13/03/2018

Other News In Brief

Man Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A man has been convicted for claiming over £31,000 in benefits he was not entitled to at Downpatrick Crown Court.

Donald Ireland claimed Income Support, Carer's Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £31,044 while failing to declare student income. He was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years. 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.

Call For Needs Of People Living In The Holylands To Be A Priority

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has called in advance of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Belfast for those people who do not live or have any business in the Holylands areas to stay away over the weekend.

She added: "The needs of the settled community of the Holylands must take precedence over those people who believe the Holylands to be the desirable destination for their St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

"This year, there needs to be a zero tolerance approach to the perennial problems with criminal damage, on-street drinking, excessive noise and rude and aggressive behaviour from congregated youths in the Holylands, and the only way for this to happen is for all stakeholders to pro-actively monitor activity and deal with any negative behaviour, and for those who have no business being in the area to stay away."

Dept Of Education Urged To Extend Funding For Sports Development Programme

Sinn Féin sports, culture and arts spokesperson, Sinéad Ennis, has called on the Department for Education to extend the funding for the sports development programme.

The South Down MLA said: "Sinn Féin led a cross party delegation that was successful in ensuring the programme was extended until the end of March 2018.

"This date is fast approaching, Sinn Féin is strongly calling on senior civil servants to ensure this programme is extended once again.

"Removing this programme would have a severely damaging effect on schools and the thousands upon thousands of school children who benefit from this programme.

"This programme is extremely important and beneficial as it teaches the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle along with increasing children's confidence and social and interaction skills."

(CD/LM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 April 2024
Ministers Commit To Introducing Baby Loss Certificates
The Minister's for Finance and Health have committed to working together to progress the introduction of baby loss certificates for parents who have lost a baby during pregnancy before 24 weeks. Under current legislation, the death of a baby is only officially recognised if it occurs after the 24th week of pregnancy.
11 April 2024
Other News In Brief
Lack Of Executive Contributed To State Of NI Roads – SDLP The SDLP have said that the lack of an Executive has contributed to the state of Northern Ireland's roads.
11 April 2024
Over 40 Belfast Organisations Back 'Inclusive City' Initiative
More than forty organisations from across Belfast have backed an initiative designed to help create a 'better, more inclusive city'. The organisations have signed up to the Belfast Business Promise, embarking on their journey to become accredited and share good practice.
16 April 2024
BCC Call For Applications To Augment The City Challenge Fund
Northern Irish businesses who wish to explore the future role of immersive technologies in visitor experiences have been invited to apply to the new Augment the City Challenge Fund, led by Belfast City Council's (BCC) City Innovation Office and funded by the Belfast Region City Deal.
15 April 2024
SDLP To Call For Vital New Measures To Fight Poverty
The SDLP will use the next official Opposition Day to call on the Executive to endorse a range of vital measures, including ending the pernicious two-child limit on Universal Credit and a ban on no-fault evictions.