A8 Improvement Works On Schedule

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has visited the site of the A8 Belfast to Larne Dual Carriageway improvement works to review progress.

Construction on 14km of the existing A8, between Coleman's Corner Roundabout and Ballyrickard Road, to improve it to dual carriageway standard, is now 13 months into a 34-month programme.

Minister Kennedy said: "Progress on the improvement scheme is impressive and it is on schedule to be complete and open to traffic by Spring 2015.

"With over 80% of the pipe culverts and other utility diversions complete, works are progressing well on the key structures and bulk earthworks activities."

The scheme, which is part funded by the European Commission under its Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) funding, will incorporate a new roundabout at Shane's Hill Road, and a number of new junctions and bridges.

Drop In Driving Test Applications

The latest Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) Compendium of Key Statistics for Quarter one, April to June 2013, has been published.

The figures show that 11,299 learner car drivers applied to take their practical driving test from April to June 2013. This represents a decrease of approximately 9% on the corresponding quarter for 2012 when 12,388 applications were received.

However, despite this decline in numbers, all major test categories, with the exception of the Motorcycle L test, have seen increases in pass rates when comparing Quarter one 2012 with Quarter one 2013. The pass rate for private car learner drivers was up nearly two percentage points from April to June 2012 to stand at 55.7% for April to June 2013. This is still some way below the pass rate for Motorcycle Learner tests, which was 67.8% for April to June 2013.

Over 268,000 vehicle 'MOT' tests (including both full tests and retests) were carried out by DVA during the period April to June 2013, up by 2.5% compared to the corresponding quarter in 2012. Almost four in every five of these 'MOT' tests (79.7%) resulted in a 'pass'.

Call For Irish FA And DCAL To Resolve Their Difficulties

Ulster Unionist Culture, Arts & Leisure spokesperson Michael McGimpsey has demanded that the Irish FA and DCAL resolve their difficulties so that work can finally begin on redeveloping Windsor Park to ensure Northern Ireland has a modern stadium that can host International Football.

Mr McGimpsey said: "I am extremely frustrated at the lack of progress in the re-development of Windsor Park.

"The latest dispute to emerge between the IFA and DCAL is the last thing which local football needs.

"Personality issues and egos should not come into play here. Northern Ireland needs a modern stadium which complies fully with FIFA and UEFA regulations and which will house Northern Ireland fans in the comfort which they deserve.

"The IFA did itself no favours in the past in terms of 'governance issues'. If the IFA is seeking to access £28 million of public money to fund the redevelopment of Windsor Park, it is perfectly reasonable that DCAL would seek to ensure that the IFA and its governance and accountability mechanisms are fit for purpose before handing over that amount of money.

"Rugby has already redeveloped three sides of Ravenhill and the GAA have very ambitious plans for Casement Park. Football is the one major sport which we play internationally as Northern Ireland and we simply must not allow it to be left behind."

(CD/JP)