Other News In Brief

Two People Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

Two people have been convicted for claiming benefits they were not entitled to at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

Phil Gordon claimed Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2676 while failing to declare employment. He was given 80 hours Community Service.

Georgina Briggs claimed Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £3574 while failing to declare employment. She was given a four months prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

They are also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Significant progress has been made on the development of the new A6 Randalstown to Castledawson carriageway in Northern Ireland.

The Graham Farrans joint venture (JV) will transform the green countryside into a new dual carriageway.

Work Continues On New A6 Randalstown To Castledawson Carriageway

The new road will include 298,000 cubic metres of paving, two pedestrian overbridges and five new road bridges and side roads.

A new website has also been launched to help keep commuters, stakeholders and the community informed of current and future progress on site.

www.a6rcdualling.co.uk

Public Sector Workers To Receive Pay Increase

Speaking after the Permanent Secretary, Hugh Widdis has announced that public sector workers will receive their long awaited pay rise, SDLP Health and Mental Wellbeing Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has welcomed the move as "progress".

He said: "I am delighted that at long last the Civil Service has listened to the representations made by the SDLP and has agreed to give a pay rise to our public sector workers.

"The SDLP has campaigned tirelessly alongside these workers and their unions to champion their cause for fairer pay. While, there is still a long way to go in terms of delivering a fairer deal for workers, this move today must be welcomed as progress.

"I will be meeting directly with the Head of the Civil Service to ascertain the detail on how and when this payment will be made to workers.

"Public sector workers are the backbone of community, we have a responsibility to ensure that they are given a fairer deal."

(CD)