Other News In Brief

Man Fined For Waste Offences

A man has been fined for waste offences at Antrim Magistrates' court.

Robert Annesley Taylor from Templepatrick, was fined £350 plus court costs of £148 and a £15 offenders' levy.

The charge related to a breach of waste management legislation.

Officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency visited his site at Largy Road, Crumlin on 5 February 2014 where a quantity of waste tyres and waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) was being kept on site without the relevant waste authorisation.

Construction To Start On DARD Headquarters

Construction of the new Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Headquarters is expected to commence as soon as possible at the former British Army site in Ballykelly, Co L'Derry.

The demolition phase on the site has been completed and there has also been up to seven expressions in interest in the site which are separate from the DARD headquarters.

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Ó hOisín said: "This assessment of these proposals will hopefully be completed by the spring which would allow the next phase of transforming the site to begin in 1916.

"At present the TV and film production company will remain on site creating many jobs and I am sure that they will bid to remain full time at Ballykelly."

Second Stage Of 'Big Conversation' Launches

Alliance Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has launched the second stage the 'Big Conversation' about the future sustainability of higher education in Northern Ireland.

The scheme is designed to give people their say on the future of higher education, with responses from the consultation forming the basis of an Executive paper outlining the ways to sustain higher education here.

Mr Farry said: "The model we currently use to support higher education in Northern Ireland is no longer sustainable. We need to find our own unique solution to the challenges facing higher education. We can no longer maintain the status quo and it is time we had a discussion about what alternatives might work for us in Northern Ireland."

(CD/LM)