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Armagh Community

Armagh 2025 Continues its Race for UK City of Culture

As the only Northern Ireland bid for UK City of Culture 2025 our richly historic, but often understated, city of Armagh and wider borough of Banbridge and Craigavon – is certainly a place that makes for an eclectic mix of heritage and culture, possibly why it is currently one of the front-runners to win the […]

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Community Infrastructure Lurgan Upper Bann

Kelly Welcomes Work on £125,000 LED Upgrading Scheme in Lurgan

SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has welcomed an announcement that work will begin on a £125,000 LED upgrading scheme in Lurgan Town Centre. SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced work will commence on Monday, January 10. The scheme will involve the replacement of the existing lights with a new LED street lighting system […]

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Community Crime Government Seanad Éireann

Fianna Fáil Senators Call For Harsher Sentences For Those Who Damage Public Defibrillators

Fianna Fáil Senators Robbie Gallagher and Diarmuid Wilson have brought forward legislation, Life Saving Equipment Bill, that proposes up to five years’ imprisonment and/or a €50,000 fine for anyone convicted of the theft of, or damage to, a defibrillator or life buoy. Senator Gallagher commented, “Over the last number of weeks, there have been attacks […]

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Banbridge Community Upper Bann

Communities Minister Must Get a Grip on Fuel Crisis Support! – Lockhart

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart has said the increasing frustration among the public at the application process for the Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme must be addressed by the Communities Minister Deidre Hargey MLA, and that her refusal to accept responsibility for the deficiencies in the scheme is failing people in urgent fuel need.  Carla […]

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Community Dáil Éireann Government

Minister Catherine Martin Welcomes Events to Mark the Centenary of the Handover of Dublin Castle

On 16th January 1922 at 1.45pm, the last Lord Lieutenant, or Viceroy, of Ireland formally handed over power and Dublin Castle itself, to the new Provisional Government.  The ceremony was concluded within a brief 45 minutes.  This Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of this historic event – one of the most significant in modern Irish history and […]

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Education Lurgan Upper Bann

O’Dowd Calls for Education Minister to Take Immediate Action Around Childcare Providers

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said the Education Minister must take immediate action to support childcare providers after 69 childminding settings closed due to Covid-19 in the first five days after the Christmas period. The Upper Bann spokesperson said:  “These closures are indicative of the severe pressure childcare providers are already experiencing due to […]

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Armagh Community Newry South Armagh

Irwin Concern on Hargey’s Fuel Scheme

Newry & Armagh DUP Assemblyman William Irwin MLA has spoken of his concern on the inaccessibility of Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey’s £2million emergency fuel scheme. Mr Irwin said he has had been contacted by many people inquiring if they would be entitled to the scheme however the application process was difficult to access. Mr Irwin […]

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Community Government Stormont

£55 Million Energy Payment Support Scheme Announced

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced a £55 million Energy Payment Support Scheme for vulnerable people struggling to meet rising energy costs due to the global fuel crisis. A one-off payment of £200 will be made automatically to around 280,000 eligible people in receipt of specified benefits. The payment will be made through existing payment […]

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Community Election 2022 Politics

£2m Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme a Shambles – Aontu

Aontú Deputy Leader and Fermanagh South Tyrone rep Cllr Denise Mullen has lambasted the chaotic Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme. She stated: “When the Department of Communities announced the £2m crisis fuel fund in December to ease the burden of fuel costs on 20,000 vulnerable families, there was a sense of relief that at last something […]

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Education Election 2022 Newry

McNulty Highlights Need For Greater School Support For Pupils With Autism

SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has highlighted the need for greater school support for pupils and students with autism and other special educational needs. At Wednesday’s Assembly Education Committee, Mr McNulty raised the case of a nine-year old boy from Co Antrim, whose mother had to take the Education Authority (EA) to an […]

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Banbridge Community Government Lurgan Portadown Upper Bann Westminster

Emergency Fuel Payments Can Help Local Households in Need – Lockhart

Emergency fuel payments can help local households in need – Lockhart DUP MP Carla Lockhart has urged those across Upper Bann who are in emergency fuel need to apply for the £100 payment made available by the Department for Communities, administered by the Bryson Charitable Group.  Carla Lockhart said: “A number of months ago I […]

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Community Infrastructure Lurgan Upper Bann

Lurgan Street Lighting Upgrade Welcomed By MP

Local Member of Parliament Carla Lockhart has welcomed the announcement from the Department for Infrastructure that a £125,000 street lighting improvement scheme has been approved for Lurgan Town Centre. Carla Lockhart said: “This is a very welcome investment and will see the installation of LED street lighting across Lurgan town centre. Not only will this […]