Other News In Brief

Plans To Establish Specialist Eating Disorders Unit To Be Discussed

Plans to set up a specialist eating disorders unit in Northern Ireland are to be discussed.

Health Minister Simon Hamilton confirmed between 18,000 and 20,000 individuals will be living with an eating disorder in Northern Ireland at any one time.

Mr Hamilton said: "There has been much positive additional investment provided to eating disorder services in the last decade, but I am aware that there is considerable support for a local specialist eating disorders unit.

"Equally, we need to be sure that any such service would be sustainable in the long term. I have therefore decided that the time is now right to start considering all of the options."

Rise In NI House Prices

Northern Ireland house prices are continuing to rise according to the latest RICS and Ulster Bank Residential Market Survey.

They are also expected to increase again in the next three months.

RICS Northern Ireland Residential Property Spokesman, Samuel Dickey, said: "Activity appears to have been picking up marginally, and surveyors expect a further increase. Indeed, buyer demand is strengthening.

"However, the ongoing lack of new instructions continues to be an issue, which will likely limit activity and push prices higher. RICS expects Northern Ireland house prices to rise by average of 11% during the course of 2015."

Derek Wilson, Head of Lending Products at Ulster Bank, said: "Mortgage lending in Northern Ireland picked up in the second quarter of the year according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, and our experience at Ulster Bank is that the third quarter saw a further increase in activity.

"The levels of mortgage demand that we are currently experiencing also points to a strong few months ahead. As a bank, we offer choice to customers and to support them in getting a mortgage they can live with. That's why we have launched our biggest-ever range of mortgage options, with some of our lowest-ever rates."

Bomb Alert In East Belfast Condemned

Alliance MLA Judith Cochrane has hit out at those behind a bomb alert which forced the closure of an east Belfast road for several hours.

A "viable, crude, improvised explosive device" was found during the alert on the Beersbridge Road on Wednesday. The object is believed to have been found in a phone box and led to the road being closed in both directions near its junction with the Bloomfield Road.

"This alert forced the closure of a busy road that contains many businesses and residential properties," said East Belfast MLA Mrs Cochrane.

"The disruption will have a severe impact on them, particularly in the middle of a busy working day. People just want to get on with their lives free from this attempt to cause fear and spread panic. Those behind this incident also wasted valuable police time and resources. "

(CD/JP)