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Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced the allocation of £18.06 million to projects being delivered under “People and Place – a Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal” in the 2021/22 financial year. The funded projects seek to improve key outcomes in areas such as health and wellbeing, community development, education, skills and employability. Welcoming the investment, Minister […]

Northern Ireland stands prepared to welcome back tourists from across the globe when the time is right. That was the message from Economy Minister Diane Dodds as she paid a visit to Titanic Belfast today. The Minister met with Titanic Belfast’s Chief Executive Officer, Judith Owens, to hear how the leading tourist attraction, and the […]

Slieve Gullion Sinn Féin Councillor Mickey Larkin has called on visitors to our forest parks not to leave valuables in their cars. Encouraging vigilance the local Councillor said, “On Saturday a car parked on the Mountain Road Dromintee was broken into and a sum of money stolen along with personal items. Apart from the damage […]

Economy Minister Diane Dodds has welcomed new employment legislation which will benefit workers across Northern Ireland. The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 extends protections against detriment in health and safety cases to workers in relation to any action they may take […]

The Department of Health has published the NI Cancer Waiting Times Statistics Release for October, November and December 2020. The release gives details of the waiting times for patients accessing cancer services at hospitals during October, November and December 2020. Key facts and figures are listed below: Waiting times for first treatment following an urgent […]

An additional £900,000 will be available as part of the Pathway Fund budget so that all 169 eligible applicants can receive an award this year. The Fund is administered by Early Years – The Organisation for Young Children (EYO) and prioritises support to children facing disadvantage who are at risk underachieving in education. This year […]

Restoration of the Armagh to Portadown railway link and creation of a greenway alongside it would not only enhance opportunities for people but improve the active travel experienced in the local area, Alliance Newry and Armagh representative Jackie Coade has said. Ms Coade, recently selected as Alliance’s representative for the constituency, said there was a […]

In a poll that was taken last summer by the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, it was found that 79% of people claim to have some religious affiliation. Of course, this does not mean that the affiliation is deep, or important, or genuine; it may mean just that we are ashamed not to claim […]

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced the establishment of new grant schemes for cancer and mental health charities and a Carers Support Fund. The Cancer Charities Support Fund and Mental Health Support Fund will each receive £10m, while £4m has been allocated to the Carers Support Fund. The Minister has also allocated £15m to Health […]

With lockdown restrictions lifting and more leisure activities resuming, the Southern Trust is reminding people with urgent but not critical symptoms to ‘Phone First’ before attending Emergency Departments or Minor Injuries services. Patients, including children, considering  attending Emergency Departments or the Minor Injuries Services at Craigavon, Daisy Hill or South Tyrone Hospital with an urgent […]

The Executive has agreed a package of relaxations to the current Coronavirus Health Regulations. From April 23: Resumption of driving instruction and theory tests; Driving testing can resume; Re-opening of close contact services including training; Re-opening of outdoor visitor attractions including outdoor activity centres; Resumption of Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning (EATL) on an indoor […]

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced that 2,403 new social homes were started in 2020/21 – almost 30% more than the target for the year (1,850 units). During the same period, 1,318 social housing homes were completed (against a target of 1,200). Looking ahead with the aim of continuing to build our quantity of social […]