NEWS

North Antrim Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland Families across North Antrim could face deeper hardship if welfare spending is reduced to boost defence funding, according to Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland. The party’s poverty spokesperson said calls from senior DUP figures to divert money away from welfare budgets were “catastrophically out of touch” with the pressures facing households during the ongoing energy crisis. Her comments follow remarks from DUP leaders Arlene Foster and

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Families across Northern Ireland who rely on heating oil to warm their homes could see stronger protections against price hikes, as the Prime Minister visits Belfast today, Thursday 12 March, to warn companies against profiteering. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is using the visit on Thursday to send what Downing Street describes as a “strong message” to heating oil suppliers that prices must be fair, transparent and justifiable — and not inflate

Inset: Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister has moved to clarify what she describes as “misleading” claims about an £81 million support package aimed at helping households with electricity bills. Dr Caoimhe Archibald said inaccurate assertions about the funding risk confusing the public at a time when many families are already worried about rising energy costs. The funding, announced in the British Chancellor’s Autumn 20

Inset: North Antrim MLA Paul Frew Concerns raised by new mothers in the Ballymena area about postnatal care arrangements have prompted intervention from North Antrim MLA Paul Frew , who sought urgent clarification from health officials after reports that women were being asked to attend clinic appointments just days after giving birth. Mr Frew said he had been contacted by constituents worried about a move towards centralised postnatal appointments within the Northern Health

North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston has warned that proposed changes to special educational needs (SEN) support could place classroom assistant jobs at risk and increase pressure inside classrooms. Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, Gaston paid tribute to the “vital role classroom assistants play” in supporting pupils but said staff and families are increasingly worried about how the proposed reforms may work in practice. The Tr

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with Head Boy, Jake Quigley, Head Girl, Emma-Louise White and Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen at his recent visit to Antrim Grammar School to see Northern Ireland Screen’s creative education and careers pipeline. Young people in Northern Ireland could find their future careers in the rapidly growing screen and creative industries, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons  said during a visit to Antrim Grammar Sc

Antrim Area Hospital car park Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has tabled draft legislation to defer the abolition of hospital parking charges, citing financial pressures on the health system. The draft Hospital Parking Charges Bill was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly this week. If passed, it will delay the full implementation of the Hospital Parking Charges (NI) Act 2022, which provides for a ban on charging vehicles in hospital car parks. Delay driven by funding pr

Pictured Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA, Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee TD and Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA A meeting between Ulster Unionist Party leaders and Ireland’s Foreign Minister has placed legacy issues from the Troubles and regional security firmly back on the political agenda. Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA , accompanied by Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA , met Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee TD on Monday (February 9) in what he described as a “constructiv

Shutters down: The changing face of Ballymena town centre. Church Street, Ballymena. Business leaders across Mid and East Antrim have issued a stark warning to councillors: town centres are entering a period of accelerating decline — and without urgent intervention the damage could become irreversible. In coordinated correspondence sent directly by email to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s elected representatives, the chairs of Larne Business Forum and Ballymena Business

Senior officials from the Department for Communities will face further scrutiny at Stormont this week after a key Assembly committee criticised the department’s latest update on tackling child poverty as “wholly inadequate”. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recalled departmental representatives to provide fresh oral evidence on Thursday, 12 March, amid mounting concern about the pace of progress on the Child Poverty Strategy in Northern Ireland. The move follows a stro

The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life can shape their future health, education and wellbeing — and experts say getting support right during that window is critical. Leaders from across Northern Ireland’s health, education and community sectors gathered to launch a refreshed Infant Mental Health Framework and Action Plan designed to strengthen support for families from pregnancy through to a child’s third birthday. The updated framework, announced by Health Minister Mike Nesbi

A special event at Stormont will bring together survivors and families affected by terrorism to mark European Day for Victims of Terrorism, with powerful personal testimonies set to highlight the lasting human cost of violence. The annual commemoration, organised by Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), will take place in the Senate Chamber at Parliament Buildings at 11am on Monday 9 March, with refreshments available from 10:30am. Announcing the event, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston sa

Education Minister Paul Givan pictured at the launch of the SEN Reform Training project with project participants and representatives from the five further education colleges involved in delivering the project. A new training initiative aimed at strengthening early support for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) has been officially launched by Education Minister Paul Givan, placing a renewed focus on equipping classroom assistants with specialist skills during the e

Sophie Murray; First Minister Michelle O’Neill; Moira Doherty, Interim Permanent Secretary, The Executive Office; deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly; Marissa Callaghan MBE. Women whose quiet work strengthens families, neighbourhoods and organisations across Northern Ireland were placed firmly in the spotlight at Stormont as political leaders marked International Women’s Day. First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly hosted a specia

(L-R) Sonya McMullan, Women’s Aid Federation; Maureen Ritchie, DoH; Catherine Magennis, PHA; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Amanda Mairs, NHSCT; Justice Minister Naomi Long; Sonia Glendinning, DoH; Amber McCloughlin, PHA; Martina Moore, DoH. New regional guidance designed to help nurses and midwives identify and respond to domestic abuse has been launched across Northern Ireland, aiming to strengthen early intervention and ensure victims receive the support they need sooner. T

Pictured left to right are Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Hugh Cormican, CEO of Cirdan, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Alison Currie, Chief Development Officer, Invest NI. A £12.9 million investment by Cirdan Imaging is set to create 72 highly skilled jobs while strengthening Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre for life and health sciences innovation. Announced by the First Minister, deputy First Minister an

The DUP has voiced opposition to calls for a Basic Income for Artists scheme to be introduced in Northern Ireland. At Belfast City Council this week, DUP Group Leader Councillor Sarah Bunting spoke out against the proposal as the rest of the council voted to lobby Stormont to introduce the scheme. The Republic of Ireland is establishing a permanent Basic Income for the Arts scheme, which will pay 2,000 eligible artists €325 per week for three years. The scheme follows a long

Households across Northern Ireland are facing a sharp and immediate spike in home heating costs, with prices rising by more than 60% since last Friday — prompting urgent cross-government talks and a warning that “any unjustified hike” is unacceptable. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald   has responded to escalating home heating oil and fuel prices, which have emerged in the wake of the action taken by the US and Israel against Iran. The situation has sparked fresh concerns f

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at the launch of the Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Scheme with players and the Chairman of Wellington Rec Football (l-r) Royce Balmer, Rachael-anne Seymour, Kenny Thompson (chairman) and Ben Tilney. A £9million funding injection aimed at transforming grassroots football facilities across Northern Ireland has been unveiled by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons  — with grants of up to £1.5million n

Inset: Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt Northern Ireland’s hospital waiting lists for outpatients, inpatients, and diagnostics have recorded small but meaningful reductions, a rare positive shift amid years of mounting demand. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomed the latest figures and credited healthcare staff for their “tremendous effort” in improving patient access to care. Minister praises incremental improvements Speaking alongside the publication of the qu