Andy Allen MBE MLA

Husband and Dad | Royal Irish Regiment Soldier | 2018 Soldiering On Inspiration Award Winner | Warrior Games 2019 🥈🥈🥈🥈| Invictus Games 2025 🥇🥈 🥈🥉

[Andy Allen MBE MLA @AndyAllen88]

Wholeheartedly agree with Mark. I have been consistently clear that, if we are serious about turning the curve on the housing crisis, we need to create the conditions to build at least 5,000 social homes per year.

At the most recent Communities Question Time, I raised directly with the Minister that while funding pressures are repeatedly referenced, the Executive’s Housing Supply Strategy risks losing credibility if the funding required to deliver its ambition is not provided.

The need is there, as consistently highlighted by the housing figures. What is now required is the political will and long-term investment to match the scale of the challenge.

[Cool FM News @newsoncool]

🏠🗣️Social housing: "We are failing
too many people. We need the
Executive to make choices that
support people on the margins
of society."

🎥🎤Mark Baillie, head of policy and programmes @HomelessNI, speaks to our reporter @mckee23_r.

📈It comes as stark new figures reveal the number of households on the social housing waiting list in Northern Ireland has now passed the 50,000 mark.

The Executive has a programme for government target of starting work on almost 6,000 new social homes by 2027.

[Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf_uk]

🚨 New report out today!

Disabled people in Northern Ireland are almost 2x as likely to live in poverty as non-disabled people, in some of the first research of it's kind in NI.

Hear @mcmullen_sheena and Christine Ellison set out their findings and what can be done 👇

[National Energy Action NI @NEANIreland]

“Fuel poverty remains at crisis level in Northern Ireland, with far too many households struggling to afford to keep warm. Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is a lasting solution to reduce household energy bills and improve health and wellbeing. We welcome this consultation as an important step towards a new energy efficiency scheme for low-income and vulnerable households and urge everyone to have their say in shaping a scheme that is so evidently needed.” – Pat Austin, Director of NEA NI and Chair of the @fuelpovertyni.

[Ulster Unionist Party @uuponline]

🎥 WATCH: Robbie Butler MLA responding to the Draft Anti-poverty Strategy. Poverty isn’t just a statistic; we need to understand the real impact of poverty on families and communities.

[Ulster Unionist Party @uuponline]

Stewart welcomes Belfast Harbour expansion plans but warns barriers must be removed

Ulster Unionist infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA has welcomed Belfast Harbour's £1.3 billion Horizons masterplan as a major vote of confidence in the Northern Ireland economy, but warned that long-standing barriers around planning and land classification continue to hold the port back from realising its full potential.

Commenting on the announcement, John Stewart MLA said:

"Belfast Harbour's £1.3 billion Horizons masterplan is a major vote of confidence in the Northern Ireland economy. With the potential to support 5,500 construction jobs and generate an estimated £12 billion for the wider economy, it is exactly the kind of long-term, strategic investment our region needs from a port that already handles 70% of our seaborne trade.

"However, real barriers remain. The planning system continues to be a significant drag on infrastructure delivery, and the ONS classification of our Trust Ports as public corporations restricts their ability to borrow prudently to fund the very projects this masterplan depends on. Scotland resolved this issue a decade ago. Northern Ireland cannot afford to keep falling behind.

“I have challenged the Department many times in recent months on the continued delays to the Ports Bill, and I am pleased that it is finally now making its way to the Executive in early June and is expected to reach the Assembly just before summer recess. That timeline must be held to, so Belfast Harbour and the wider trust port network can get on with growing our economy."

[Jonny Harvey @jonnyharvey11]

Hi all, Elmgrove Primary are preparing for our Summer Fair and need raffle/tombola prizes. If you’re a local business or individual and can donate, we’d really appreciate it — all funds go directly to supporting the kids. Get in touch if you can help (no alcohol donations please)

[National Energy Action NI @NEANIreland]

Yesterday's meeting of the All-Party Group on #FuelPoverty brought together representatives from @UREGNI, @PowerNI, @sseairtricity and the NI Oil Federation for an important discussion on rising energy prices, customer support and the challenges facing vulnerable consumers.

[National Energy Action NI @NEANIreland]

Do you deliver advice to households, either over the phone or face-to-face? If so, our course explores a breadth of topics related to the energy sector, including energy-saving methods. For more info, contact: [email protected]

[Robbie Butler MLA @RobbieButlerMLA]

At today’s APG on Fuel Poverty, chaired by Andy Allen, we heard evidence from the Utility Regulator, Power NI, SSE Airtricity and the NI Oil Federation on pricing safeguards, transparency, rural inequalities and protections for vulnerable households. ⚡🏠

For many families, fuel poverty is a daily pressure and people are right to be worried and frustrated. But politicians twisting facts or fuelling misinformation for clicks and shares only adds to fear and confusion for those already struggling.

