Other News In Brief

Support For New Heating Systems For Homeowners

Energy Minister Arlene Foster has today highlighted the support available for domestic energy users wishing to switch to innovative renewable heating technologies.
The Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme has been in place since May 2012 and already over 800 people have begun the process of introducing more environmentally friendly heating systems in their homes.The Premium Payment scheme provides support for those wishing to move away from fossil fuels and instead utilise renewable technologies such as biomass boilers, heat pumps and solar thermal panels. To date, DETI has committed in excess of £1.2million worth of grant support for new installations; this represents an overall investment in the market of over £4.1million.

Arlene Foster said: "It is encouraging to see more and more people embrace new innovative methods to heat their homes.

"For too long, Northern Ireland consumers have had limited choice when it came to how their homes and businesses were heated. With the support available from my Department for renewable technologies, as well as the continued expansion of the natural gas network, the energy market in Northern Ireland is becoming more diverse, more competitive and more sustainable."

Ritchie Calls For Taskforce To Deal With Farmland Restorations

SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has argued for the implementation of a taskforce to deal with the restoration and renewal of upland farms.

Ms Ritchie was speaking during an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on the effect of weather conditions on upland sheep farmers.

She said: "This debate provided an essential opportunity to put forward my concerns regarding the challenges faced by upland farmers in my constituency who were badly affected by the recent snowfall.

"In particular upland farmers in the Mournes and in Slieve Croob suffered devastating loss of livestock and collapsed livestock sheds.

"I travelled through tunnels of snow to visit a number of farmers and on one particular farm I saw about 29 ewes and lambs under a tarpaulin that were sadly all dead.

"Given the unique bond that exists between the farmers and their sheep we need a particular taskforce to deal with the restoration and renewal of upland farms for upland farmers."

Community Urged To Use Open University

Ulster Unionist DEL Committee Chair, Robin Swann MLA, has called on people to look at the Open University as a way of gaining a qualification.

The North Antrim Assembly Member made his appeal after supporting an Open University event in Stormont

"As a graduate of the Open University myself, I encourage people to look at the Open University as a method of gaining a first class educational qualification. The Open University offers a huge range of courses that people can study from home.

"At present, over one third of people who are economically inactive do not have any formal qualifications, so the Open University offers a great chance to get a degree and help find meaningful employment.

"With the flexibility of doing the course from home and in your own time, the Open University courses are particularly attractive to those people who do not have the time to attend a university on a regular schedule, those who are currently working, people living in rural areas, or those who stay at home to look after family members."

(CD)