NEWS

The Department of Education has published new School Uniform Guidelines to help schools across Northern Ireland prepare for upcoming statutory requirements expected to take effect from the 2026/27 academic year. The move follows the passage of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill, which cleared its Final Stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 13 October and will become law once it receives Royal Assent. Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed that the guid

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

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

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with Age NI Head of Advice and Advocacy Services Brenda Kearns (left) and Director of Pensions, Disability, and Carers at Department for Communities NI Leonora McLaughlin. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has encouraged people over the State Pension age to check whether they qualify for Pension Credit, warning that many older residents could be missing out on vital financial help during the ongoing cost of living pressures. Pension

A 56-year-old US citizen who conned Northern Ireland clients out of around £135,000 while working as a mortgage advisor has been jailed for four years. Marianne Smyth was sentenced today (Friday 17 October) at Downpatrick Crown Court after being found guilty of three counts of fraud by abuse of position and three counts of theft following a four-day trial last month. The offences date back to when Smyth was working as a mortgage advisor in Northern Ireland between 2005 and 20

South Antrim MP Robin Swann, Ms Antoniazzi, and UFU President William Irvine Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann has hosted a high-level meeting in Westminster with representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) and the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, to discuss the major challenges facing the farming sector. The meeting followed a presentation by the UFU to the Committee earlier the same day, with discussions focusing on the pres

AIB on Wellington Street, Ballymena AIB NI is set to visit Ballymena on Wednesday 12 November as part of its new ‘Let’s Talk Co-Ownership’ branch series – a fresh initiative designed to support homebuyers across Northern Ireland with practical, face-to-face guidance. Running throughout October and November, the series will see AIB’s local mortgage experts teaming up with Co-Ownership specialists to provide tailored advice and insight for anyone considering home ownership. The

Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the Northern Ireland Assembly’s support for the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill, which aims to reduce the financial burden of school uniforms for families. The Bill, introduced by Minister Givan in February 2025, has now passed its Final Stage and will come into effect for the 2026/2027 academic year. It marks a major policy shift in how schools across Northern Ireland manage uniform requirements, with new statutory

Click Energy customers across Northern Ireland are set to see their electricity bills rise by 3.5% from 1 November 2025, with the average...

Hundreds of thousands of young people across the UK are being urged to check if they have a matured Child Trust Fund (CTF), with an...

Police have arrested three people after quick-thinking building society staff intervened to protect a vulnerable older person from...

Northern Ireland’s second largest energy supplier, SSE Airtricity, has confirmed that its standard variable electricity tariff will...

Danske Bank has announced a major investment in Ballymoney with plans to relocate its branch to a modern new site on High Street. The...

Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the passing of the School Uniforms Bill at Consideration Stage in the Northern Ireland...

Northern Ireland’s largest electricity supplier, Power NI, has confirmed a 4% increase in its residential electricity tariff, effective...

The Utility Regulator has confirmed that Firmus Energy’s regulated gas tariff for customers in Northern Ireland’s Ten Towns area will...

Firmus Energy Supply has announced a further cut to domestic gas tariffs, with customers in Northern Ireland’s Ten Towns Network set to...

Northern Ireland police have issued a stark warning to the public to remain vigilant against sophisticated investment scams, following a...

Robin Swann MP Robin Swann MP has called on both the Justice Minister and the Chancellor to take urgent action to reduce the high costs...