All of Ms Kellie Armstrong’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I thank the Minister very much for his answer. All MLAs representing Ards and North Down have been invited to a meeting on Friday with those groups. I hope that the fair funding principle, as outlined in the partnership agreement with the community and voluntary sector, can be followed and that those groups are not…
Thank you, Minister, for the update on the nature-based solutions and the role that they will play in the third climate change adaptation programme. I should declare an interest: I am a member of the Ards peninsula coastal erosion group, and I have been out at Anne's Point, Mount Stewart, where people can see how…
Ms K Armstrong asked the Minister for Communities whether he thinks that the concerning position that groups that are recipients of small pockets of deprivation programme funding have been placed in is fair, given that communication on 24 March and 25 March told them that there would be a change to their funding model…
Ms K Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, given that Strangford has not only the longest coastline but constituents who have an interest in fishing, to provide an update on the development of the fisheries and water environment Bill.
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on any progress made towards implementing a revised Decent Homes Standard, given that the recent consultation closed on 4 March 2026.
To ask the Minister for Communities, following the recent introduction of the Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, whether he will (i) review; and (ii) update (a) the Social Fund rules to include a category under Relationship with person who has died for a parent of a baby miscarried before 24 weeks of pregnancy; and (b) the…
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) an update on any progress his Department has made to revitalise the Housing Executive, given there has been no approval from HM Treasury to give power to the arm's-length body to borrow against its own income; and (ii) any other options now being considered.
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any funding streams available, through the Heritage Division, to support community associations (i) to recruit, train and support volunteers; (ii) to provide staff to open and operate heritage sites, such as Kirkistown Castle in Cloughey; and (iii) to enable public access…
To ask the Minister for Communities, following a recent meeting of his officials and the local community, for an update on any plans to reopen Kirkistown Castle, Cloughey, to allow public access to this heritage facility that has been closed since Covid.
To ask the Minister for Communities whether he will review and revise the amount awarded for a Funeral Expenses Payment, given the significant difference between the amount awarded and the current cost of funerals.
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail how (i) the changes to 26/27 Small Pockets of Deprivation (SPOD) funding processes, as notified to Neighbourhood Renewal, Areas at Risk, and SPOD voluntary and community organisations, which included confirmation programme and running costs will be claimed retrospectively…
I will not be very long, I promise. I know that the debate is about legislation so we can all talk for longer, but even so. As you know, I sit on the Committee for Communities, and we are very concerned about the unintended consequences that can arise when people receive an income and whether or not that can be not…
Cancellation of Summer Schemes in Special Schools That this Assembly expresses grave concern that the Education Authority has announced the cancellation of summer schemes in special schools in 2026 due to concerns about healthcare provision for participating children; recognises that these schemes provide a lifeline…
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the role that nature-based solutions play in Northern Ireland’s Third Climate Change Adaptation Programme.
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on any meetings he has held with the Housing Executive on the Task and Finish group set up through Homeless Connect regarding the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.
Does the Member agree that we also have an urban/rural split when it comes to fuel poverty? Those of us who live in rural areas are dependent on oil because the gas network has never reached us. People in urban areas have a lot more choice than those in rural areas.
Thank you very much. As I said earlier, group 2 amendments, all in the name of the Minister, will be accepted by the Alliance Party today, and we are delighted to do so. The Minister and his officials engaged with the Committee for Communities with open ears. They were willing to listen and to take forward amendments…
I will make it very clear. As stated in Chapter 1, if we are promoting sign language, it is not about limiting sign language to people who currently require it because they are deaf. Those people need to communicate with others, and others need to communicate with them. The Bill should open that up. Rather than just…
I appreciate what the Minister is saying, but if the deaf community by itself — those who are already users of sign language — are the only people who are being looked at in the Bill, we are missing the fact that others out there will not be able to communicate with us. We need more than just the deaf people. We need…
Just before COVID — unfortunately, we were interrupted by COVID — I was fortunate to go to House Church in Newtownards, where we had up to 30 people learning sign language because they wanted to communicate with other people in the church who used sign language. If you provide it, they will come. At the moment, it is…