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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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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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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 […]

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Business Community Lurgan Upper Bann

Mackle Welcomes Extra Funding Announcement

Sinn Féin Council Group Leader Liam Mackle has welcomed extra funding announced by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey for local Councils for rates support. The ABC representative said: “I welcome the announcement by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey that local Councils will receive extra money for the Rates Support Grant which will now total over £21 million. […]

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Banbridge Crime Upper Bann

Armed Robbery at Banbridge Shop

Detectives are appealing for information following the report of a robbery at a shop on Rathfriland Street, Banbridge, on Saturday 29th January. It was reported that a man, armed with a knife, entered the shop shortly before 6:45pm on Saturday evening, and made his way behind the counter where he then opened the till and took […]

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Crime Election 2022 Upper Bann

Tennyson Says Urgent Action Needed to Tackle Rise of Sexual Assaults on Girls

Alliance Upper Bann representative, Eóin Tennyson, has called for urgent action to tackle the rise of sexual assaults on girls. The call for action follows figures released by the PSNI to media which revealed 791 incidents of sexual assault of girls over the age of 13 has been reported to the police in the past […]