Other News In Brief

Plans To Develop New College In Enniskillen Welcomed

Plans to develop a new college in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, have been welcomed by Sinn Fein.

Work on the South West College is to start in March this year.

MLA Caoimhe Archibald it will ensure training and education for skills development is available for the economy into the future.

She said: "The construction of the Erne campus will produce employment in the local area for up to 200 people and also provide apprenticeship opportunities, which is a boost for the south west region.

"Investment in further education alongside higher education is important in ensuring the provision of skills at all the levels which are required to meet the needs of, and grow the economy."

Man Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A man has been convicted for claiming benefits he was not entitled to at Londonderry Magistrates’ Court.

William Mondjack claimed Housing Benefit totalling £3,323 while failing to declare living with a partner. He was given a one month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

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

Rural Roads will continue To Suffer Over Budget Cuts - Alliance

Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said rural roads in particular will continue to suffer due to budget cuts, after it was revealed almost £500,000 has been paid out in compensation to drivers of vehicles damaged by potholes in the past two years.

The figures confirm between January 2016 and November 2017, a total of 1,935 vehicle damage claims led to compensation payments of £495,358. More than 78,000 surface defects were recorded.

"Potholes represent a real danger, particularly after snowfall and subsequent flooding, when people are unable to see them. Unfortunately, when our infrastructure is under such pressure, it is inevitable this will happen. It was raised before on the Infrastructure Committee and rural roads in particular were identified as being at risk," said Ms Armstrong.

"Unfortunately, with the projections for budgets being as they are, instead of seeing the multi-million-pound investment in our roads which is needed, we will be lucky if we get a fraction of that. This is a consequence of protecting health and education among other areas, as well as having different priorities from the block grant."

(CD)