency last week to show her first hand the good work going on in the schools and highlight the need for further funding. Mrs Kelly took Minister McIlveen to […]

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Armagh Banbridge Community Lurgan Portadown Upper Bann

Send a card, deliver a smile!

A pilot project in conjunction with the ABC Loneliness Network has created a ‘Kindness Post Box’ in the Southern Trust area. The original idea for the ‘Kindness Post Box’ came from Fermanagh woman Nuala O’Toole at the start of the pandemic. A community focussed venture, across generations, the idea is for children to write a […]

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Downpatrick Government Health Kilkeel South Down Stormont

McGrath Urges Those Bereaved Through Contaminated Blood Scandal to Apply for Financial Support

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has urged those bereaved as a result of the contaminated blood scandal to come forward and apply for financial support. Those eligible must apply before March 31 2022 or they will lose out on payments being backdated to April 2019. The payments to the bereaved range from £14,000 to £34,000 […]

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Banbridge Community Government Politics Upper Bann Westminster

Chancellor Should Shelve National Insurance Increase! – Lockhart

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart has called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to shelve plans to raise National Insurance Contributions scheduled to take effect from 1st April 2022. The MP made the call in a letter to the Chancellor, urging the change in policy to support working families and ‘squeezed middle’ […]

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Education Lurgan Upper Bann

Each Rural School Has Its Own Unique Story-O’Dowd

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said there cannot be a blanket approach to rural schools from the Education Authority and the Department of Education when it comes to Area Planning. The former Education Minister said: “Rural schools are the heartbeat of local communities in Upper Bann and further afield, and the Education Authority shouldn’t […]

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Business Newry South Down

‘Three Awards for Mourne Mountains Brewery

Warrenpoint based Mourne Mountains Brewery brought 2021 to an end by winning some fantastic awards for their beers at a national brewing event. Session IPA, Bear Grease Double Oatmeal Stout and Mourne Mist Pilsner have picked up gold, silver and bronze respectively at the SIBA Independent Beer Awards 2021 – the UK’s leading beer competition […]

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Infrastructure Lurgan Upper Bann

Kelly Welcomes Greenway Development Support

SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has welcomed a programme to provide greenway development support from SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon. Minister Mallon has awarded a grant of £50,000 to Sustrans to carry out an assessment of the current state of greenway development across the north and develop a phased programme of greenway delivery in […]

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Education Government Lurgan Stormont Upper Bann

O’Dowd Welcomes Funding Boost for Special Educational Needs

Sinn Féin MLA John ODowd has welcomed the announcement by finance minister Conor Murphy which will see an additional £18 million of funding to support children with special educational needs.  This money forms part of a £40 million funding package for education. The Upper Bann spokesperson and former Education Minister said: “I welcome this funding announcement of […]