Bradshaw: Additional funding will go a small way to alleviating pressures on foster carers

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed news the Department of Health will be providing further funding to foster carers. A total of £754, 800 will be provided. There are currently around 2,600 children and young people in foster or kinship care in Northern Ireland. “This additional support will go a small way towards […]

Dickson calls for support for the leisure and entertainment sector

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has called for the Economy Minister to widen the Large Tourism and Hospitality Business Support Scheme, to include leisure and entertainment businesses over £51,001 NAV. The Alliance Economy spokesperson said: “For almost a year now, leisure and tourism businesses have been unable to trade normally, or even been required to close […]

Crucial regrettable and avoidable mistakes by Council staff not repeated, says McAllister, after funeral report

It is crucial regrettable and avoidable mistakes made by Belfast City Council staff relating to the cremation of Bobby Storey are not repeated, Alliance Councillor Nuala McAllister has said. She was speaking after the release of an independent report into the Council’s handling of the veteran republican’s funeral last year. The report says major errors […]

Muir tells Minister to get a move on with residents’ parking decision

Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has urged the Infrastructure Minister to get a move on, after it emerged she has still not received and reviewed a report already compiled by her officials on the benefits of residents’ parking schemes. In April 2018, the Department for Infrastructure ran a trial residents’ parking scheme in South […]

Extension of vaccination programme a huge relief for many, says Bradshaw

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed an extension of the COVID-19 vaccination programme to carers and those with underlying health conditions. In addition, anyone over 70 who has not had their first dose from their GP will have the option to book a vaccination appointment at one of the seven regional centres. “Today’s […]

More needs to be done to support people who have to self-isolate, says Armstrong

Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has supported a call to improve the level of support for people who have to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19. The Independent Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG), alongside trade unions and organisations in the community sector, have written to Ministers to seek support to encourage people contacted by track […]

Dickson says Economy Minister needs to take responsibility for students

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has called for the Economy Minister to take responsibility for the disappointing university experience many students have received this year. East Antrim MLA Mr Dickson was speaking after receiving a response to a question from Diane Dodds on student support, in which the Minister stated she has asked local universities to […]