16/06/2016

Other News In Brief

Man Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

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

Thomas McPeake claimed Jobseeker's Allowance totalling £1,334 while failing to declare employment. He was given a three year conditional discharge.

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

New £3m School Opens In Co L'Derry

A new £3 million school has opened in Co L'Derry.

Eglinton Primary was officially opened today, 16 June, by Education Minister Peter Weir.

He said: "I am delighted to visit Eglinton Primary School today to officially open the new school building. The £3m investment has provided a new eight class school with state of the art facilities, incorporating environmental technology such as ground sourced heat pumps and photovoltaic panels on the roof.

"A new school building brings very tangible changes to the daily life of pupils and teachers and it is very rewarding to visit schools to see the benefits firsthand. This investment will have a positive impact on the young people of the Eglinton area for many generations to come."

UUP Highlights First Failure Of NI Executive

Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has highlighted the first failure of the new Northern Ireland Executive to bring on its much heralded joined up government.

Mr Nesbitt said that the Community Relations Council (CRC) had been given no role in the setting up of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition that forms part of the so-called Fresh Start Agreement.

He said: "The Community Relations Council has years of experience of engaging the community in areas of interest and contention, just the sort of expertise you would tap into if you wanted to demonstrate your commitment to properly joined up government.

"I asked Jacqueline Irwin, the CRC's Chief Executive what role they had been given by the First Minister and deputy First Minister in the design, values and principles or indeed the proposed work programme for this new Commission and was astonished to hear the answer was 'none'.

"If that is the DUP and Sinn Féin's idea of joined up government, goodness help us."

(CD/MH)

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