NEWS

Kilrea Bridge The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has announced interim measures that could see Kilrea Bridge reopen to cars and light vehicles before Christmas — offering a glimmer of relief to residents and traders after weeks of disruption. In a statement issued this today, the Department said it had been “working closely” with a specialist contractor since their appointment last week to explore every opportunity to “reduce the timescale and minimise disruption” for t

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced that the Northern Ireland Executive has approved his plan to restore pay parity for health service staff, bringing their pay levels back in line with colleagues across the UK. In a statement today, Mr Nesbitt said: “The Executive has today given me approval to deliver pay parity for health service staff, which was our original intention and what unions and professional bodies have been asking for and is their right.” The Minister con

Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows has warned that families already struggling with the cost of living will be “hit hard” by the Education Authority’s decision to raise the price of school meals by around 20 per cent. The increase – equivalent to an extra 50p per meal – is due to take effect from January 2026, as part of a series of savings measures introduced by the Education Authority (EA) to tackle a £300 million funding shortfall. Mr Burrows, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Ed

North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew speaking today in the Northern Ireland Assembly A motion led today (Thursday 5 November) by North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew to support service leavers, veterans, and their families through the Armed Forces Covenant has been passed in the Northern Ireland Assembly, receiving cross-party backing. The motion gained support from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) and the Alliance Party, marking a rare instance of cross

Parents across Northern Ireland are bracing for higher school meal prices and potential changes to transport and music provision after the Education Authority (EA) confirmed a series of cost-saving measures to address a £300 million funding shortfall. The EA said the “regrettable” measures, which aim to deliver up to £30 million in savings, will begin to take effect this month. However, the organisation warned that even with these cuts, it will be “some distance” from breaki

More than 195,000 Universal Credit recipients in Northern Ireland will gain automatic entitlement to free NHS sight tests, dental treatment, and travel cost support from 1 December, following a key legislative update announced by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. The move brings Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK, after years of disparity in how Universal Credit recipients accessed the Help with Health Costs (HwHC) scheme. The HwHC scheme supports people on low in

Mandatory housing measures for all kept birds and poultry will come into force across Northern Ireland from 00:01 on Thursday, 6 November 2025 , as part of new efforts to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced that the new Housing Order will require all bird keepers — including pet bird owners, commercial operators, and those with backyard or hobby flocks — to keep thei

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, with club representatives at Stormont. The iconic Ulster Grand Prix is set to roar back onto the international motorsport stage in summer 2027, marking its long-awaited return to the famous Dundrod circuit for the first time since 2019. The announcement from the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Ltd (MCUI UC) confirms that extensive discussions with government departments, MLAs, counc

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, with his much-loved companions Cassie and Maggie. Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA Jon Burrows has voiced strong support for reforming Northern Ireland’s fireworks legislation, describing the current situation as “deeply distressing” for families, pet owners, and communities affected by irresponsible use. The North Antrim MLA, who is a well-known dog lover, said his own pet suffers panic attacks during fireworks seaso

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has called for agreement to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Northern Ireland, following the publication of an expert panel report recommending stronger, more accountable environmental governance. Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Minister Muir outlined plans for the creation of a non-departmental public body (NDPB) under the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair

A suspect case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been identified at a commercial poultry premises near Pomeroy, County Tyrone, prompting swift disease control measures by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The Department confirmed that the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) for Northern Ireland, Brian Dooher, took the decision to initiate control protocols following the emergence of concerning clinical signs and preliminary test re

Kilrea Bridge The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that repair works on Kilrea Bridge are due to begin on Monday 10 November, following weeks of disruption since the bridge was closed on 20 September over structural safety concerns. The bridge, which carries the B64 Bann Road over the River Bann, was shut in both directions after an inspection identified extensive cracking on a retaining wall at the south-west end of the structure. A DfI spokesperson said: “

A total of £259,091 has been awarded to ten community and voluntary sector projects that provide vital support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse across Northern Ireland. The funding, jointly provided by the Departments of Justice and Health under the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Small Grant Scheme, will enable organisations to deliver trauma-informed counselling, crisis intervention, and specialist legal advice to victims and survivors. Announcing the funding, Justice Min

Deputy First Minister Little-Pengelly with Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales Zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus has showcased its dramatic revival and global success story to Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, during a visit to the company’s Ballymena headquarters. The visit on Wednesday offered an insight into how the company has transformed from administration just six years ago into a global powerhouse of green transport innovation. Since 201

Inset: North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has voiced serious concern over reports that Sinn Féin representatives allegedly asked PSNI officers to remove their personal protection weapons before entering party offices or attending community meetings. Mr Burrows — a retired senior police officer — described the alleged actions as a “dangerous abuse of political power” that could undermine both officer safety and the independence of policing in Northern

Two senior Northern Ireland politicians have backed the Ulster Farmers’ Union’s (UFU) unprecedented vote of no confidence in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), describing it as a “seismic moment” and “wholly understandable”. Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Agriculture spokesperson and Chair of the Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, Robbie Butler MLA , said the move represents a damning indictment of a department an

It seems the leaks at Stormont aren’t just political. TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has condemned what he described as a “disgraceful” spate of deliberate toilet flooding incidents inside Parliament Buildings, warning that taxpayers are footing the bill for the clean-up. In a statement, Mr Gaston said he had personally encountered the problem, explaining: “I first became aware of this when I went to use a toilet, only to discover that the taps had been left running and the sink del

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), citing a series of failings that have left farmers across Northern Ireland “deeply dissatisfied” . The decision was taken at the UFU Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday evening, 29 October, following months of frustration over what the union described as DAERA’s failure to address key agricultural concerns. UFU President W

Kilrea Bridge, and (inset) North Antrim MP Jim Allister North Antrim MP Jim Allister KC has challenged the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to commit to building a new bridge across the River Bann at Kilrea, following the closure of the 242-year-old structure due to serious structural defects. Kilrea Bridge, which provides a vital connection between Counties Antrim and Londonderry, was recently closed after inspectors found vertical and diagonal cracking on a retaining wal

Dr Katy Radford MBE, Director of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression (OICE), Lee Reynolds (left), Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition, Pól Deeds (right), Irish Language Commissioner The First Minister and deputy First Minister have confirmed a series of high-profile appointments to key cultural and linguistic posts in Northern Ireland, marking a significant milestone in the implementation of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland