03/08/2021
Other News In Brief
SDLP Welcomes Update On PO Benefit Payment Changes
An update from the Department for Communities (DfC) on changes to the current benefit payments to Post Office accounts has been welcomed by SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Mark H Durkan.
The Department's contract with the Post Office is due to end in November 2021 and will impact some 51,000 customers across the North. Mr Durkan has persistently appealed to Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to make the transition process as simple as possible.
The Foyle MLA said: "The Payment Exception Service will use the Paypoint and Post Office network to cash vouchers. This will allow customers to access funds across a wider spectrum of locations and venues going forward.
"I'm glad that action has finally been taken by the Department, in line with their aim for greater financial inclusion, to support many vulnerable people to migrate over."
Weather Warning Issued For Thundery Downpours
The Met Office has issued a Yellow Weather Warning for 'slow moving thundery downpours' for Friday 06 August.
The forecaster has warned that the rain may cause localised surface water impacts.
According to the Met Office:
• There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater.
• Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
• Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.
The weather warning comes into affect at 10am on Friday and remains in place until midnight.
People Urged To Register To Vote To Qualify For High Street Voucher Scheme
People are being urged to register to vote in order to qualify for the upcoming high street voucher scheme.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy has warned that the Stormont scheme would be "severely undermined" by the current low number of registered voters.
The electoral register was wiped at the of end of June. According to Minister Murphy currently only one third of people are registered.
Mr Murphy said: "If only 30% of people are accessing the high street voucher scheme, it's not going to have the economic stimulant affect that the executive wants it to have, so I would encourage people to get themselves registered.
"Primarily because it's important for people to vote, but certainly in terms of the economic stimulus that the executive envisaged the high street voucher scheme having, that would severely undermine it if we don't see a significant uptake in electoral registration."
An update from the Department for Communities (DfC) on changes to the current benefit payments to Post Office accounts has been welcomed by SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Mark H Durkan.
The Department's contract with the Post Office is due to end in November 2021 and will impact some 51,000 customers across the North. Mr Durkan has persistently appealed to Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to make the transition process as simple as possible.
The Foyle MLA said: "The Payment Exception Service will use the Paypoint and Post Office network to cash vouchers. This will allow customers to access funds across a wider spectrum of locations and venues going forward.
"I'm glad that action has finally been taken by the Department, in line with their aim for greater financial inclusion, to support many vulnerable people to migrate over."
Weather Warning Issued For Thundery Downpours
The Met Office has issued a Yellow Weather Warning for 'slow moving thundery downpours' for Friday 06 August.
The forecaster has warned that the rain may cause localised surface water impacts.
According to the Met Office:
• There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater.
• Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
• Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.
The weather warning comes into affect at 10am on Friday and remains in place until midnight.
People Urged To Register To Vote To Qualify For High Street Voucher Scheme
People are being urged to register to vote in order to qualify for the upcoming high street voucher scheme.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy has warned that the Stormont scheme would be "severely undermined" by the current low number of registered voters.
The electoral register was wiped at the of end of June. According to Minister Murphy currently only one third of people are registered.
Mr Murphy said: "If only 30% of people are accessing the high street voucher scheme, it's not going to have the economic stimulant affect that the executive wants it to have, so I would encourage people to get themselves registered.
"Primarily because it's important for people to vote, but certainly in terms of the economic stimulus that the executive envisaged the high street voucher scheme having, that would severely undermine it if we don't see a significant uptake in electoral registration."
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 September 2018
Parents And Working Families Urged To Register For Childcare Voucher Scheme
New parents and working families are being urged to ensure that they register for the Childcare Voucher scheme. Sinn Féin Children and Young People spokesperson, Catherine Kelly, made the call after meeting Employers for Childcare in the Assembly ahead of the 04 October deadline for the scheme.
Parents And Working Families Urged To Register For Childcare Voucher Scheme
New parents and working families are being urged to ensure that they register for the Childcare Voucher scheme. Sinn Féin Children and Young People spokesperson, Catherine Kelly, made the call after meeting Employers for Childcare in the Assembly ahead of the 04 October deadline for the scheme.
30 May 2018
Electoral Office Urged To Introduce Online Voter Registration
The Electoral Office should end the delay in implementing online voter registration and work to get tens of thousands of people back on the electoral register, Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has said.
Electoral Office Urged To Introduce Online Voter Registration
The Electoral Office should end the delay in implementing online voter registration and work to get tens of thousands of people back on the electoral register, Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has said.
04 August 2025
PHA Urges People To Register Organ Donation Decisions
A new report from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has revealed that a record number of people across the UK are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. As of 31 March 2025, a total of 8,096 patients, including 276 children, were on the active waiting list in the UK, with 163 of these people in Northern Ireland.
PHA Urges People To Register Organ Donation Decisions
A new report from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has revealed that a record number of people across the UK are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. As of 31 March 2025, a total of 8,096 patients, including 276 children, were on the active waiting list in the UK, with 163 of these people in Northern Ireland.
09 August 2021
People Urged To Sign Up To Electoral Register
People have been urged to sign up to the electoral register in order to help verification for the High Street Scheme. Making the call, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons, said: "I want to ensure as many of those who are eligible can access my department's High Street Scheme and their pre-paid card worth £100.
People Urged To Sign Up To Electoral Register
People have been urged to sign up to the electoral register in order to help verification for the High Street Scheme. Making the call, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons, said: "I want to ensure as many of those who are eligible can access my department's High Street Scheme and their pre-paid card worth £100.
30 August 2018
People In North West Urged To Register As Organ Donors
People from the North West are being encouraged to register as Organ Donors and to inform their loved ones of their wishes. Making the call ahead of Organ Donation Week, SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan, said: "The matter of Organ Donation is an extremely important one and one we can all get involved in.
People In North West Urged To Register As Organ Donors
People from the North West are being encouraged to register as Organ Donors and to inform their loved ones of their wishes. Making the call ahead of Organ Donation Week, SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan, said: "The matter of Organ Donation is an extremely important one and one we can all get involved in.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.