Analysis in progress: 97,637 of 97,960 records assessed (99.7%). Totals and rankings will change until it finishes. Progress details
All of Mr Gordon Lyons’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
1,781 records match, page 30 of 72.
I will not go that far, but the Member is right to raise the impact that this will have. We looked at some of the figures that were available, and I am not able to break those down by the impacts on Departments, but if you take someone who is not in work and bring them into work, on average, it saves £15,000. That is…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
I am more than happy that the Member is in agreement with me twice in one day. We even had the Justice Minister agreeing with Phillip Brett today and vice versa, so something must be breaking out. We will see how long that lasts.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
As the Committee Chairman said, the scheme was successful, and many people wanted to see it continuing. I do not see it as pitting one against the other in any way. The Member is absolutely right to say — I agree with her — that many good employment schemes are provided in that way, but JobStart served a specific…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
We heard people say a few times that there were no new actions. I pledged in a ministerial statement earlier this year and in the strategy itself that new actions would come forward. One of those was an employability programme, and this is the employability programme that we are bringing forward. I look forward to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
Absolutely. I want people across Northern Ireland to benefit from the scheme. That is why we have gone out to employers who were in the previous scheme and are looking for new employers to take part. I encourage everybody to take part. It does not matter where you are from: if you are looking for employment, if you…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
It is important that we do everything that we can to make the scheme more accessible for people. In addition to changing from having only one option of 25 hours to having another for 15, there will be a change insofar as all ages will be able to benefit from the scheme. The previous scheme was for 16- to 24-year-olds,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
I believe that most people who will benefit from the scheme will start in this financial year, but there will be a tail from that. That £12·4 million will be spent over the next two financial years to keep them in employment.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
That is an important point. I am trying to make sure that we break down barriers to employment. The Member is right to raise childcare as one of those barriers. That is why childcare is prominent in the anti-poverty strategy. The Member will be aware of the Education Minister's work in that regard, and we look forward…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
On 2 June, I made a statement to the Assembly regarding my Department's 2025-26 budget allocation. In that statement, I conveyed my desire to increase opportunities and life chances for everyone in Northern Ireland and announced my intent to invest in a multimillion-pound employment programme that would support all…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: JobStart Scheme
I completely agree with the Member that this is not just for the Department for Communities to do. Rather, it is a cross-departmental, cross-Executive strategy. We need to make sure that everybody buys into it and that everybody is prepared to work together. I am doing my part. I have set aside funding for the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Disability and Work Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Disability and Work Strategy
I am grateful to the Member for his question. I understand the concerns that have been expressed about the Green Paper. Hopefully, Members across the Chamber will be aware of our efforts to encourage the UK Government to reconsider their proposals. While many of the initial proposals have been removed, the nature and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Disability and Work Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Disability and Work Strategy
I will make a statement to the Assembly on my plans to bring forward a new disability and work strategy for Northern Ireland. Disability influences lives in many unique and personal ways, and the issues that disabled people face can be complex and intersectional. Given that one in four working-age people in Northern…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Disability and Work Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Disability and Work Strategy
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Mr Brett for bringing the issue for an Adjournment debate, for his passion for his constituency and the city centre, and for outlining, clearly, what needs to be done. He mentioned the extension of late-night public transport services. I am happy to confirm to him and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Tribeca, Belfast: Development Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Tribeca, Belfast: Development
Ultimately, it will be down to the organisations that apply to source the quotes and source the people who will do the work. Given the small nature of some of the works that will be required in the grand scheme of things, local organisations and local employers will be able to benefit. Of course, we expect all…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund
I will ensure that those from faith-based organisations are able not only to continue their work but to avail themselves of government support and funding where that is appropriate. I look forward to faith-based organisations being able to apply to, and take advantage of, a scheme that will help build community…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund
I am grateful to the Member for raising that issue. It is difficult for me to answer the question, because the community, social and economic benefits that churches and faith-based organisations bring to Northern Ireland are almost unquantifiable. They are often the unsung heroes. They put on events, run clubs and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund
As I have stated, any community buildings that are operated by sporting organisations and are available as community venues for non-sporting activities will be eligible for funding. That is set out clearly in the guidance. It will be up to all organisations to demonstrate their need, meet all the criteria, explain why…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I wish to make a statement on the launch of the Northern Ireland community infrastructure fund, which is a major new investment supporting the refurbishment and improvement of community buildings and facilities right across Northern Ireland. In June, I provided a written…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund
I will cover the issues that the Member raised in the schemes that I introduce. He will have seen that with the Northern Ireland Football Fund and in the scoring mechanisms that are in place for other funds. I point the Member towards the disability strategy that I will introduce very soon. It will address many of the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Olympic Legacy Fund and Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Olympic Legacy Fund and Community Infrastructure Fund
Quite a few announcements have been made and funding allocated. We will not be able to do much more in this financial year, but I always want to make sure that we make the best use of the funds that we have. We are bringing forward the Olympic legacy fund and the community infrastructure fund because people said that…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Olympic Legacy Fund and Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Olympic Legacy Fund and Community Infrastructure Fund
First of all, I am sure that the whole House will join me in congratulating Charlie on his success and wish him all the best for the event. The Olympic legacy fund was designed to help some of the sports that do not always get the merit or the attention that they deserve. I am more than happy to raise the specific…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sporting Bodies: Sport NI Recognition Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sporting Bodies: Sport NI Recognition
I am happy to review sporting bodies at any time. I want to make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to compete. I want no sport to be left out. I will happily raise that on behalf of the Member and his constituents, but perhaps he can give me a bit more information, if he wants me to take something forward.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sporting Bodies: Sport NI Recognition Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sporting Bodies: Sport NI Recognition
Obviously, we had a limited pot of funding available. Even with over-planning, that limited the number of projects that could go through. I wanted to make sure that we spent the money; that was first and foremost what I wanted to ensure. I also wanted to have a mixture from those different tiers: tiers 1, 2 and 3. The…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Football Fund: Derry City FC Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Football Fund: Derry City FC
They absolutely can access that investment in the future. We have a competitive process in place. That has been done in the right and appropriate way. However, I understand that there will always be winners in the process and those who did not progress at this stage. I hope that we can get additional finance so that…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Football Fund: Derry City FC Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Football Fund: Derry City FC
I fully appreciate and understand that and recognise the Member's passion for the centre. That is why Sport NI is undertaking extensive engagement with stakeholders to determine the most appropriate way forward. We want to see a way forward for it. We want to make sure that we have that in place. I have asked them to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Tollymore National Outdoor Centre Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Tollymore National Outdoor Centre
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