Other News In Brief

Overend Welcomes DETI Help For Credit Union Support & Advice

Ulster Unionist MLA for Mid-Ulster, Sandra Overend MLA today questioned the Enterprise Minister as she made a Statement to The Assembly on the reform of the Northern Ireland credit union movement about her Department’s support for Credit Unions as they adhere to new FSA regulations.

Sandra, who is the Ulster Unionist Enterprise, Trade & Investment Spokesperson said,

“I very much welcomed the DETI Minister’s address to the house this morning as she provided an update on the reform of the Northern Ireland credit union movement, and in particular, her announcement that she would be offering a one-off grant payment to each of the two credit union trade bodies to contribute toward the cost of providing support and advice is very welcome news. The reform programme of credit unions across the United Kingdom has indeed caused concern to many of our credit unions here in Northern Ireland and I thanked the Minister today for keeping us updated at each stage of the process.  The regulatory requirements demanded by the Financial Services Authority is an additional burden for each and every credit union across the region and they will be relieved to know that they can receive some much needed help and support via the two union trade bodies who will each receive a £20k grant to carry this out.”

McCausland Backs Ballymena Traders

Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, has announced funding of £150,000 for a revitalisation programme for Ballymena town centre.


Minister McCausland said: “I visited Ballymena town centre last September to hear about the many issues facing traders in the town. I recognised that we had to do much more to help sustain and animate our High Streets in regional towns. The traditional retail areas in many towns, such as Church Street in Ballymena, have really been struggling for some time now to attract shoppers and secure the investment needed to keep shops open for business. I know in recent months there has been a spate of closures in the town. I am concerned that this pattern of decline will continue unless we take steps to get these areas back on their feet again.

“I am, therefore, pleased to announce this funding by my Department for the Church Street and Bridge Street area. The programme will provide a much brighter and vibrant street appearance for existing businesses to operate in and encourage new investment to get vacant units let. This should encourage more footfall in the area and will help sustain the local economy in the town particularly for the independently owned shops which complement established national retailers.”

The grant award has been made to Ballymena Town Centre Development Ltd which deals with town centre issues. Details of the scheme will be made available to all eligible traders in the area and applications for assistance will be processed by a working group agreed by the company.

Education Minister Visits St Rose’s College

During his visit the Minister was given a tour of the school facilities and met with pupils, teachers and representatives from the Board of Governors.

The Minister said: “I welcome the opportunity to visit St Rose’s College today and would like to thank the Principal, Teresa McNamee, for her kind invitation. This flourishing non-selective school has been an important part of the education landscape in west Belfast for the past 50 years and I would like to congratulate them on reaching that significant anniversary.”

The Minister continued: “I am pleased to say that as well as learning through the core curriculum the pupils at St Rose’s are involved in a range of other activities and events funded through my Department’s Extended Schools scheme. These include: after-schools dance, art and traditional music classes as well as Irish language and journalism courses.

“The Extended Schools programme also funds a number of activities aimed at promoting parental and community engagement and providing access to school facilities including an evening cookery class, keep fit class and Spanish lessons as well as a GSCE Maths class. I particularly welcome this initiative as I believe it is important that schools build good relationships with their local community.”

(CD)