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Health Politics Uncategorized

MURPHY ALLOCATES £74 MILLION INCLUDING £25 MILLION FOR HEALTH WORKERS

The Executive has agreed further funding allocations of £74 million including £25 million towards the health workers recognition payment. Announcing the allocations, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: “The Executive has agreed to provide £25 million to offset the impact of National Insurance and tax deductions to the £500 recognition payment. This will ensure our dedicated […]

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SCHOOL MILK SCHEME SET TO CONTINUE

Almost 200,000 pupils in NI will be able to drink around 1,000,000 litres of subsidised milk for the next two years, Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed. The Minister made the comments to reassure schools, parents and pupils that his Department will continue to fund the School Milk Scheme until at least the end of […]

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HALF A MILLION VACCINES ADMINISTERED IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The Covid-19 vaccination programme has now reached a milestone of over 500, 000 doses delivered to eligible people in Northern Ireland. 478,825 first doses and 31,345 second doses have now been administered. Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed today’s landmark figure and praised the dedication of all involved in the vaccination programme: “On December 8 2020 […]

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Newry Politics Uncategorized

Disappointment With Translink Failure To Put In Place Bus Shelter Provision Programme.

Newry Mourne & Down Sinn Féin Councillor, Declan Murphy, has expressed disappointment after learning from a report at the Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee that Translink has yet to put in place a programme for work for the provision of bus shelters. The Slieve Gullion area Councillor said, “Despite Translink having agreed in principle to partner […]

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Health Uncategorized

MINISTER SWANN WELCOMES PRE-CONSULTATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND POST-VENTION SERVICES

Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the launch of the pre-consultation for suicide prevention and post-vention services. The pre-consultation is being undertaken by the Public Health Agency (PHA). It will include opportunities for people to provide feedback by registering their interest to take part either by completing the online survey or in a number of […]

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Business Uncategorized

LABOUR MARKET STATISTICS

The labour market statistics have been published by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency. Almost 10,500 redundancies proposed since March 11,000 collective redundancies were proposed in the twelve months to the end of December, more than double the number recorded in the previous twelve months. Almost 10,500 were proposed in the ten months since […]

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Crime Uncategorized

SHARING OF INFORMATION VITAL FOR MOTHER AND BABY HOME SURVIVORS: FOSTER & O’NEILL

Active collaboration and the sharing of information and knowledge will be crucial in addressing the needs of mother and baby home survivors, the First Minister and deputy First Minister have said. They were speaking following a meeting with Roderic O’Gorman, Irish Government Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. They discussed the report published […]

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Crime Uncategorized

MINISTERS WELCOME LAUNCH OF PHARMACY CODEWORD SCHEME FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS

Health Minister Robin Swann and Justice Minister Naomi Long have welcomed a new scheme launched by the UK Government for victims of domestic abuse to discretely seek help through pharmacies. The scheme will initially be available in Boots pharmacies, as well as a number of other independent pharmacies. Participating pharmacies will have promotional material on […]

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Education Uncategorized

WEIR OUTLINES PLANS TO END PERIOD POVERTY IN SCHOOLS

Education Minister, Peter Weir has announced that period products are to be made freely available to pupils in primary and secondary schools. The pilot is expected to cost £2.6 million, over 3 years, and will launch in all schools with female learners in the 2021/22 academic year. Education Minister, Peter Weir said: “I welcome today’s decision […]

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Business Uncategorized

DODDS WELCOMES DECISION TO EXTEND FURLOUGH UNTIL APRIL

Economy Minister Diane Dodds today welcomed the decision by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme by another month until the end of April 2021. The Minister said: “I welcome the Chancellor’s decision to extend the Job Retention Scheme to the end of April. It has been my consistent position that the furlough […]

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Business Uncategorized

£292.7MILLION ISSUED IN DIRECT PAYMENTS

More than 99% of farmers in Northern Ireland have received their full Direct Payment for 2020, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has announced. The total amount of Direct Payments issued by DAERA for the 2020 scheme year is £292.7million. Commending the Department’s performance, Minister Poots said: “I am pleased to announce that full Direct Payments […]

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Business Uncategorized

ECONOMY MINISTER OUTLINES IMPORTANT STEPS BUSINESSES SHOULD TAKE

Economy Minister Diane Dodds has outlined basic steps businesses can take to prepare for the end of the transition period. A recent survey by the NI Business Brexit Working Group found fewer than one in five businesses were prepared for 1 January. The Minister said: “This has been a time of great uncertainty for businesses and […]