This week is all about celebrating the use of public transport for everyday journeys and to encourage people across Northern Ireland to leave the car at home and choose more sustainable ways to travel. June also marks the return of the Active Travel Challenge! There has never been a better time to dust off the bicycle, swap the car for a walk, or hop on public transport. This initiative is all about healthier lifestyles, cleaner air, and greener habits. Last year was a recor

The decision to build apartments where the Swift Building is disappointing. The site is in a very important part of Carrickfergus on the harbour, overlooked by the castle. I remain unconvinced that building apartments was the best use of a very valuable site in Carrickfergus which could have been better used for many other things, both for the community and for visitors to the town. However, regrettably, the planning service have their rules and those rules had to be followed

Yesterday in the Assembly, I welcomed the consideration stage of the Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses and Redress Scheme. I wanted to pay tribute to the victims and survivors who spoke to us at the committee, and to commend their bravery in coming forward. However, it is disappointing the committee amendment to extend the posthumous date for people to be eligible for the redress payment was rejected. This is something I will be pushing the Spea

Minister's Answer The “Housing for All” Ministerial Panel Housing Thematic Sub-group is chaired by NIHE and acts as an advisory body to help guide the ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. The sub-group shares experience in delivery of shared communities and progress on good relations outcomes. The latest meeting took place on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, and included: Discussion of the Housing for All Shared Housing Programme for 2025/26, which incorporated six new develop

Minister's Answer My Department is engaging with a range of stakeholders to inform the practical delivery of the home heating oil support scheme. This has included discussions with the Northern Ireland Oil Federation representing local oil distributors, National Energy Action, the Fuel Poverty Coalition, and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. Further engagement is planned throughout the process to help protect consumers against price gouging. The Oil Savings Network,

Minister's Answer My Department is engaging with a range of stakeholders to inform the practical delivery of the home heating oil support scheme. This has included discussions with the Northern Ireland Oil Federation representing local oil distributors, National Energy Action, the Fuel Poverty Coalition, and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. Further engagement is planned throughout the process to help consumers get value for money. The Oil Savings Network, part of th

The Executive has been in a deep freeze for around 50% of its existence. Ministers flout the rules to block progress and shield themselves from accountability, and our democracy is exposed to the influence of dark money and shadowy interests. Alliance doesn’t just recognise this major frustration with our politics – we share it. We want to deliver on public priorities like healthcare, education and living costs, but are too often prevented from doing so by the wrecking agenda

Minister's Answer The resurfacing works at the Monkstown Road were targeted at improving the condition of the junction itself, where turning movements place the greatest stress on the carriageway surface, to provide the best overall improvement to the junction. My officials have assessed the area around the tie-in point for the junction resurfacing scheme and advise that the minimal difference in level does not present a concern, and no further remedial works are required at

Minister's Answer Scalp cooling treatments are not currently commissioned within Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland, and are not part of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended care pathway for managing hair loss during chemotherapy. The routine commissioning of this treatment can only be considered based on the long-term evidence of efficacy, available funding and the relative priority of this service in the context of other service d

Minister's Answer Photography is an essential part of government and ministerial communications. Photographs taken during a series of events to mark St Patrick’s Week in Washington D.C. were distributed via the department’s social media channels and to media via press releases. Once published, they are in the public domain. As with all ministerial engagements, photographs taken during the series of events in Washington D.C. are held by the department and may be used for futur