Other News In Brief

£170m Investment For NI Schools

Fifteen new schools are to be built in Northern Ireland as part of a £170m investment, it has been revealed.

Speaking to the Assembly on Tuesday (24 June), Education Minister John O'Dowd also named the schools which shall benefit from the capital programme.

They include Roe Valley Integrated Primary School in Limavady, and a new build for the combined St Mark's/St Luke's Primary Schools in Twinbrook, while Cullybackey High School, St. Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen and a new build for the combined Monkstown High School/Newtownabbey Community High School will also benefit.

Commenting on the funding, Minister O'Dowd said: "All across the north there are a range of schools which are in dire need of investment. Unfortunately that need far exceeds the funding available. Therefore the schools benefiting today represent the highest priority projects which have successfully come through a rigorous selection process.

"My Department's strategy for capital investment into the foreseeable future will remain focussed on supporting the development and delivery of a network of viable and sustainable schools, set firmly in the context of 'Schools for the Future: A Policy for Sustainable Schools' and shaped by the outworking of the area planning process.

"I remain resolute in ensuring that my investment plans will also focus on providing a first class education experience. In developing my investment plans for the schools' estate, it is incumbent on me to balance the limited capital resources made available to me against the scale of investment needed across, what can only be described as a wide and diverse schools' estate."

A full list of the schools can be found here.

Royal Couple Visit Game Of Thrones Set

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have been given a tour of the Game of Thrones set in Belfast as part of their visit to Northern Ireland. The Royal couple are met with cast and production members of the hit show at the city's Paint Hall Studios in the Titanic Quarter.

Prior to the visit, the couple started their second day of engagements at Crumlin Road Gaol in north Belfast where they met by a number of the regions dignitaries, including First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, before they were accompanied on a tour of the prison's C wing.

The Queen and Prince Philip also visited St George's Market and attended a lunch hosted by the city's Lord Mayor Nichola Mallon.

The Royal couple are on a three-day visit to Northern Ireland.

£70,000 Road Improvements For Ballymoney

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has confirmed a £70,000 road improvement scheme is to begin on the A26 Newbridge Road in Ballymoney.

The project will commence on Monday 30 June and will involve resurfacing around 0.4km of the road near Taughey Road and Seacon Park crossroads.

The scheme is expected to be completed by Wednesday 2 July.

Minister Kennedy said: "This scheme will greatly improve the strength and surface quality of the carriageway on part of this important trunk road between Ballymoney and Coleraine."

Traffic management and a diversion route will be in operation and clearly signposted for motorists.

(JP)