Gordon Lyons

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons speaking during a press conference at Stormont Castle in Belfast following a meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive in April (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

DUP minister rejects claims ‘only one party’ is blocking Executive business

Department for Communities handout artist impression of the pavilion soon be constructed at Ulster Folk Museum

Ulster Folk Museum 'to be reawakened' thanks to project costing £50 million

A homeless couple sleeping on a corner in Belfast city centre. Picture date: Friday August 9, 2024.

Lyons pressed to end deaths of 61 homeless people per year

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

DUP minister Gordon Lyons.

DUP standing against Stormont madness and backing common sense - Lyons

With high stakes at the next election, the DUP 'needs to win' - Robinson

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at Atlas Women’s Centre, which is being supported through the NI Community Infrastructure Fund

Fresh £1.97m investment set to benefit communities across Northern Ireland

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Deputy Secretary for Operational Delivery Linsey Farrell (right) met some of the apprentices working in the Department for Communities

New intake of 143 apprentices welcomed to Department for Communities

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'

A Stormont committee heard concerns that the £100 oil vouchers are being used by some customers to buy coal.

51,000 applications for heating oil support scheme in first 24 hours

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

Gordon Lyons (centre) with officials and players after providing an update on the Northern Ireland Football Fund in September 2025. (Photo by Pacemaker)

Northern Ireland Football Fund remains 'subject to judicial review'

Morning View

Editorial: The arts sector is nothing like a starving child
News Letter editorial on Wednesday September 9 2026
Editorial

Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons rejected criticism of the number of new social homes being built.

Assembly clashes on housing as minister accused of ‘deeply concerning’ record

Actress and playwright Roisin Gallagher (centre) joins fellow actors, playwrights and members of the creative industry at a protest outside the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, where they delivered a letter of No Confidence in Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Lyons praises Young Farmers for self-funded displays of art and creativity

Marina Hampton from the Equity Union delivers a letter of No Confidence to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons during a protest by actors, playwrights and members of the creative industry outside the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

DUP arts minister rejects arts union's 'starving child' analogy

The £100 digital pre-paid card scheme will support around 340,000 households who use oil as their main source of heating.

£100 Home Heating Oil Support Scheme goes live for applications

Martina Anderson recently published her autobiography, and is to sign copies in Kilrea (photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Criticism of using publicly-owned building to promote ex-IRA bomb convict's book

A developed design of Newry City Park, which was granted planning permission at a meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Planning Committee on 2 September

Planning permission granted for new multi-million regeneration project in Newry

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons

Criticism of Gordon Lyons over Irish Language strategy 'unwarranted' says judge

Raymond Gormley, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Fiona Magee, Advice NI, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Nicole Lappin, Chair NIHE, and David Blevings, Northern Ireland Oil Federation, at the launch of the £100 voucher scheme

Gordon Lyons: Helping households with heating costs this winter

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons

Stormont still in breach of Irish language strategy obligations says judge

Home heating oil support scheme

340,000 NI households to be eligible for £100 oil support payment

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
Inner City Trust acquires landmark Shipquay Square property through first loan from North West Regeneration Fund, with plans to refurbish and bring it back into use
Claire Cartmill

A row over proposed changes at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine resulted in the resignation of the health minister this week.

DUP's Frew questions 'perverse' delays in reaching Causeway Hospital decision

Historical sites to get accessibility boost for blind visitors

Jon Burrows has appointed Robbie Butler as the new UUP health minister.

Lyons urges focus on ‘delivery’ for new Health Minister Robbie Butler

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced the launch of a Pre Market Engagement exercise for the redevelopment of the Irish Street site in Downpatrick. Credit Google maps

£5.2m regeneration boost as NI town centre site opened to developers

DUP Education Minister Paul Givan speaks to the media at Friends’ School in Lisburn yesterday

Wheels coming off Sinn Fein messaging says Paul Givan

The NI Assembly is united that the government should spend tens of millions every year on community sector schemes - but are they working?

David Thompson: Is the community sector delivering on the millions spent on it?

