Department for Communities

Roisin McDonough has led the body for the last 26 years

First hunt for a new Arts Council NI boss in over a quarter of a century

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at Blanchflower Stadium with Graham Fitzgerald, Chief Operating Officer at the Irish Football Association, and Jake and Leon from Ashfield Boys' High School, making the announcement of funding including the Parker Avenue 3G Pitch Project in Portrush.

Floodlit 3G pitch for Portrush's Parker Avenue Recreation Ground

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at Blanchflower Stadium with Graham Fitzgerald, Chief Operating Officer at the Irish Football Association, and Jake and Leon from Ashfield Boys' High School. (Photo by Department for Communities)

Gordon Lyons reveals projects progressing to next stage of NI Football Fund

Left to right: Cllr Maighréad Watson, Assistant to MLA Jon Burrows, Gary Simpson, Cllr Margaret Anne McKillop, Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council, Sandra Hunter, Cllr Cara McShane, Cllr Bill Kennedy, and Chair of Rural Housing Association Tom Potter

Rathlin Island celebrates first new social housing development in over a decade

(L-R): Heloise Brown, Department For Communities, Sandra Hunter, Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council, new tenant Ruari Morgan, Chief Executive of Rural Housing Association, Stephen Fisher, Chair of Rural Housing Association, Tom Potter, and Pamela Johnston, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Rural Unit

Rathlin Island celebrates first new social housing development in over a decade

The Salmon Of Knowledge artwork, has stood on the banks of the River Lagan in Northern Ireland’s capital since 1999

Peta offers to help repair Belfast’s Big Fish – in exchange for pro-vegan plaque

Vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on September 5, 2026. The closure of the waterway by Iran since spring has sent oil prices skyward (photo by Atta KENARE / AFP via Getty Images)

Stormont's £100 home heating oil subsidy vouchers 'pushing up the price of oil'

The Cross Border Jobs Fair took place at the Ebrington Hotel in Londonderry on Tuesday.

Lyons slams disruption to RAF and Army stands at jobs fair

One of two historic cannons are lifted by crane back into place at Carrickfergus Castle in Co Antrim, this morning, after having been removed in July 2025 for conservation work

Historic cannon welcomed home to Carrickfergus Castle after restoration work

Chair of the Council, Councillor Deirdre Varsani is pictured with Alison Lowry, Employer Services Branch, Department for Communities and Katie Morton, Vice Chair of Mid Ulster Labour Market Partnership (Dunbia).Credit:Supplied

LMP Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair comes to Dungannon

Job seekers across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to attend the upcoming Derry and Strabane Cross Border Job Fair, where a wide range of employers will be showcasing current vacancies and career opportunities. Pictured are Nicky Gilleece, Labour Market Partnership manager, Alison Lowry, head of employment services, Department for Communities/chair of the Cross Border Partnership for Employment Services, and Emma Quinn, project officer, LMP

NI job seekers invited to explore career opportunities at major recruitment fair

The future of the former Danske Bank building in Londonderry has been secured after Inner City Trust acquired the landmark Shipquay Square property through a £1.4 million loan from the Department for Communities. Pictured outside the former Danske Bank building in Londonderry are Shona Campbell, general manager Inner City Trust, Damian McAteer, Inner City Trust, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA and Vicki Hassan, operations director at Danske Bank

Former NI Danske Bank building secured through £1.4m regeneration deal

Finance Minister John O’Dowd has announced £27.4 million in capital funding from the Local Growth Fund to boost regional growth, support businesses, regenerate communities and improve connectivity

£27.4m Local Growth Fund boost for NI businesses, innovation and connectivity

Northern Ireland businesses are calling for urgent reform of the commercial rates system, warning that rising costs and outdated structures are placing increasing pressure on high streets across the region. Pictured are Eamon Butler, chair of LQ BID, Ros Morgan Heart of London, and Ojay McDonald ATCM, at the launch of the Real Rates Reform campaign in London last month

