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20/02/2025
Other News In Brief
SF Welcomes Increase In Belfast-Dublin Train Users
The growing number of people using the Belfast-Dublin train line is 'helping to drive our economy and create jobs', Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan.
He was speaking after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins revealed passenger numbers on this service have increased by nearly 50% to just under 400,000 in the period between October 2024 and January 2025.
"The hourly train service to Dublin from Grand Central Station has been a huge success, and it's important we now build on this," said the party's transport spokesperson.
"This train line is a shining example of our flourishing all-island travel and trade, and the incredible strengths of it.
"The service is helping to drive our economy and create jobs, as well as increasing communities' access to new opportunities, services and education across Ireland.
"I look forward to more improvements on this service, with plans for a new fleet and an improved on-board customer experience in the pipeline."
SDLP Calls For Delivery of Long-Delayed Children's Hospital
The Executive's primary concern should be delivering the long-delayed and troubled Children's Hospital project, SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said.
McGrath said it was galling to see Executive Ministers' seeking credit after announcing work is set to begin, with the project years behind schedule and the budget spiralling out of control.
South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: "It was all smiles from Executive Ministers today as they announced that construction will soon begin on the new Children's Hospital in Belfast. What they failed to mention is this project was first proposed in 2013, and that costs have more than doubled due to the failure of the Executive and their predecessors to progress this in a timely manner.
"This project should have been completed in 2020 and instead the hospital will now open in 2030 at the earliest. That's generations of young people in the North who will not receive the highest standard of care possible due to political failure in delivering this hospital and Executive inability to deal with the challenges facing our health service.
"Of course progress on the hospital at long last is welcome and we want to see it delivered as soon as possible, but again we see Executive Ministers looking a pat on the back for doing the bare minimum - that's galling for the public who are picking up the bill for these delays. The SDLP Opposition will continue to hold Ministers accountable for delivering this project, so that we can finally see children and young people getting the care they need in a modern and properly equipped hospital."
Appeal Following Larne Arson Attack
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information after a car was destroyed in an arson attack in Larne early this morning, Thursday 20 February.
The Audi A5 was discovered ablaze outside a property on Green Link at around 5am. The fire also damaged the front door of the apartment and cracked the window of another home.
Detectives would like to hear from anyone with information regarding this crime. They would also like to hear from anyone who may have captured any footage in the area at around the time of the incident. Please call 101, quoting reference 121 20/02/25.
Information can also be provided via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/
The growing number of people using the Belfast-Dublin train line is 'helping to drive our economy and create jobs', Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan.
He was speaking after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins revealed passenger numbers on this service have increased by nearly 50% to just under 400,000 in the period between October 2024 and January 2025.
"The hourly train service to Dublin from Grand Central Station has been a huge success, and it's important we now build on this," said the party's transport spokesperson.
"This train line is a shining example of our flourishing all-island travel and trade, and the incredible strengths of it.
"The service is helping to drive our economy and create jobs, as well as increasing communities' access to new opportunities, services and education across Ireland.
"I look forward to more improvements on this service, with plans for a new fleet and an improved on-board customer experience in the pipeline."
SDLP Calls For Delivery of Long-Delayed Children's Hospital
The Executive's primary concern should be delivering the long-delayed and troubled Children's Hospital project, SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said.
McGrath said it was galling to see Executive Ministers' seeking credit after announcing work is set to begin, with the project years behind schedule and the budget spiralling out of control.
"This project should have been completed in 2020 and instead the hospital will now open in 2030 at the earliest. That's generations of young people in the North who will not receive the highest standard of care possible due to political failure in delivering this hospital and Executive inability to deal with the challenges facing our health service.
"Of course progress on the hospital at long last is welcome and we want to see it delivered as soon as possible, but again we see Executive Ministers looking a pat on the back for doing the bare minimum - that's galling for the public who are picking up the bill for these delays. The SDLP Opposition will continue to hold Ministers accountable for delivering this project, so that we can finally see children and young people getting the care they need in a modern and properly equipped hospital."
Appeal Following Larne Arson Attack
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information after a car was destroyed in an arson attack in Larne early this morning, Thursday 20 February.
The Audi A5 was discovered ablaze outside a property on Green Link at around 5am. The fire also damaged the front door of the apartment and cracked the window of another home.
Detectives would like to hear from anyone with information regarding this crime. They would also like to hear from anyone who may have captured any footage in the area at around the time of the incident. Please call 101, quoting reference 121 20/02/25.
Information can also be provided via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/
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Hospitals in Northern Ireland are struggling to deal with the effects of a common virus which has left people waiting on trollies for beds and caused a severe backlog in surgery. The virus, which affects patients and staff, comes as hospitals throughout the province struggle to cope with an increased number of patients because of winter illnesses.
Virus closes hospital beds across province
Hospitals in Northern Ireland are struggling to deal with the effects of a common virus which has left people waiting on trollies for beds and caused a severe backlog in surgery. The virus, which affects patients and staff, comes as hospitals throughout the province struggle to cope with an increased number of patients because of winter illnesses.
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DoH Secretary Outlines Measures To Address Health Service Pressure
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DoH Secretary Outlines Measures To Address Health Service Pressure
The Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health (DoH), Peter May, has outlined the measures being taken in an effort to address increasing pressures on the Health Service. Alongside this work to mitigate current pressures, action is also needed for the longer term to put the health and social care system on a sustainable footing.
16 October 2012
Hygiene Testing Failed For Five NI Hospitals
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Hygiene Testing Failed For Five NI Hospitals
Eleven wards in total in five hospitals have required a further inspection into Hygiene and infection by the Regulation and Quality improvement Authority. The five hospitals involved were The Royal Victoria and City Hospital which are both located in Belfast. The Ulster in Dundonald, The Altnagelvin in Derry and the Craigavon Area Hospital.
11 June 2002
Tyrone County hospital set to lose acute services
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Tyrone County hospital set to lose acute services
Local assembly members have expressed their concern over the proposal to remove acute and life saving emergency services from Tyrone County Hospital. The proposals, as recommended in the Hayes Report, are expected to be endorsed by the Health Minister Bairbre de Brún tomorrow in a consultation document.
21 July 2023
Executive Urgently Needed To Address Hospital Crisis – SF
Sinn Féin has renewed its call for the urgent formation of a new Executive to address "deeply concerning" hospital waits. The party's health spokesperson MLA Linda Dillon made the call in light of new reports of patients "waiting days in corridors" in the Royal Hospital.
Executive Urgently Needed To Address Hospital Crisis – SF
Sinn Féin has renewed its call for the urgent formation of a new Executive to address "deeply concerning" hospital waits. The party's health spokesperson MLA Linda Dillon made the call in light of new reports of patients "waiting days in corridors" in the Royal Hospital.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
