New passport applicants in Belfast will be quizzed on their family history, bank details and past addresses as part of a 20-minute interview. An estimated 10,042 people each year will attend face-to-face interviews at an office in Norwood House on Great Victoria Street, and be expected to know detailed answers from a pool of 200 questions.

A major overhaul of services for children in care in Northern Ireland has been unveiled. The proposals include reducing those in care by 20% and doubling those in education, employment or training.

Charities are losing out on money because of bogus street collectors, police have warned. The PSNI said reports from across Northern Ireland suggested fundraisers were pocketing donations given by generous passers-by. People are being urged to check identification before giving cash.

Services for children in care in Northern Ireland are to be overhauled in a bid to ensure they enjoy the same quality of life as those living with parents, the Government announced today. Health Minister Paul Goggins said he has set the task of reducing the number of children and young people in care by 20%.

The Minister for Health has welcomed the move from the eighteen existing Health and Social Services Trusts to five integrated Trusts. The five new Trusts will become fully operational on 1 April 2007. The Ambulance Service Trust remains unchanged.

A convicted rapist who must inform police of his whereabouts is living rough in a tent close to hundreds of unsuspecting Newry families, the Democrat can reveal.

The number of people forced out of their homes in Northern Ireland by domestic violence is on the rise, the government has confirmed. Women are suffering broken bones and miscarriages after being attacked while pregnant, and aid organisations said up to six women were murdered every year.

Lives are being put at risk after mindless thieves callously stole an essential piece of communication equipment from an ambulance. Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) crew members were attending a patient at a house on the Bushmills Road, Coleraine, at about 8pm on Saturday when their vehicle was targeted.

The Labour Court recommendation comes just five days before the scheduled opening of the €75 million Cork University Maternity Hospital, CUMH. Midwives, had threatened to boycott the opening unless staffing levels recommended to ensure patient safety were in place.

A project to improve the lives of young Northern Ireland people caring for sick parents is to benefit from lottery funding. It is one of 12 programmes to receive more than £5.2m from the Big Lottery Fund in its latest round of grants.