Latest news with #RichardPengelly
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Emma Little-Pengelly defends taxpayer-paid trip to attend Wimbledon royal box
The deputy First Minister has said she was representing Northern Ireland when she attended Wimbledon last month. It was reported that almost £1,000 in public funds was spent on flights and accommodation for Emma Little-Pengelly and her husband, Education Authority chief executive Richard Pengelly, to attend the tournament. Advertisement The deputy First Minister told reporters on Tuesday that she attends many events of significance throughout the year. Asked about the matter following a meeting with British finance minister Rachel Reeves, she said: 'You will see that throughout the week, throughout every month, we have many different roles. 'Part of that is advocacy – that's what we're doing today in terms of emphasising to the Chancellor the needs of the people of Northern Ireland and to ask for that support for that economic growth. 'But there's also a representative role. I count it as a huge privilege to be in this role. Advertisement 'And of course, if anybody follows my social media, you will see that I am out and about on a weekly basis, representing and attending hundreds of events – most of them local community events. 'But of course, those national events and events of sport and significance as well throughout the year.' It is the biggest honour of my life to serve in this role as your deputy First Minister, with responsibility of jointly leading the Executive. In my role, I lead from the front and I lead from the heart ❤️. I have worked tirelessly to champion Northern Ireland at every… — Emma Little-Pengelly BL (@little_pengelly) August 8, 2025 Ms Little-Pengelly said she had little to add to social media posts she made on Friday. In those posts, she said: 'It is the biggest honour of my life to serve in this role as your deputy First Minister, with responsibility of jointly leading the Executive. Advertisement 'In my role, I lead from the front and I lead from the heart. I have worked tirelessly to champion Northern Ireland at every opportunity. I will always do so.' She added: 'I count it a huge honour to have been invited as deputy First Minister to attend the Royal Box at Wimbledon at the invitation of the chair of the club. 'The organisers invite a mix of political, Government, investors, business along with the world of sport and entertainment, and of course royalty, as part of the official aspect of the tournament in the Royal Box. 'It is hugely positive that Northern Ireland is invited to be represented at this significant UK British national sporting event, of huge global impact. Advertisement 'Wimbledon generates over £200 million for the UK economy. I was hugely honoured to be asked to support the event and to represent officially as deputy First Minister.'
BBC News
07-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Emma Little-Pengelly: DUP defends minister's Wimbledon trip
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has moved to defend the deputy first minister over a publicly-funded trip with her husband to £1,000 was spent on flights and accommodation when Emma Little-Pengelly and Education Authority (EA) chief executive Richard Pengelly attended the tennis Stormont parties have criticised the spending, but The Executive Office (TEO) said it was in line with civil service policy and "no additional expenditure" was incurred on behalf of her a fresh statement to BBC News NI, the DUP said the invitation was issued "in her capacity as deputy first minister and it will be registered in the normal way". The EA said Mr Pengelly attended while on leave and "no spend was incurred" by the education than £980 was spent on the trip, according to a Freedom of Information request revealed last month by The Irish couple were pictured in the Royal box at centre court alongside celebrities including American pop star Olivia Rodrigo, professional wrestler John Cena and former England football manager Roy posted photos online, describing the invitation as the "honour of a lifetime".The DUP minister and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were invited by the All-England Club, but O'Neill did not take up the invitation. Register of interests Members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) declare any gifts or hospitality they receive worth more than £250 on a public register of is "including those received in a ministerial capacity", according to assembly the DUP said the Wimbledon invite did not need to be declared on the assembly register.A party spokesman said: "The invitation was issued to Emma Little-Pengelly in her capacity as deputy first minister and it will be registered in the normal way via the department in the register of ministers' gifts and hospitality."Because invitations to the Royal box are never offered for sale it is not possible to put a value on this and therefore does not meet the threshold for inclusion in the register of members' interests."The only comparable price available is for the price of a centre court ticket for the relevant day of attendance, which does not meet the threshold for inclusion."Tickets for centre court seats on 2 July cost between £95 and £120, according to Wimbledon's website.A spokesman for the club in south London said Royal box tickets "are not commercially available". 'Beggars belief' Several Stormont parties have criticised the Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MLA Matthew O'Toole, leader of the opposition, said it "beggars belief"."The idea that official business was conducted in the Royal box at Wimbledon insults the intelligence of the public here," he Party MLA Paula Bradshaw, chair of the assembly's Executive Office scrutiny committee, said she would be raising Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Timothy Gaston, a member of the committee, also questioned the "justification for the public paying the bill". A spokesman for TEO said: "Details of gifts and hospitality received by ministers are recorded on the 'Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality Received' which is published on a quarterly basis."In a previous statement, The Executive Office said the deputy first minister "flew economy"."While she was accompanied in her official capacity by her spouse, no additional expenditure was incurred by TEO on behalf of her guest," a spokeswoman said."The travel and accommodation costs incurred by the deputy first minister are in line with NICS (Northern Ireland Civil Service) policy."The EA said "no spend was incurred" by it and the trip was "made in a personal capacity" while Mr Pengelly was on annual Executive Office said while the first minister declined the Wimbledon invite, she attended the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) football all-Ireland semi-final later in said there were "no costs" associated with O'Neill's attendance at the match between Tyrone and Kerry at Croke Park in Féin said O'Neill attended the semi-final "at the invitation of the GAA" and there were "zero costs to the department".
