Northern Ireland News for June 2021

Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2021
New Leisure Centre Membership Card For Children Launched
A new leisure centre membership card has been launched to benefit children across Belfast. The membership cards entitle registered school-aged children to up to 30% off all 'Pay and Play' activities...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2021
New 10-Year Mental Health Strategy Launched
A new 10-year Mental Health Strategy has been announced by Health Minister Robin Swann. Launching the new Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 in the Assembly, Minister Swann said: "The Strategy is built...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2021
Liquor Licensing Legislation Passed By NI Assembly
A Bill to modernise NI's liquor licensing legislation has completed its final stage in the Assembly, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced. The Minister said that the licensing Bill was a...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2021
Justice Minister Must Closely Monitor Management Of Victims Payment Scheme
The Justice Minister, Naomi Long, must closely monitor both the assessment and appeals process of the Victims Payment Scheme to ensure it is operating as intended with in-person assessments only requi...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2021
Time To 'Press The Reset' Button On Delivery Of Growth And Prosperity
A new independent report has said that it is time for Northern Ireland to "press the reset" button on how prosperity and growth is delivered. The Belfast Innovation and Inclusive Growth Commission, c...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 30, 2021
Major Funding Boost For NI's Water Services
Funding of £344.5 million has been announced for essential water and sewerage services as part of the Department for Infrastructure 2021/22 budget. The Minister made the announcement during a visit t...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2021
Man Jailed For 24 Years For Preparation Of Terrorist Acts
A 32-year-old man has been jailed for 24 years at Belfast Crown Court, after pleading guilty to one count of preparation of terrorist acts. Niall Lehd, from Larne, will serve 24 years in prison and 5...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2021
Rehabilitation Training To Be Offered For All Drink Driving Convictions
Drink driving legislation has been changed to offer all those convicted of drink drive offences the opportunity to undertake rehabilitation training. At present referral to the course is at the discr...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2021
'The Time Is Now' For Covid-19 Vaccination
Health Minister Robin Swann has published an open letter, making a personal plea to people who have not yet taken up the Covid-19 vaccination, urging people not to: "Please don't put off your turn. Th...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2021
Decision To Give Troubles' Victims Payment Scheme To Capita Condemned
A decision by the Justice Minister, Naomi Long, to award the contract for the Troubles' Victims Payment Scheme to Capita has been described as "inconceivable", by SDLP social justice spokesperson Mark...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2021
Commercial Tenants Emergency Protection Scheme Extended
Emergency protection for tenants having difficulty paying rent on commercial leases as a result of the pandemic has been extended for a further three months, Finance Minister Conor Murphy has announce...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 29, 2021
School Meals And Uniforms Support Scheme Open For Applications
Online applications for extra support with school meals and uniforms are now open, Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced. Encouraging families entitled to the support to apply, the Minis...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 28, 2021
'Substantial' Fire At North Belfast Recycling Depot
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) remain at the scene of a substantial fire at a waste recycling depot at Duncrue Pass, Belfast. The incident began at about 22:00 on Sunday and at its ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 28, 2021
Fresh Appeal For Information On Murder Of Warren Crossan
Police investigating the murder of Warren Crossan have issued a fresh appeal for information and released further CCTV footage of the suspected gunmen on the 1st anniversary of the murder. The young ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 28, 2021
More Than Two Million Covid-19 Vaccines Administered
More than two million Covid-19 vaccines have been administered across Northern Ireland. Marking the milestone, First Minister Paul Givan said: "Right across our community medical teams in our vaccina...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 28, 2021
£180m Investment In New NI Traineeship Scheme
Almost 20,000 new Traineeship places are to be created with an investment of £180 million in a new vocational education and training programme for people aged 16 and over. Developed in partnership wi...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 28, 2021
Executive Approve Draft Climate Change Bill
The Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots, has welcomed Executive approval of his draft Climate Change Bill. Science-led, evidence-based and stakeholder-driven policy, ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 28, 2021
Man Arrested And Drugs Seized In L'Derry
A 35-year-old man has been arrested in L'Derry during an operation investigating the organised illegal drug criminality linked to the INLA. The man, who has been arrested on suspicion of a number of ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2021
Reward Offered For Information On Murder Of Mike Kerr
A reward of up to £20,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of Mike Kerr. The reward is being offered by Mr Kerr's family and C...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2021
More Than £27.25m Paid Out To Businesses Across NI
A total of 552 businesses across Northern Ireland have benefitted from more than £27.25 million under the Department of Finance's Large NAV Business Grant Scheme. The scheme being delivered by Land &...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2021
Brexit 'Has Delivered Important Wins But The Job Is Not Yet Done'
Brexit has "delivered important wins but the job is not yet done", DUP MP Sammy Wilson has said, marking the 5th anniversary of the vote to leave the EU. Mr Wilson said: "Five years ago, the British ...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2021
Community Organisations 'Do Important Work' Across NI
Community organisations are "continuing to do important work" across Northern Ireland, Junior Ministers Gary Middleton and Declan Kearney have said. Junior Minister Middleton was speaking during a vi...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2021
Man Arrested In Connection With Drug Seizure In Belfast
A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a drug seizure made during a police search operation in Belfast. Officers from the Belfast Central Neighbourhood Policing Team and officers from...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 24, 2021
Major Improvement Works Continuing In Enniskillen
The Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has visited Enniskillen to view progress of major public realm works throughout the town which are midway through completion. The Department for Communities (D...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2021
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Only Candidate For DUP Leadership
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will stand uncontested for the Leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Sir Jeffrey will stand for the second time after losing out to Edwin Poots by two votes just ov...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2021
Mournes Recovery Plan Approved
A recovery plan for the Mourne Mountains following the recent serious fire has been approved by Ministers from the Department for Finance, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and Infrastructur...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2021
NI Could Benefit From UK City Of Culture Bid
Northern Ireland could benefit again from a UK City of Culture bid, DUP MP Gregory Campbell has said. The East Londonderry MP has highlighted the changes in the way the UK City of Culture competition...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2021
Testing Key To Protection Against The Virus
Covid-19 testing is "one of the main pillars of protection against the virus", Health Minister Robin Swann has said. Setting out all the ways testing can help keep people safe, Minister Swann said: "...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2021
Transforming Social Care 'Must Be A Priority'
Transforming social care "must be a priority", Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ni Chuilín has said as she welcomed the announcement that some certainty has been provided to nearly 650 residents and over 1,100 sta...
Northern Ireland News, Jun 23, 2021
54-Year-Old Man Sentenced Over Historical Sexual Abuse
A 54-year-old man has been sentenced for a number of historical sexual abuse offences against a child. Williams Adams was convicted of a number of offences that occurred with he was a teenager. Welc...