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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is supporting the Public Health Agency (PHA) call for asymptomatic people aged 18 to 40 in selected neighbourhoods within the Castlewellan area to come forward for COVID-19 testing. This is a precautionary measure by the PHA, which has identified a number of probable cases of the Delta variant in […]

Northern Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination centres are now offering first dose appointments to everyone aged 18 and over, as part of the drive to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. In recent weeks, the centres have been focussing on the 18-39 age group, with community pharmacies offering vaccine appointments to those aged 40 […]

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has welcomed the findings of an independent report into the Department’s Make the Call Wraparound Service (MtC Wraparound), which found far-reaching positive affects in a diverse range of areas. The Minister was speaking as she met staff from the Service which aims to connect people with the benefits, supports and services […]

£27.25million has issued to 552 businesses under the Department of Finance’s Large NAV Business Grant Scheme. The scheme being delivered by Land & Property Services provides financial support to businesses with a Net Annual Value of over £51,000 which also qualified for the 12 months rates holiday.  Following visits to Exact Group, a precision engineering […]

Thousands of health workers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be looking to the Prime Minister to announce his decision on the long-awaited NHS pay rise in the coming days, says UNISON today (Wednesday). Ministers have repeatedly said they will await the recommendations of the NHS pay review body (on which they have attempted […]

Sinn Féin Councillor Oonagh Magennis has said that the theft of four kayaks owned by  Camlough Community association was a very mean act. The local Councillor said, “Four of Camlough Community Association’s kayaks and paddles have been stolen from the container at the lake between Friday evening(18th) and Sunday morning(20th June).They have Camlough Lake written […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has set out all the ways testing can help keep people safe from COVID-19. “Alongside vaccination and contact tracing, testing is one of the main pillars of protection against the virus,” the Minister said. “A number of different COVID-19 testing services are available in Northern Ireland and I would encourage people to […]

First Minister Paul Givan has praised the work of mental health charity PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland. The First Minister visited the PIPS offices on the Antrim Road in Belfast to speak to staff, and see how the facilities have been improved with funding from the Executive’s Social Investment Fund programme, delivered by the Executive Office. […]

County Down man Geoffrey Chambers (63) of Moneydarragh Road in Annalong was today fined a total of £2,500 at Newry Magistrates’ Court for one offence under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007. Mr Chambers had failed to comply with a Reinstatement Notice to return a field at Mill Road, Mullartown, Annalong back […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has published a Consultation Analysis Report on the Draft Mental Health Strategy, which itself was published in December. Welcoming the input from all those who participated in the consultation, Minister Swann said: “I am very grateful to the large numbers of individuals and organisations who contributed to the process, both during the […]

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey appeared before the Committee for Communities to provide an update on her efforts to extend the existing welfare mitigation schemes and to close loopholes that can affect entitlement. Minister Hargey stressed her personal commitment to progressing the legislation at the earliest possible opportunity and informed the Committee that she has written […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has called on employers to show flexibility with employees over Covid-19 vaccination appointments. The Minister said it is vitally important that first and second dose appointments are kept: “We have an ongoing issue at present with people seeking to reschedule their second dose dates. “While this will obviously be unavoidable in some […]