NI businesses call for urgent rates reform to save the high street

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at the announcement of the significant investment in cricket and multi-sport facilities at Stormont. Pictured are L-R (back row) –Rebecca Hope, Director of Sport, Sport NI, Brian MacNeice, Cricket Ireland, Rebecca Lowe, Ireland U19 and Gerry Kelly, nicssa. Player at front Jordan Neill, Ireland Men’s International and Mark Adair, Ireland Men’s International

Minister Lyons announces £7.6million investment in Stormont sporting facilities

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, councillor Henry Cushinan, deputy mayor, councillor Alison Bennington and Jill Murray, Council Economic Development manager are joined by Lisa McKinney, The Junction and Natasha Lamont, Antrim Jobs and Benefits Office to launch the Antrim Job Fair

Hundreds of job opportunities on offer as Antrim Job Fair returns this Saturday
The free event at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park will bring together employers from retail, hospitality, manufacturing and healthcare, alongside training and employability support services for anyone seeking new opportunities or a career change
Claire Cartmill

Invest NI and Community Wealth Building Partnership representatives on a visit to Raptor Photonics. Photo provided by LCWBP

Invest NI 'fully committed' to working with partnership on £50m investment plans

There are approximately 134,000 social homes in Northern Ireland

Social housing fraud in Northern Ireland costing millions

The High Court has been told that officials from Dr Caoimhe Archibald's economy department said “resourcing remains a major issue” for an Irish language strategy. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Sinn Fein departments 'delaying Irish language strategy over costs', court hears

Jamie Bryson pictured at the High Court this morning.

No Irish language strategy during current Stormont Executive lifetime

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Roy McClean, NIHE assistant area manager for Mid and East Antrim, pictured outside Latharna House in Larne. Photo provided by DfC

Floor-by-floor demolition to commence on 16-storey building

David Jeffrey

Objections to David Jeffrey ended football fund safeguarding panel

Jamie Bryson took a legal case against Naomi Long's justice department over 'out of date' football hooligan regulations.

Stormont to amend 'out of date' football hooligan laws after Bryson case

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir have announced a further £4m for 243 buildings, halls and facilities used by community and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland.

Lyons and Muir announce £4m for community facilities across NI

The IFA used to run the local premiership, but laws weren't updated after NIFL took over.

Football hooligan laws: Naomi Long has 'fundamentally shifted' position

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir have announced a further £4m for 243 buildings, halls and facilities used by community and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland.

Lyons and Muir announce £4m for community facilities across NI

The invoices were submitted by the GAA during a period of tension with the DUP sports minister over the redevelopment of its Casement Park stadium.

DUP queries GAA billing Stormont department for hundreds of thousands
Stormont’s sports ministry rejected hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of invoices submitted by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in a six month period, raising “serious concerns” over the sporting body’s funding, a DUP MLA has said.
David Thompson

The legality of regulations placed on fans at domestic football games in Northern Ireland has been called into question.

Football banning orders 'unlawful' in Northern Ireland due to 'epic blunder'

Ballycopeland Windmill is the last surviving one in Co Down. Photo: Visit Ards and North Down

Comeback for Ballycopeland Windmill attraction axed by Stormont after two years

An anti-abortion protest takes place in the Cornmarket area of Belfast city centre in July 2021. Photo: Philip Magowan/Press Eye

Belfast Council approves abortion protest graphic image ban

pictured at the Veteran Information Roadshow event in Ballymena are (L-R) Charlie Marno, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone and Tricia Robinson, Royal Armed Medical Core

Minister announces dedicated advice service for Armed Forces community

A DUP politician has called on the public to support their local pub. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire

Support your local pub, calls DUP MP

Communities minister Gordon Lyons as he announced which clubs had been taken forward to receive part of the money allocated to local football.

Crusaders and Derry City legal challenge to football fund exclusion to go ahead

Stormont Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a crackdown on benefit fraud.

