DUP MLA Questions £40m Annual Spend on Medical Student Fees

DUP MLA Diane Forsythe has raised concerns over the Department of Health's financial governance, stating that over £40 million per year is being spent on university fees for medical and health-related students without any guarantee that the graduates will work within the Northern Ireland Health Service (NIHSS). Ms Forsythe revealed that over the last three years, the Department has spent over £125 million funding these places but does not track how many of the graduates actually stay and work in the region. She highlighted that approximately 300 students from the Republic of Ireland have their fees paid by the Department each year, compared to 1,300 from Northern Ireland. In some courses, the number of funded Republic of Ireland students actually exceeds the number of Northern Ireland students, a situation she called "completely unacceptable." Ms Forsythe argued that this public money should be directed toward tackling local workforce shortages. She demanded that, at the very least, any student whose studies are publicly funded should be required to work for a period in the NIHSS after graduation or be made to repay the funding. She concluded that the Minister must ensure local taxpayers benefit from this significant investment in studies.

Sinn Féin to Support No Confidence Motion In Education Minister Paul Givan Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey has confirmed that her party will support an upcoming Assembly motion of no confidence in Education Minister Paul Givan. The South Belfast MLA stated that the Minister's actions were "totally inappropriate" and have eroded public confidence in his ability to hold office. The motion stems from the Minister's recent decision to travel to Israel and use departmental resources to promote the trip. Ms Hargey condemned the decision, stating that the action was "unacceptable," and pointed to the devastating impact of the conflict in Gaza over the past two years, citing the alleged murder of over 20,000 children and 500 teachers, and the destruction of nearly every educational facility. Ms Hargey said that no Minister should "associate themselves with Israel's genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced starvation and illegal occupation." By confirming their support, Sinn Féin joins other parties planning to vote against the Minister when the motion is formally brought before the Assembly chamber.

Councils' Call for Review of Climate Targets Criticised as ‘Dangerous Contradiction'

The recent decision by Ards & North Down Borough Council to approve a Climate Action Plan while simultaneously calling for a review of legally binding climate targets has been criticised by local councillors as a "dangerous contradiction." The move, which was backed by the DUP and Ulster Unionist parties, has been labelled as sowing "doubt and delay" at a critical time for urgent climate action. Cllr Barry McKee stated that the motion is "a gift to vested interests who want to water down climate action and block real progress," arguing that the cost of climate breakdown—including energy insecurity and flood risk—is far greater than the cost of climate ambition. Cllr Lauren Kendall reinforced this, noting that poverty and hardship are not caused by climate targets. Both councillors emphasised that Northern Ireland urgently needs leadership that is willing to stand firm behind strong, science-based, and legally binding targets, rather than seeking ways to escape them, to deliver green jobs and a fair transition to a fair economy. The councillors maintain that inaction and denial are the true threats to communities, farmers, and workers.