People deserve honesty, facts and solutions. 🤝🔥

[Police Service NI @PoliceServiceNI]

Police are currently examining a suspicious object in the Orangefield Park area of east Belfast. A number of cordons have been put in place inside the park and officers would ask members of the public to avoid the area.

[Robbie Butler MLA @RobbieButlerMLA]

Summer Scheme Update!

Glad to see that after communicating with the Health and Ministers yesterday, they have found a solution. Ongoing work must now take place to future proof the provision and ensure that everyone receives equitable access and that schools are adequately supported.

https://t.co/Y8YucQVKkB

[AWARE NI @AWARENI]

Free mental health support is available - with no waiting lists.

✔ No referral needed
✔ No need to pre-register
✔ Support available online and across Northern Ireland

You can talk to someone this week.

👉 Find a group today: https://t.co/AYhgD8O0h7

[CUSUBT @_cusubt]

Yesterday saw an engagement meeting with @AndyAllen88 MLA as well as work on both days focused on a consultation response and working through recent polling research on public attitudes to identity.

[Ulster Unionist Party @uuponline]

𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann has hit out at the lack of direct support for Northern Ireland households as home heating oil prices more than double following the escalation of conflict in Iran.

Speaking after a high level meeting between Northern Ireland MPs and Treasury officials, the Ulster Unionist MP warned that government process is failing to help families facing rocketing fuel costs. With Northern Ireland uniquely reliant on heating oil, Mr Swann pressed the government on the need for action, not words.

@RobinSwann_MP said:

"The government is currently pointing to 'crisis resilience funds' as a safety net for vulnerable consumers. The problem is that these funds don’t actually apply in Northern Ireland. I have asked the Treasury for an answer on what the equivalent support will be for my constituents. Northern Ireland cannot be left with a shortfall just because of how our energy market is structured.

"I also raised the huge cost of 'crisis drums' of oil. It is a sizeable burden on the most vulnerable and the government needs to step in.

"The default answer from London has been to wait for the Competition and Markets Authority to look at the numbers. My message to the Treasury today was that my constituents don’t need a report on the process, they need action on the price. Waiting on a watch-dog report offers no comfort to a constituent sitting in a cold house today."

Robin will continue to press the Treasury for a bespoke support package that reflects Northern Ireland’s heavy dependence on the oil market.

[Robbie Butler MLA @RobbieButlerMLA]

NI relies on maritime transport for ~90% of our trade and passenger movement 🚢

That’s why we opposed the extension of the ETS to domestic maritime routes. It’s effectively a carbon tax that won’t decarbonise shipping and the costs will simply be passed on to consumers and businesses 💷

Deeply regret that SF, SDLP and Alliance voted together to support it.

Northern Ireland deserves policies that support real decarbonisation not measures that just increase costs.
❌🌍

[Robin Swann MP @RobinSwann_MP]

The 70/30 split of the Local Growth Fund isn't working.

Our voluntary sector needs the revenue funding to run services, keep staff and delivery for the communities who need them - they're not asking for more buildings.

The lack of action by the NIO is incredibly disappointing.

[National Energy Action NI @NEANIreland]

Thank you to all who came along to today's APG on #FuelPoverty meeting with Minister Lyons to discuss the recently published Warm Healthy Homes 2026-2036 strategy. It's an ambitious Executive strategy that needs the co-operation of all Departments to deliver lasting change.

[Soldiering On Awards @SoldierOnAwards]

Thinking about nominating someone for this year's Awards? Our 'Who Do You Know?' virtual session takes place on 04 March at 15:00, and it’s your chance to get all the advice you need.

👉 Reserve your place now: https://t.co/CZCMe25xGP

#thearmedforcescommunityawards

[Soldiering On Awards @SoldierOnAwards]

Who do you keep talking about but haven’t yet nominated?

✔️ A colleague who always goes the extra mile.
✔️ A volunteer who never seems to stop.
✔️ A team quietly changing lives behind the scenes.

Head to https://t.co/ANThXnka6m and nominate them for #soldieringon2026

[NIA Education @NIAEducation]

Many thanks to the 110 P7 students & staff from Strandtown PS (East Belfast) who joined us today and yesterday to learn more about the role of the Assembly. This afternoon’s group had the opportunity to have a Q&A with @AndyAllen88