21/07/2017

Other News In Brief

Man Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A man has been convicted for claiming £10,251 in benefits he was not entitled to at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

Desmond Hood claimed Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support while failing to declare an occupational pension. He was given a two year conditional discharge. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

He is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Construction Work To Begin On Carriageway Project In Belfast

Construction work is to start on a carriageway resurfacing scheme in Belfast.

A total of £290,000 is to be invested in the project which will take place on the Oldpark Road from Westland Road to Ballysillan Road.

The work is to start on Monday, 24 July, and is expected to be completed by Friday, 04 August.

To help ensure the safety of road users and contractors the improvements will be carried out under the following road closures:

• Monday 24 July to Saturday 29 July - One–way closure of the country-bound lane from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily.

• Sunday 30 July - Full road closure in both directions from 8.00am to 6.00pm.

• Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August - One–way closure of the country-bound lane from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily.

An additional weekend closure will be required to resurface the Oldpark roundabout. There will be a full closure of the roundabout from 8am on Saturday 19 August to 6pm on Sunday 20 August.

Diversions will be put in place.

Call For School Budget Crisis To Be Tackled

SDLP Education Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has warned that the additional resource made available to the Department of Education will not be enough to tackle the oncoming school budget crisis.

He said: "Obviously more resources for our schools are welcome. But £30m isn’t a good news story when scores of schools are just about treading water and others are beginning to sink unto deficit.

"The political crisis is precipitating a far bigger crisis in our school estate. Principals are already cutting afterschool classes and looking at restricting the range of opportunities available to children inside school hours.

"This must be a priority for political parties and an area of focus for the institutions. The longer we go with no resolution, the closer we get to the brink and the worse the educational outcomes will be for our young people. It will not wait until halfway through another school term after September."

(CD)

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