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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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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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Community Downpatrick Election 2022 Health Kilkeel South Down Stormont

McGrath Calls for Greater Sharing of Information Around Suicides  

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has called for a greater sharing of information about the number of people presenting at hospital emergency departments in a mental health crisis.   Mr McGrath had asked Health Minister Robin Swann for the number of people presenting at emergency departments when feeling suicidal or having attempted suicide.    He was […]

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Business Election 2022 Government Newry Stormont

McNulty Welcomes Murphy U-Turn on Hotel Support

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has welcomed a U-Turn by Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy on support for the hotel industry. Mr. McNulty had publicly rebuked Minister Murphy’s decision to exclude hotels from the Executive’s hospitality support package announced on 23rd December. Speaking after the U-Turn, the SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA commented, “I’m relieved that […]

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Election 2022 Government Politics South Down Stormont

McKevitt: Sinn Féin Ministers Asleep at the Wheel as Families Struggle to Make Ends Meet

SDLP Newry, Mourne and Down Councillor Karen McKevitt said it is unbelievable there was £100m unallocated in the Assembly’s January monitoring round as families struggle with the cost of living crisis. Cllr. McKevitt said Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy has failed people who are in need, with the money now at risk of being […]

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Business Election 2022 Government Politics Stormont

Stormont’s Financial Mismanagement on Show

Stormont’s financial mismanagement on show Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:- “The statement from the Sinn Fein Finance Minister on the January monitoring round reveals a number of significant facts:- there is over another £200m extra to Stormont from U.K. Treasury in Barnett consequentials;Stormont departments have been unable to spend all the funds they had, with […]

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Business Government Stormont

Murphy Welcomes Opening of Hospitality Support Scheme

Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin Finance Minister has welcomed the opening of his £40M hospitality scheme Speaking after the announcement Conor said: “My hospitality support package is now open. “This scheme will provide grants of between £10,000 and £20,000, helping over 3,000 hospitality businesses recover from the impact of Omicron. “LPS will contact eligible hospitality businesses […]

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Government Politics Stormont Westminster

EU-UK Negotiations Need to Offer Stability and Certainty as Soon as Possible – UUP

Following reports that European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič wants EU-UK negotiations on the Protocol to conclude by the end of February, Steve Aiken MLA, UUP Finance spokesperson said: “The usually well-informed Tony Connelly of RTE has indicated today that Maroš Šefčovič is seeking to pressurise the UK to conclude negotiations by the end of […]

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Government Politics Stormont Westminster

Withdrawal of Double Jobbing a Victory For Dialogue and Engagement – UUP

Following confirmation by the Prime Minister that plans to bring back double jobbing in Northern Ireland have been withdrawn, Ulster Unionist peer, Lord Empey, said: “This is a victory for positive dialogue and engagement with Government and other parties. You don`t have to threaten to crash the institutions for unionism to have influence with Government. […]

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Community Government Lurgan Politics Stormont Upper Bann

John O’Dowd on Loss of EU Funding

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said the loss of EU Funding due to the Tory/DUP Brexit is putting jobs and livelihoods at risk. The Upper Bann spokesperson said: “The Department for the Economy has lost £65 million per year in EU funding as direct result of the Brexit delivered by the British Government and the […]

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Business Government South Armagh South Down Stormont Upper Bann

Omicron Hospitality Payment Scheme Underway

Land & Property Services has begun contacting hospitality businesses to confirm their details to enable the Omicron Hospitality Payment to be made. Over 3,200 businesses will be eligible for a one-off grant payment of either £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 based on their rateable value. Eligible businesses will include; restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, bistros, snack bars, […]

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Election 2022 Government Health Politics Stormont

Swann Announces Plan for Additional NHS Pay Rise

Following the November announcement of a pay increase of 3% for our wonderful NHS staff. Health Minister Robin Swann has invested in a further 1.5% pay increase. This announcement will enable an overall pay rise of 4.5% for bands 1 to 3 staff and 4% for bands 4 to 7. Speaking via a memo sent […]