Alliance Welcomes Assembly Rooms Acquisition

Alliance Castle Councillor Sam Nelson has welcomed the successful completion of Belfast City Council's acquisition of the historic Assembly Rooms, calling it a crucial step in preventing one of the city's most important heritage buildings from being left to ruin.

The acquisition was officially finalised following a meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on Friday, 24 October 2025, marking the building's transition from private ownership back into the public sector.

The Assembly Rooms, a Grade B1 listed building that dates back to 1769, has been vacant for many years, leading to deterioration. Councillor Nelson noted that the Alliance party has long campaigned for the restoration of the building, which represents a significant part of Belfast's past. He expressed relief that the Council's action has managed to prevent further decline.

According to Cllr Nelson, the focus now shifts from acquisition to the challenging but necessary task of restoration. The Council's objective is to bring the historic property back into public use in a manner that fully respects its heritage and treasured history. This project is seen as a key catalyst for ongoing efforts to revitalise and regenerate the wider city centre, making it a more vibrant and accessible area for all residents, workers, and visitors. The purchase signals the start of a long-term commitment by the Council to preserve key historical assets and integrate them into the modern life of the city.

SDLP Welcomes £100,000 To Save Irish Language Scheme

SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson and Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has welcomed the allocation of £100,000 (or £100k) in funding to safeguard the Scoil Spreagtha scheme, which had faced closure earlier this year due to a lack of resources.

The scheme, which is administered by the Irish language group Gael Linn, provides valuable support for Irish language lessons in schools across Northern Ireland. The recently secured funding will guarantee the continuation of the Scoil Spreagtha scheme for another year, after which the programme will undergo a thorough evaluation. Mr McGlone highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating that it has already given thousands of young people the opportunity to learn Irish and develop the associated skills.

The MLA confirmed that he worked closely with Gael Linn and made direct representations to Education Minister Paul Givan on their behalf. Mr McGlone was pleased that the Minister listened to the "positive experiences" shared by schools and pupils, ultimately leading to the confirmation of funding. He called the decision a "real credit" to the dedication of everyone at Gael Linn. The MLA pledged to continue working to ensure long-term funding is secured in future years, guaranteeing that every pupil who wishes to learn Irish has the opportunity to do so.

Councillor Condemns Belfast City Centre Hijacking And Threat

Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie has condemned a distressing incident that took place in Belfast city centre in the early hours of Saturday, 25 October 2025, where a man threatened a woman and her young child during a car hijacking.

Police reported that the man attempted to steal the car before ordering the woman and child out, using threats during the process. The stolen vehicle was later located in Upper Stanfield Street.

Councillor Beattie described the incident as "disgraceful," stating his thoughts were with those impacted, and urged anyone with information to contact the PSNI. Furthermore, Mr Beattie announced that a cross-party taskforce will soon be established within the council to address the recent rise in crime and anti-social behaviour across the city centre.

He stated that the recent crime increase is concerning and confirmed that Sinn Féin will continue working with other parties to ensure the city centre is both safe and welcoming for residents, workers, and visitors. The establishment of the taskforce reflects the council's commitment to proactively tackling these issues.