Category: Uncategorized

The roll-out of Covid-19 vaccine boosters to NI’s care homes is underway, Health Minister Robin Swann has confirmed. Health Trust vaccinator teams are bringing the boosters to care home residents and staff in a planned programme. First doses will also be available for anyone who has not yet been vaccinated. The wider NI booster dose […]

The first changes from new legislation to reform liquor licensing laws here will come into effect on 1 October 2021, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced. The first phase will mostly involve the extension of opening and drinking-up times, which will be a welcome boost for the hospitality sector in the lead up to the […]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging Working Tax Credit (WTC) customers to check if they need to update their working hours if these have reduced as a result of coronavirus. During the pandemic, WTC customers have not needed to tell HMRC about temporary short-term reductions in their working hours as a result of coronavirus […]

First Minister Paul Givan and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, together with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, have called on the Westminster Government to reverse their decision to withdraw the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit. In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the leaders of the three administrations highlighted the damaging impact […]

Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced that a new £750k tranche of the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) will open for applications on Friday 1 October 2021. The key aim of RMCGS 2021 is to provide small capital grants of between £200 and £1,500 to rural community-led, voluntary organisations for projects tackling […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced the allocation of £8.7million in support grants to a range of charitable and community organisations providing mental health services. A total of 30 projects have received funding through the allocation of the first tranche of grants from the Mental Health Support Fund, part of a £24m package of funding […]

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has launched the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2022. The Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2022 will recognise excellence in apprenticeships and culminate in an awards ceremony on Wednesday 9 February 2022 – one of the highlight events during Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2022, which will run from 7 to 11 February 2022. […]

October is Positive Ageing Month – a month to really highlight and take notice of the important and valuable contributions that older people make to our society, and to raise awareness of the opportunities and the challenges of ageing in today’s world. To celebrate older residents, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and the […]

P5 primary school pupils across the borough are set to benefit from a new road safety booklet ‘Street Smart Road Safe’ that provides lots of advice and guidance for when they are walking, cycling or travelling as passengers. The comprehensive guide, which covers every aspect of how to keep safe on the road, has been […]

Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins has said the party’s Green Energy Bill will ensure that small green energy producers get paid their fair share. Speaking ahead of a debate on Sinn Féin’s Small-Scale Green Energy Bill in the Assembly, the Newry/Armagh MLA said if passed, this bill will be a victory for families and the […]

The Workers Party spokesperson for West Belfast, Conor Duffy, has accused Executive Ministers Deirdre Hargey and Conor Murphy of ‘a callous disregard for low paid workers and people in receipt of benefits’ as the £20 weekly uplift to Universal Credit payments comes to an end this week. “It is simply unacceptable that the Communities Minister and […]

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has written again to the British Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to demand the British government retain the £20 Universal Credit Uplift which is due to be withdrawn next week. In the latest of a series of letters to Thérèse Coffey MP, Minister Hargey has again urged the retention […]