January stocking of Departmental waters

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has stocked the following waters with takeable fish in January 2020:

Poots confirms £293million secured for Direct Payments in 2020

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA has confirmed that farmers will share £293million in Direct Payments for the 2020 scheme year and that his Department aims to make full payments from 16 October 2020.

Personal Independence Payment Review

The Department for Communities has appointed Ms Marie Cavanagh to carry out the second independent statutory Review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment.

We must work together to deliver real change for victims of serious sexual assault: Long

Justice Minister Naomi Long has stressed the importance of working together across the justice system, the Executive and the voluntary and community sector to implement the recommendations of the Gillen Report in a way that will delivers the reform envisaged.

Minister announces extension of protections from bedroom tax

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA today announced her plans for the extension of the welfare mitigations to the bedroom tax beyond 31 March 2020.