Other News In Brief

Alliance Reiterate Support For Hourglass And Safe Ageing Week

The Alliance Party have reiterated their support for the annual flagship campaign of Hourglass, the charity dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of older people.

The party's Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw, said: "This is Safe Ageing Week, a time which gives us the chance to re-emphasise the importance of ending the abuse of older people and ensuring that older victims no longer feel ignored and voiceless.

"The ALONE VOICE campaign focuses on the often forgotten voice of older victims of violence and abuse, and on developing a strategy to ensure they are not last in line for support.

"Northern Ireland is ahead of the rest of the UK in that it already has a 'Safer Ageing Index' from which to base progress. However, the lack of accountable Ministers is undermining efforts to tackle the abuse and neglect of older people. It is time we got on with forming an Executive and developing a strategy which will give a voice to the previously voiceless and which will move decisively towards ending the abuse of older people in any form."

UUP Welcomes Health Care Help For UC Claimants

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has welcomed the move to notify universal credit claimants of the need to complete an HC1 form for support with dental and optical costs but has urged the Department of Health to progress work to deliver a more seamless process.

East Belfast Ulster Unionist Party MLA Andy Allen, said: "I have been contacted by several constituents today advising that they have received the following notification through their Universal Credit journal, which was an interim step I recently requested be taken.

"Whilst it is welcome this step of notifying those who might not otherwise have been aware of the need to complete an HC1 to assess eligibility for support with health care costs such as dental and optical treatment, this short-term must be followed by a more seamless and longer-term solution. It is imperative that the Department of Health proactively work to address this ongoing issue."

Help with Health Costs

You may be able to get help with dental, optical and travel costs if you receive Universal Credit. You will not get this help automatically, instead you should complete a Help with Health Costs (HC1) form. More information is available at 'Claim for help with health and travel costs': nidirect.gov.uk.

DUP Welcomes Commitment To 7% PSNI Pay Award

The DUP has welcomed the Chief Constable's commitment to progressing a 7% pay award for PSNI officers but warned of the need for a clear plan on how it will be delivered.

Commenting after a meeting of the Policing Board, South Antrim MLA and Policing Board representative, Trevor Clarke, said: "Police officers in Northern Ireland put themselves in harm's way every day to serve our communities and keep people safe. The very least they deserve is a fair pay award.

"The current inequality with forces in England and Wales is unjustified. It is compounded by the fact that tens of thousands additional officers have been recruited there in recent times. In contrast, in Northern Ireland, resources are stretched, officers numbers are plummeting and those who turn up for duty are expected to do more without either the same level of support or the prospect of comparable remuneration to their counterparts other jurisdictions.

"Therefore I fully support the Chief Constable as he seeks to deliver the 7% pay rise approved in England and Wales for officers in Northern Ireland. To date we have not seen a breakthrough in discussions and it crucial for morale and for the relationship between the new SET and the rank-and-file that this impasse is resolved – and resolved positively - as soon as possible.

"It should not surprise us that requests for extra financial support have fallen on deaf ears within the Northern Ireland Office. The budget imposed by the Secretary of State was callous, irresponsible and the catalyst for many of the pressures now facing operational policing. The claim that ending pay disputes are not in the gift of Cabinet ministers has been wheeled out in recent days but it simply doesn't wash with the public. We have seen the NIO intervene regularly on other issues. There is no obstacle to it doing so again.

"Chris Heaton-Harris cannot sit back and allow our police officers to become collateral damage as the PSNI and DOJ struggle to make vital decisions within a financial envelope that simply isn't big enough to begin with. Only the Government has the firepower to unlock a positive outcome on pay. If the PSNI is to attract, recruit and retain police officers going forward, it is vital that they are given the tools to reward their workforce."