Urgent support needs to be given to social enterprises in Northern Ireland to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic, Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said. Mr Dickson, Chair of the Assembly All-Party Group on Social Enterprise, has written to Economy Minister Diane Dodds outlining his concern regarding the current funding situation, saying unless […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she has concerns over a fund designed to help sporting bodies financially after it was suspended due to being over-subscribed. The Department for Communities’ Hardship Fund for Sport was launched on Monday, with £500,000 to help sports clubs and organisations with overheads and maintaining facilities during the […]
Local guidelines relating to people with autism or learning disabilities being able to leave their homes more than once a day to exercise during the COVID-19 lockdown need to be updated to reflect UK Government advice, Alliance MLA John Blair has said. Mr Blair was speaking after raising the issue at today’s meeting of the […]
Fairness and equity must be at the heart of the process awarding pupils grades in the cancelled GCSE, AS and A-Levels, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said. It follows Education Minister Peter Weir confirming teachers will predict the grades they think pupils would have achieved, with schools also asked to rank pupils in […]
Alliance Councillor Eóin Tennyson has called on universities and the Minister for the Economy to introduce ‘no-detriment’ policies to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on students in third level education. Councillor Tennyson, a former Queen’s University student, said it was an anxious time for students, who had had their education severely disrupted by COVID-19. “Our […]
While we are all being urged to stay at home to stop the spread of Coronavirus, this does not mean victims of domestic violence should feel forgotten or alone, Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. Help and support is available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Naomi Long said: “The ‘stay at home’ […]
Northern Ireland needs to follow suit in banning gambling with credit cards, Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. Ms Armstrong was speaking as regulations came into force in Britain outlawing the practice, which extends to credit card gambling through e-wallets. Recent statistics showed up to 800,000 people in the UK used credit cards […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said that distribution of PPE equipment must be speeded up to safeguard GPs and Practice Nurses. Paula Bradshaw said: “We have been assured that in Northern Ireland we have adequate supplies of PPE equipment on order and in stock. However, GPs have now raised genuine concerns that supplies […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has welcomed the launch of a new App to help children stay safe online. The Safer Schools App, developed by the iNEQE Safeguarding Group, has been made available free of charge to parents, teachers and carers. Chris Lyttle said: “Today’s children spend much more time online than any previous […]
Alliance Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has welcomed proposed extra financial support from the Department of Health for those arranging their own care at home. The South Belfast MLA said: “Those arranging their own care at home, in receipt of direct payments, need to be catered for in relation to the distribution of PPE and extra […]