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Health Minister Robin Swann has urged the public to support health and social care staff as they continue to work through unprecedented pressures. The Minister said hospital Emergency Departments remain under severe strain, reflecting pressures right across the Health and Social Care system. He said the system as a whole is struggling to cope with current […]

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has introduced his Climate Change Bill to the Assembly, after it received approval from the Executive in June. Speaking about the latest development, Minister Poots said: “While introducing the Bill is a formal process in the Assembly, it signals the momentum behind my Climate Change Bill and I am pleased that we […]

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has introduced a Private Tenancies Bill in the Assembly improving protections for tenants living in the private rented sector. Minister Hargey said: “I am putting the needs of tenants at the heart of my approach. Private renters should have access to a good quality, affordable homes with peace of mind over the […]

Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA has introduced legislative proposals to improve public safety by updating the law on sexual offending in Northern Ireland. The Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill has two core aims: to enhance public safety by implementing certain elements of the Report of the Gillen review of serious sexual offence cases […]

A drive to increase Northern Ireland’s vaccine take-up rate could reduce hospital admissions by as much as 50% this summer. That’s the message from public health officials, as mobile walk-in vaccination clinics are rolled out across NI. In addition to the mobile walk-in clinics, a number of NI’s regional vaccination centres will now be offering […]

It is only a few years ago that the concept of Food Banks as we currently know them, was almost unheard of. Now there are estimated to be more than 30 foodbanks in Northern Ireland. Last year the Trussel Trust alone prepared and distributed around more than 78,000 emergency food parcels; in excess of one […]

The Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is working with local community groups to launch an exciting new initiative; Tidy Villages South Armagh. Many village communities are already carrying out village improvement work in the South Armagh area, but the partnership members want to encourage, expand and reward these […]

Newry District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum has recognised the incredible work of local young people who have successfully completed a number of litter picking activities throughout May at Newry Towpath. Young volunteers from the Inclusion in the City Group and Newry Youth Forum with support from The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) have helped to […]

Students and seasonal staff working in Northern Ireland are being reminded by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check that they are being paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW). All workers are legally entitled to be paid the NMW. This includes temporary seasonal staff, who often work short-term contracts in bars, hotels, shops and warehouses […]

Local Banbridge gym, Apollo Fitness, sees investment of nearly £6,000 thanks to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough (ABC) Council’s Covid-19 Revitalisation and Recovery Grant Scheme. Led by ABC Council, in conjunction with the Department for Communities and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the grant scheme launched last summer and offered local businesses […]

A new project aimed at supporting the health and wellbeing and professional development needs of Southern Trust staff and students has been launched. ‘Wellbeing @ the Library’ was developed by the Promoting Wellbeing team in partnership with staff in the Health Care Library and with the support of the Trust’s Psychology Department. It aims to […]

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has launched a new public awareness campaign to tackle the issue of littering and raise awareness of ‘Your Waste, Your Responsibility’. Litter is perhaps one of the most significant low-level environmental crimes affecting our district. Whilst there is no official statutory definition of litter, it can be anything that […]