The charity sector needs financial help to ensure it survives the coronavirus pandemic, Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. Ms Armstrong said opening up grant schemes to include charities and social enterprises would be a major step towards making sure they can continue delivering services after the COVID-19 crisis. “The community and voluntary […]
A discretionary fund to help businesses excluded from grant support should be established to help some companies and sole traders navigate the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. The North Down MLA said confirmation a number of businesses had been excluded from the Micro-business Hardship Fund set up […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, Deputy Chair of the Communities Committee has welcomed plans to give the charity sector a financial boost as the coronavirus pandemic continues to bring financial pressures across all aspects of life in Northern Ireland. The Alliance Party’s Communities spokesperson, Kellie was speaking after the latest Ministerial update in the Assembly – […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed the announcement nurses will not lose pay from strikes over safe staffing. Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced today (Tuesday) £1.6 million would be made available to health staff, to ensure they did not suffer a financial loss as a result of the strike action held earlier this […]
Alliance MLA and Finance Spokesperson Andrew Muir has welcomed the decision to extend rates relief for all businesses until the end of July, and the full financial year for key sectors hardest hit by the pandemic, but also called for much more assistance beyond rates relief to help both people and businesses get through the […]
lliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Action Plan by the Department of Health. The plan contains 38 actions, including a commitment to produce a mental health strategy and actions for dealing with the response to the COVID-19 crisis. “Never has such an action plan, setting out commitments […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle has welcomed today’s announcement that £12 million has now been set aside for substitute teachers pay. Mr Lyttle – Chair of the Education Committee said the move would be a welcome boost of morale for the education sector, that up until now had witnessed a key part of Northern Ireland’s […]
Alliance Chief Whip Kellie Armstrong MLA has called for the Assembly to continue to meet over July and August, and not go into recess at a crucial time. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong has made the formal request with Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey and will bring the issue to the Assembly’s Business Committee to seek agreement […]
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has warned that the Health Minister must put a precise timeline on testing plans in care homes. The South Belfast MLA stated: “No one is suggesting the Minister has an easy job at present, but he needs to recognise that serious mistakes have been made with regard to care homes, […]
Alliance West Belfast representative Donnamarie Higgins has condemned those behind a shooting which left a man dead. A murder investigation has been opened after the man in his 50s was shot dead at a house in Lenadoon Avenue in the west of the city around 10pm yesterday (Sunday). “This is a shocking incident, which will […]