Other News In Brief

All Ireland Scholarships Scheme Launches

The All Ireland Scholarships Scheme for students in Northern Ireland has launched.

The annual scholarships, funded by businessman JP McManus, are now in their sixth year and provide financial assistance to high-performing students from disadvantaged backgrounds who intend to take up full-time undergraduate courses in the coming autumn.

The value of each scholarship is £5,500 per annum for the undergraduate degree course duration.

The closing date for receipt of application forms is 26 June 2015.

PM David Cameron Needs Lock Out Of Downing Street - SDLP

Northern Ireland needs MPs who will take their seats in Westminster to help lock David Cameron out of Downing Street, Foyle SDLP MLA Colum Eastwood has told the Assembly.

Mr Eastwood said that all MPs elected in Northern Ireland must fight in Westminster for a "proper, better and fairer deal for the North".

He said: "We want a deal that ensures expanded university provision and expanded infrastructure investment right across the North, so that places like Derry can reach their full economic potential. We would also like to see a city deal for Derry that will allow us to ring-fence funding and borrowing powers for people in Derry and to implement all those things that we would like to see happen."

Ratepayers Offered Discount If Bill Is Paid In Full Before 1 May

Ratepayers of occupied domestic properties only will be offered a 4% discount if they pay their rate bill in full by Friday 1 May 2015.

Land & Property Services (LPS) is reminding customers who want to receive the early payment discount to pay their bill as soon as possible as the discount deadline is approaching.

An LPS spokesperson explained: "If LPS receives payment in full, in a single payment by the discount day, you will receive a 4% discount on this year’s assessment. You must allow a minimum of five working days for payment to reach us."

Further information can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates

(CD)