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Van Morrison's former primary to become a special school
Sir Van Morrison's former primary school in east Belfast is set to become a special school campus. Elmgrove school on the Beersbridge Road closed in 2024, with pupils and staff moving to a new building nearby. The Beersbridge Road site is right beside "the hollow", made famous in Sir Van's song Brown Eyed Girl. The former Elmgrove school building is now set to house pupils from Greenwood House special school in east Belfast from September 2026. Greenwood House has announced plans to expand its pupil numbers by using Elmgrove as a dual campus alongside its existing site close to the Newtownards Road. The Education Authority (EA) has said the school's move "will help the overall position" on school places. Greenwood House currently has about 70 pupils aged between three and six, but its expansion proposal means the school plans to take pupils up to Primary 7. It would mean, in the first instance, that a number of current P2 pupils could continue in Greenwood House rather than having to move school. The school's proposal will help to provide more special school places for children in Belfast. The Chief Executive of the EA, Richard Pengelly, recently called the shortfall of school places for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) a "crisis". Belfast was identified as one of the areas where there was a particular pressure on school places. Mr Pengelly said that some mainstream schools could be instructed to enrol more SEN pupils. The chair of Greenwood House's governors Gary Forbes said the special school's move would help parents and pupils. "This will mean that we can offer a place to children up to Primary 7, which gives parents a degree of comfort and assurance about their children's education and development," he told BBC News NI. "It'll really help families, and we're also looking forward to expanding to use the old Elmgrove site." "We want to thank officials from the Education Authority for their support," he added. "The Board of Governors also want to pay tribute to our principal, Lorriane Thompson, and wonderful staff for all their hard work and dedication." In a statement to BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the EA said: "As part of ongoing efforts to increase capacity across the school estate, EA has been working closely with Greenwood House to expand its provision from age 3 to age 11 from September 2026, utilising the old Elmgrove site which will be refurbished as part of the plans." "The transition process will start this year and will help the overall position," they continued. As well as Sir Van Morrison, other former pupils of Elmgrove Primary include the late Northern Ireland footballer and manager Billy Bingham and unionist politician David Ervine. Meanwhile, the EA has confirmed plans to create a new special school at the site of the former Orangefield High School in Belfast. BBC News NI understands that could mean a number of existing special schools being relocated to the site of the former high school in east Belfast. The first integrated Irish language primary school in east Belfast, Naíscoil na Seolta, has previously said it is also interested in a long-term move to the Orangefield site.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Van Morrison's former primary to become a special school
Sir Van Morrison's former primary school in east Belfast is set to become a special school school on the Beersbridge Road closed in 2024, with pupils and staff moving to a new building Beersbridge Road site is right beside "the hollow", made famous in Sir Van's song Brown Eyed former Elmgrove school building is now set to house pupils from Greenwood House special school in east Belfast from September 2026. Greenwood House has announced plans to expand its pupil numbers by using Elmgrove as a dual campus alongside its existing site close to the Newtownards Education Authority (EA) has said the school's move "will help the overall position" on school House currently has about 70 pupils aged between three and six, but its expansion proposal means the school plans to take pupils up to Primary would mean, in the first instance, that a number of current P2 pupils could continue in Greenwood House rather than having to move school's proposal will help to provide more special school places for children in Belfast. The Chief Executive of the EA, Richard Pengelly, recently called the shortfall of school places for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) a "crisis".Belfast was identified as one of the areas where there was a particular pressure on school places. Mr Pengelly said that some mainstream schools could be instructed to enrol more SEN pupils. The chair of Greenwood House's governors Gary Forbes said the special school's move would help parents and pupils."This will mean that we can offer a place to children up to Primary 7, which gives parents a degree of comfort and assurance about their children's education and development," he told BBC News NI."It'll really help families, and we're also looking forward to expanding to use the old Elmgrove site.""We want to thank officials from the Education Authority for their support," he added."The Board of Governors also want to pay tribute to our principal, Lorriane Thompson, and wonderful staff for all their hard work and dedication." In a statement to BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the EA said: "As part of ongoing efforts to increase capacity across the school estate, EA has been working closely with Greenwood House to expand its provision from age 3 to age 11 from September 2026, utilising the old Elmgrove site which will be refurbished as part of the plans.""The transition process will start this year and will help the overall position," they well as Sir Van Morrison, other former pupils of Elmgrove Primary include the late Northern Ireland footballer and manager Billy Bingham and unionist politician David the EA has confirmed plans to create a new special school at the site of the former Orangefield High School in News NI understands that could mean a number of existing special schools being relocated to the site of the former high school in east first integrated Irish language primary school in east Belfast, Naíscoil na Seolta, has previously said it is also interested in a long-term move to the Orangefield site.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
SEN education: Some schools may be formally instructed to enrol SEN pupils
The Education Authority is considering an unprecedented move to instruct some schools to enrol special educational needs (SEN) children. Chief Executive Richard Pengelly said the shortfall of SEN places for September 2025 constitutes a "crisis". In a letter to principals, seen by the BBC, Mr Pengelly said he estimates 164 children will not have a place in school in Pengelly said 27 specialist provision classes would need to be created to deal with the enrolment crisis. He said this is an unacceptable position for those children and their parents or carers, and has asked the Department of Education to consider a process to formally instruct specific schools with available capacity to establish provisions. The EA identified 58 schools in locations facing pressure for schools spaces that would be able to enrol SEN pupils. The Education Minister and the EA wrote to these schools requesting support. "Despite numerous engagements by EA colleagues, and the Minister taking the unusual step of writing directly requesting their support, unfortunately only one school has responded with a firm offer to progress work for September 2025," Mr Pengelly EA Chief Executive has appealed again for more schools to come forward, stating the EA "fully acknowledge the pressures schools are facing" but in order to deal with the lack of spaces for SEN children before September 2025, he "urgently appeal to those schools to whom we have written to work collaboratively with us". He went on to say that the EA and the department "cannot afford to fail" and "we must continue to strive ensure that every child receives the high-quality education and support they deserve".
