Other NI News In Brief

Road Death 'Tragic'

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has extended his sympathies to the motorist who died this morning following a collision with a police vehicle on the Ballybogey Road near Portrush. "All road deaths are tragic and regrettable, but one in the run-up to Christmas is particularly heart-breaking. My understanding is this accident occurred as a result of a collision between a police vehicle and a Renault Clio car on the Ballybogey Road between Ballymoney and Portrush. My sincerest sympathies go out to all those involved and I wish to extended my condolences to the friends of family of the unfortunate man who lost his life," he said. The accident happened about 4am on Thursday. A 29-year-old man who was also in the Clio has been taken to hospital with injuries that are described as not life-threatening.

Councillor Welcomed

SDLP Councillors in Cookstown have greeted Christine McFlynn as their new colleague on Cookstown District Council. Mrs McFlynn was successfully co-opted onto the Council at this month's statutory meeting to replace out-going SDLP councillor Patsy McGlone, MLA for Mid Ulster. Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Christine McFlynn said: "I am looking forward to representing the people of Ballinderry Ward who have been so ably served by Patsy McGlone who will continue to represent the people of Mid Ulster through his constituency offices in Cookstown and Maghera."

Shake-Up Of NI Housing Laws

Public consultation on new housing legislation has been launched by the Northern Ireland Housing Minister. Margaret Ritchie said the document sets out plans for cutting the fuel bills of social housing tenants. It has been designed to offer greater choice to homeless households and improve regulation of the private rented sector. New measures have also been unveiled to tackle anti-social behaviour. "Despite very difficult financial circumstances, I am on course to build more social housing than at any time over the last decade," said Minister Ritchie and noted that her department has also increased the number of sites for 'Shared Future' housing.

UCF Call For Runners

There's a call today to enter the 24th annual Greencastle Five Mile Road Race which will be held on Boxing Day to raise funds for the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF). This year's event at Greencastle, Omagh, Co Tyrone aims to be bigger and better than ever with a wheelchair race starting at 12.50pm. The walk will start at 11am from the Community Centre with the run beginning at 1pm sharp. Entries online at www.greencastle5.com for £10 which will secure a timing chip, race t-shirt, sports pack and post race refreshment. All pre-registered entries will automatically be entered into a draw to win a weekend for two at the K-Club in Co. Kildare worth €3,000 with a second prize of two tickets to any of Flybe's UK destinations.

ESA Costs Millions

The NI Education and Skills Authority (ESA) has already cost £7m of public money despite not officially existing. It cannot be created on January 1 because the Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has been unable to get the necessary legislation approved by the Executive. The new body was supposed to replace the existing education and library boards on January 1 but a political row has prevented its creation. The Department of Education said the money was spent on an "invest to save" basis and would help reduce costs. The formation of ESA was part of the review of public administration and was supposed to take over from the education and library boards as the employer of teachers in schools.

UU Backs Farmers

Ulster Unionist MLA and Agricultural Spokesperson, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the decision of Agricultural Minister Michelle Gildernew to remove the £50 lower limit on the payment of interest on the Less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowance which have been outstanding from 2006. "This is a victory for common sense and should be good news for many small farmers. I first raised this issue in early November 09 as less Favoured Areas account for a large proportion of our agricultural land in Northern Ireland. This decision will only apply to this particular set of circumstances and she had warned that this will not change DARD's approach to applying the de minimis to CAP subsidy claims but nevertheless it is welcome news for many farmers," he said.

Kelly Condemns Famliy Threat

Sinn Féin Junior Minister Gerry Kelly - who has been in the US on a political trip - said his constituency office received a call this week claiming a bomb was about to be detonated at his family home in Belfast. The North Belfast representative said searches failed to find an explosive device, but he condemned those behind the threat. Mr Kelly, who travelled to the US for events to mark 25 years of the McBride Principles on fair employment, said those behind the threat would not deter him from his work: "My constituency office was phoned and a man claimed that a bomb would go off outside my family home within an hour," he said. "My home was subsequently checked and nothing was found. I condemn this cowardly threat against my family," he said.

(BMcC/KMcA)