Ulster-Scots culture was on the march as part of the Fleadh on Thursday night.

Marching bands praised as Ulster-Scots heritage showcased at all-Ireland Fleadh

Taoiseach Michael Martin listening to performers at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2026, in Belfast, a week of song, dance and culture as part of the world's largest celebration of traditional Irish music

Taoiseach urges ‘political maturity’ at Stormont amid DUP and Sinn Fein row

Team NI athletes from the Commonwealth Games during the homecoming event hosted by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons (centre) and attended by Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (centre left) and Dame Mary Peters (centre right) at Parliament Buildings, Stormont in Belfast. Also included are Stephen Martin (second right, Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland chair) and Gavin Boyd (right, Sport NI chair). (Photo by Rebecca Black/PA Wire)

Northern Ireland athletes celebrated at Stormont after Commonwealth Games joy

Each year, a significant proportion of the electricity produced by Northern Ireland's wind farms cannot be used because the electricity grid is unable to absorb it when demand is low or because there is insufficient capacity to transport it to where it is needed

Sammy Wilson: Innovative scheme reduces fuel poverty and wasted electricity

Féile an Phobail had cancelled an event by a women's rights group, citing transgender equality in its reasoning. Pic: Féile an Phobail

Féile claim 'vindication' as women's rights event moved to alternative venue

Alan Lowry, Chair FSB NI

Small businesses need the right support to help unlock NI’s workforce potential

Lorna Muldoon, policy advisor FSB NI, Alan Lowry, chair FSB NI, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA, Professor Kristel Miller, director of EPIC Futures NI at Ulster University and Sophie Johnston, senior policy advisor FSB NI

Untapped workforce: How NI’s small firms could help solve recruitment challenges

Michelle O'Neill (fourth left) at Dublin Pride parade in 2023. Photo: Nick Bradshaw/PA Wire

SF 'haven't been so quiet since they were asked what a woman is' - DUP

Fiona McAnena, the Northern Ireland-born Director of Campaigns at Sex Matters, was due to speak at the cancelled Feile event.

Féile facing legal action from UK charity over women’s event ban

Northern Ireland’s exemption from Andy Burnham’s tax cut on electricity bills shows the “madness” of the region’s relationship with the EU, a Stormont minister has said.

Burnham VAT cut exposes ‘madness’, of post-Brexit rules, says Stormont minister

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed a £60million fall in benefit fraud

Zero-tolerance approach to benefit fraud is working: Minister Lyons

Stormont Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald thinks the Irish language could boost fortunes. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Probe into boosting Irish language in workplace a distraction: DUP

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald (PA)

Minister commissions study into economic potential of Irish language

Athletes celebrate their homecoming at Stormont Parliament Buildings

Celebration for Special Olympians at Stormont after record-breaking medal haul

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arriving at Newry Crown Court on Monday June 22, 2026. Later that day, he was was convicted of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape – against two women when they were children

‘No inkling’ of Donaldson’s abusive behaviour prior to arrest, says DUP minister

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

Inside The Middle Ale, the world’s first Lidl pub, which has opened beside the retailer’s Dundonald store

'Very very soon': Date set for world's first Lidl pub to open its doors in NI

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons

86 households contact Housing Executive after Northern Ireland riots

Northern Ireland construction firm Northstone is set to begin work on the next phase of a £2 million rural regeneration programme in Gilford this summer

NI construction firm wins £2m Gilford regeneration contract

Jamie Bryson at an earlier court hearing

Grand Central Station Irish signs plan could cost up to £3m court is told

Lord Hannan explored how the Glorious Revolution shaped British and American constitutional democracy in this 250th anniversary year of the American Declaration of Independence Pictured is Lord Hannan.

American revolutionaries felt British, says peer

The US Consul General James Applegate and Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, with Stormont's communities minister at the launch of PRONI’s Ulster American Treasures: The Migration Story at Belfast City Hall on Friday May 22 2026. Pic Arthur Allison Pacemaker

Book on Ulster folk who helped build America before declaration of independence

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