Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong welcomes the stark but well researched report by the NI Public Service Office (NIPSO) who have identified ‘systemic maladministration’ in the PIP system. After the new report highlighted significant failings in the system, Kellie – Vice Chair of the Communities committee, called on the Minister to urgently outline her planned actions […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has backed plans to see a return to hybrid meeting models for Council meetings across Northern Ireland. The Vice Chair of the Communities Committee was speaking as the Local Government Bill was given the go-ahead for accelerated passage through the Assembly, after the legislation ran out in early May. Kellie said: […]
Alliance is to offer bereavement leave for employees affected by miscarriage and stillbirth, Chief Whip Kellie Armstrong MLA has said. Ms Armstrong was speaking ahead of the latest stage of the Parental Bereavement Bill in the Assembly today (Monday). It aims to bring in statutory paid leave of two weeks for those who have suffered […]
Kellie Armstrong MLA has hit out at both DUP and SF for playing games with lives due to delays in legislation. Alliance’s Communities spokesperson has said she is at “the end of her tether” with how the DUP and Sinn Fein are using people living in poverty as a political football. She added: “The budget […]
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has welcomed the findings of an investigation into PIP by the NI Audit Office. Released today, the report demonstrates key areas for improvement, which Kellie says now must be taken forward to aid those in need of PIP across Northern Ireland. She added: “The findings of this report will be welcome […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said she is disappointed after plans to scrap the ‘six-month’ rule for those with terminal illnesses claiming benefits appeared to be put on the back-burner by the Department for Communities. The Strangford MLA was speaking after a meeting of the Assembly’s Communities Committee, during which it was confirmed […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called on the Communities Minister to extend supplementary payments for up to two years until a huge backlog of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals are processed. Statistics from the Department for Communities show more than 68 per cent of people have been waiting more than a year for […]
Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw has said there must be no further delay on minority language and culture legislation being brought forward by the Executive, despite ongoing leadership changes in Unionist parties. Speaking after she and party leader Naomi Long MLA met Conradh na Gaeilge to cover some of the detail in commitments contained […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called for legislation to be moved urgently to ensure welfare mitigations will continue. Without new legislation, the current package of mitigations are due to end on March 31. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong said clarity was needed quickly for the thousands of people who benefit from mitigations. “Welfare mitigations […]
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has called on the Finance Minister to consider allocating money to reform the controversial ‘six-month’ rule for terminally ill people. As part of a cross-party letter, MLAs wrote to Conor Murphy to urge him to give the Department for Communities (DFC) £2 million to progress reform of the Special […]