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Community Education Government Politics Stormont

Over £6.6m Allocated to Early Years Providers Through Pathway Fund

Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the highest level of Pathway funding to date of £6.626m for 876 eligible providers in 2025-26. The Pathway Fund provides financial contribution towards provision and resources which promote social, physical, intellectual, communication and educational development of children at risk of educational underachievement. Paul Givan said: “This year I have been able […]

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Armagh Community Constituency Education Government Newry Newry and Armagh Politics South Armagh Stormont

McNulty Welcomes Progress to Replace NI General Teaching Council

SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said has welcomed a move from the Education Minister to bring forward legislation to replace the General Teaching Council of Northern Ireland (NIGTC).  Justin McNulty MLA said: “Back in 2021, the SDLP was stating that the General Teaching Council was beyond repair.  There were issues around teachers’ registration […]

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Campaigns Community Constituency Cost of Living Downpatrick Education Government Politics South Down Stormont

Mason Welcomes £55 Million Investment Into Childcare and Early Years

Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason has welcomed the £55 million investment into childcare and early years. The party’s spokesperson on childcare and early years said: “Today’s announcement of additional childcare support for school-aged children is very welcome, and will help make childcare more affordable and accessible for families from September. “The extension of 22.5 free […]

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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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Community Constituency Downpatrick Education Government South Down Stormont

Irish Medium Early Years Education Must Be Supported – Mason

Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason has said more must be done by the Department of Education to enhance Irish medium early years education. Speaking following a meeting of the Assembly’s Education Committee, the party’s spokesperson on childcare and early years said: “In the face of a lack of support, Irish medium education continues to flourish […]

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Armagh Community Constituency Education Government Infrastructure Newry Newry and Armagh South Armagh Stormont

McNulty Calls for Road Safety Upgrades at St. Teresa’s, Tullyherron

Following a productive meeting with the Principal of St. Teresa’s Primary School in Tullyherron, SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety of children, parents, and staff at the school by addressing ongoing road safety concerns. “I am deeply concerned about the safety risks posed by the current […]

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Community Constituency Council Downpatrick Education Government Newry and Armagh NMD Council South Armagh South Down

Young Adults Shine and Celebrate Ireland’s Fossil Heritage with Local School Children

One of the best ways for children to learn is from their peers, and the Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark Team saw this in action recently when they were on the road delivering interactive workshops about Ireland’s Fossil Heritage. Developed by The University College Cork, the workshops explored how fossils are formed, Ireland’s ancient timeline and […]

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Community Education

Wheels In Motion For Children to Learn Practical Skills and Bike Safety

A bicycle-maintenance project, instigated by the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Dromore, has equipped children with practical skills to keep safe on the roads this summer. The P6 and P7 children from St Colman’s PS and Dromore Central PS rolled up their sleeves to learn basic bike maintenance including how to fix a puncture, check brakes […]

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Community Constituency Council Education Government Newcastle NMD Council South Down

Castlewellan Peace Maze Benefits from Inaugural Cross-Border Horticultural Student Visit

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council was delighted to welcome horticulture teachers and students from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and Teagasc College of Horticulture (Teagasc), Dublin, to Castlewellan Forest Park on Wednesday 30 April. The group of 30 students and staff worked in mixed teams alongside park staff to carry […]

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Community Constituency Education Newry Newry and Armagh

Students Inspired By Industry Experts at Tech Careers Event

Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership was delighted to host a recent, ‘Get Into Tech’ event on Thursday 27 March in partnership with Bring IT On to promote the various pathways to start a career in Technology. Funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, […]

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Community Constituency Education Lifestyle Newry Newry and Armagh

‘Frequency Finder’ Podcast Launches First Episode With Contemporary Folk Artist Dani Larkin

Southern Regional College’s (SRC) Music Department is proud to launch ‘Frequency Finder: The SRC Music Dept Podcast’, a brand-new platform dedicated to showcasing the voices, talent, and behind-the-scenes insights of Northern Ireland’s dynamic music scene. Hosted by Factory 61, Frequency Finder delves into the journeys of artists, live sound engineers, and music industry professionals, as […]

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Community Constituency Education Portadown Upper Bann

Ebony Murtagh Named as Winner of Apprentice of the Year

Ebony Murtagh, aspiring butchery apprentice from Portadown has been crowned Apprentice of the Year at the Department for the Economy’s 2025 Apprenticeship Awards. The prestigious ceremony took place on Wednesday 26th March. Ebony describes her education journey as turbulent.  After leaving secondary school with no formal qualifications, Ebony made the courageous decision to return to education […]