Funding for government
The Department of the Environment announced a £2M funding package for the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA).
Speaking at a Strategic Leadership Board meeting, Environment Minister Arlene Foster confirmed the formal letter of offer for funding had issued.
The Minister said: "This is an important step in the developing relationship between central and local government, and shows the commitment of my Department to working in partnership with local government to deliver new structures and improved local services."
She added: "This funding package will facilitate the local government sector's engagement in the modernisation and reform of local government over the next three years."
Universities vital role
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, gave his reaction to the report issued by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
The Minister said: "The figures published this week relate to enrolments for the 2006-07 academic year. The figures do not include Northern Irish students studying in other parts of the UK or abroad. Preliminary data for the current academic year show that the number of applicants accepted to Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions has increased by around 8%.
"There is a range of contributory factors which need to be taken into account to explain the decrease in enrolments in 2006-07. All of these will certainly be investigated further during the review planned to commence in the next academic year.
"Participation levels of young people have almost doubled in Higher Education in Northern Ireland in the past 15 years and long term trends would suggest an increase of approximately 30% in the number of students attending university in Northern Ireland in the last 10 years."
The Minister concluded: "The Northern Ireland Higher Education sector continues to play an important role in our economic success and is vital in ensuring that we continue to deliver a well educated workforce with a high level of skills."
Home-Start celebrations
Junior Ministers Ian Paisley Jnr and Gerry Kelly launched a programme of events at Stormont to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Home-Start's work here.
Home-Start provides a unique service for families – recruiting and training volunteers to support parents with young children at home. Over 650 volunteers visit families at home each week, supporting parents in situations as diverse as isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness, disability or those who are finding parenting a struggle.
Speaking in the Long Gallery Minister Kelly said: "Sometimes it is the informal, short-term support, provided through organisations such as Home-Start, which helps to break down isolation and helps families to deal with the challenges of modern family life."
Minister Paisley Jnr added: "Parents and carers are key partners in achieving the aim of the 10 year Children and Young People's Strategy, which is to ensure that by 2016 all our children and young people are fulfiling their potential.
"As champions for children, we are fully committed to prioritising their rights and their needs. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Home-Start for 25 years of valuable work."
