Other News In Brief

Call For Consumers To Support Sheep Farmers

The Ulster Farmers Union beef and lamb chairman, Crosby Cleland, are urging consumers to show their support by buying Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured lamb.

Income from this year's lamb crop has plunged by 20 per cent compared to last year, leaving many of the 9000 sheep producing farms in a loss making situation.

Mr Cleland said the collapse in the value of the euro has had a devastating impact on meat exports, leading to a prolonged period of unsustainable prices for local sheep producers. He said: "With so much pressure on our export trade, this makes the home market all the more important, so we need strong support from both the retailers and Northern Ireland shoppers. What hasn't helped is the fact that some retailers have kept high levels of New Zealand lamb on their shelves during the UK lamb season. This has created additional price pressure for local farmers and I would encourage all shoppers to keep a close eye out for Northern Ireland Farmer Quality Assured lamb. If you don't see it, please ask the retailer why they are not supporting local product."

ESB Now Responsible For NI Charge Point Network

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) has taken over the responsibility for the operation, maintenance and development of the charge point network for electric vehicles users in Northern Ireland from today, 30 July.

The move follows successful completion of the installation of a network of 334 public charging points across Northern Ireland, jointly managed by the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and Department of Environment (DoE) ecar project, which began in 2011.

The transfer to ESB facilitates the next phase of the project, which will seek to put in place a cutting edge operating system to allow the Electric Vehicle charging network to be run commercially within the electricity sector.

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: "My vision four years ago was to create a network of electric vehicle charge points which would become an integral part of the transport network.

"The completion of the network has contributed to the increase in the number of ecars registered here from five in 2011 to around 750 today, a number that continues to rise steadily month on month. Charge point usage has significantly increased in parallel with this growth and there have been over 23,000 individual charging events carried out over the past three years."

Over £1m Allocated To Rural Support Networks

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill is to allocate £1.025 million to Rural Support Networks to help tackle rural poverty and social isolation.

Minister O'Neill said: "I have met with the Fermanagh Rural Community Network (FRCN) and heard directly from representatives of communities who have benefited from my Department's Rural Community Development Support Programme which is funded through the Tackling Rural Poverty & Social Isolation (TRPSI) programme. I am pleased to announce that I have allocated £1.025 million funding for Rural Support Networks for this financial year to continue to provide vital services to rural communities, such as those in Fermanagh.

"I am committed to ensuring that our rural communities continue to prosper and have access to basic services to make their lives better, the same basic services which are taken for granted in urban areas. My proposals for a Rural Proofing Bill have now been approved by the Executive, which will effectively compliment the massive opportunities which the new Rural Development Programme will create. The proposals will advance the cause of equitable treatment for rural dwellers by addressing their needs as an integral part of government policy."

(CD)