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Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser have underlined the importance of as many people as possible getting vaccinated against Covid-19. And they have appealed to young people in the 18-29 age group to come forward for their jabs. Professor Sir Michael McBride and Professor Ian Young welcomed the localised initiatives underway to […]

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has outlined her plans to extend the terminal illness provision in social security benefits. Advising Assembly members of her decision, Minister Hargey said: “My priority is to reform the current rules to improve the support we provide to terminally ill people. “I will extend the current six months criterion to 12 months and […]

Detectives in Ardmore Criminal Investigation Department are appealing for information following the report of an incident in Bessbrook in the early hours of this morning, Sunday 4 July. Police received a report, just before 4am, that a shot had been fired through the window of a house in the Dobson’s Way area of the village. […]

Sinn Féin representatives Conor Murphy MLA, Liz Kimmins MLA and Mickey Brady MP recently  met with representatives from the Southern Trust on to discuss the current operations of Daisy Hill Hospital and their plans for the future. Following the meeting Conor Murphy MLA commented: “This was a positive and informative meeting with the trust where […]

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has finalised a Bill to modernise outdated liquor licensing legislation here. The Minister said she was delighted to deliver this much anticipated reform.  The licensing Bill was a priority for the Minister when taking up post and it has now completed its Final Stage in the Assembly. The Minister said: “I’m delighted […]

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has allocated £344.5 million funding for essential water and sewerage services as part of her 2021/22 budget. The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Derg Water Treatment Works where a major £12 million upgrade is about to get underway. The works serve Strabane and Omagh as well as supplying […]

The Economy Minister has said that the Northern Ireland Electoral Register will be used to verify the addresses of people who apply to use the scheme when it is launched later this year. The High Street Voucher Scheme will see everyone over the age of 18 in Northern Ireland provided with a £100 voucher to […]

Detectives in Newry, investigating a serious assault which took place in the Dundalk Road area of Crossmaglen on Sunday 2nd May, have charged two men. A 25 year old man has been charged with Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent, Possessing an Offensive Weapon, and a number of other offences.  A 22 year old man has been […]

Leading telecoms provider, Fibrus has been awarded a major multi-million pound contract to deliver critical digital infrastructure on behalf of the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI). Valued at over £23million, successful completion of the contract will see over 900 public-sector buildings connected to a hyperfast broadband service across Northern Ireland. The FFNI Consortium, which is made […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has launched the new Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031, setting the strategic direction for mental health in Northern Ireland for the next decade.  Launching the new strategy in an Oral statement to the Assembly, Minister Swann said:  “The Strategy is built on a vision of a society which promotes emotional wellbeing and positive mental […]

Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA has launched the 2021 Rural Business Development Grant Scheme, which will provide grant funding to rural micro businesses to help with their sustainability and development, as well as assisting recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Minister made his announcement during a visit to ‘All Blinds and Curtains’ in Ballinderry, […]