Communities Minister announces crackdown on benefit fraud

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is pictured in his office signing the Northern Ireland Football Fund Letter of Offers

DfC confirm 'two clubs' brought legal challenge over Football Fund

Traditional culture on Belfast's Sandy Row is under threat from a massive new housing project, a residents group says. Photo: Jonathan Porter/Press Eye

Stormont blanks Sandy Row on Housing Executive fears

Pictured at the Ulster Folk Museum are Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI and Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund with Éowyn and Chester from Ballyholme Primary School

£50m investment announced for the Ulster Folk Museum

The telephone box at 63 Clare Road, Tandragee. Photo: ABC Council

Three 'iconic' Co Armagh red phone boxes given green light for listed status

Colum Boyle, permanent secretary at the Department for Communities, who has been made a CBE in the New Year Honours list for public service. Photo: Department for Communities/PA Wire

Two senior Stormont civil servants recognised in honours list

Belfast Council officials say programmes aimed at helping older people and those struggling against fuel poverty will be badly hit by a £1m hole in a hardship programme. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Stormont refuses to plug £1m hole in Belfast Council’s hardship fund

NB Housing Chief Executive, Donal Conway, and Cathal Lee from EnergyCloud

Tenants take the keys for energy efficient homes

UUP MLA Andy Allen.

The public deserve to know whether NI council reforms delivered savings - UUP

A proposal for application notice (PAN) has been lodged in relation to outline plans for the Fort George site in Londonderry. Credit Planning Portal

Plans advance at former NI military base for offices, homes, hotel, retail....

In September, Belfast City Hall voted to assign £1.9m of an underspend to go on Irish language signs over two years. Officials now say they have just £75,000 of an underspend to pay for their annual £1.1m hardship programme.

Belfast's £1m hole in hardship fund, weeks after giving £1.9m to Irish signs

Gordon Lyons MLA and the Mayor join Becca, Sarah and Darren from Inspire

Jobs and Apprenticeship Fair attracts good turnout

Stewart's Mill at Upper Dunmurry Lane will be demolished to make way for new apartments. Pic credit: Google

An old mill at Upper Dunmurry Lane is to be demolished for apartments

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons (centre) with Irish Football Association (IFA) president Conrad Kirkwood (left) and NI Football League (NIFL) Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor (right). (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

DfC release statement after pair team up to commence legal proceedings

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is pictured with Gary Hazlett and Carla Marriott, K9tergarten and Caorlan McAllister from Halfway House as he has announced a new £12.4 million employment drive to support working age benefit claimants into work

New £12.4m jobs programme to support over 1,200 NI benefit claimants into work

Office work

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons unveiling initiatives to people into work

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, in partnership with the Department for Communities, will host a Jobs and Careers Fair on Friday, October 10 at Antrim Forum Leisure Centre. Pictured is Alison Lowry, DfC Employer Services, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Carrie Beck, Council’s business development administrative officer

Find your future: Over 80 employers at Antrim & Newtownabbey Jobs Fair

An impression of how the Queen's Parade development on Bangor seafront is supposed to look. The first phase, now under way, involves demolishing a large waterfront car park to make way for a pedestrianised area. Photo: Bangor Marine

Red tape main enemy of decades-delayed £60m Bangor seafront revamp: Lyons

Omagh Enterprise Company took a major step into the future today with the official launch of its first Digi-Hub. Pictured is Marcus Isherwood, chair, Omagh Enterprise Company, Geraldine Keys, vice chair, Omagh Enterprise Company, First Minister Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Dr Nicholas O'Shiel, chief executive, Omagh Enterprise Company amd Councillor Barry McElduff, chair, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

£6m investment turns NI derelict site into a digital powerhouse

Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner for the Equality Commission, has previously said she is "impatient for change" on the implementation of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework.

Women's rights group rejects equality body legal action on definition of a woman

Pictured (L-R) is Christina McKeegan, Foyle Search and Rescue Charity Manager, Carol Ervine, Group Director of Tenant & Client Services and Margaret McCrossan, Community and Events Fundraising Officer AWARE NI.

River Rush 2025 makes waves for Mental Health

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons (centre) with Irish Football Association (IFA) president Conrad Kirkwood (left) and NI Football League (NIFL) Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor (right). (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

Officials insist regional weighting didn't have 'any support' in Football Fund

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