Other News In Brief

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

Jennifer Nolan claimed Jobseeker's Allowance totalling £4,777 while failing to declare capital. She was fined £500, given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay an offenders levy of £15.

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

Work To Begin On Road Resurfacing Project In L'Derry

Work on a £270,000 road resurfacing project in L'Derry is to begin on Monday, 12 December.

The works will extend 1,000 metres from the junction of the Circular Road to Lonemoor Road.

The scheme is expected to be completed in mid-January 2017.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard said: "These works will deliver significant improvements to the strength and road surface quality of this stretch of carriageway. The benefits of the re-surfacing scheme will help meet the needs of the local economy and improve transport connections for people, goods and services."

A full closure of the road will be required during the final week of the works and diversions will be put in place.

Call For Education Reform

Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said an international report showing local 15-year-olds ranked average in a number of subjects was further evidence of the need for fundamental educational reform in Northern Ireland.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation's (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) benchmarks pupils in 34 countries at age 15 for reading, science and maths. Northern Ireland is average in all three competencies, below countries such as the Republic of Ireland, Estonia, Slovenia and Singapore.

The PISA report also found that the attainment gap between the 25 per cent most disadvantaged and 25 per cent most advantaged 15-year-olds in Northern Ireland was the equivalent of almost three years of schooling.

Mr Lyttle said: "These findings contrast sharply with the recent Trends in International Mathematics and Science report, which showed 10-year-olds in Northern Ireland significantly above the international average for maths and science," he said.

"Questions must be asked why and to this end, I welcome the Education Committee inquiry into educational underachievement and post-primary transfer."

(CD/LM)