Other News In Brief

Multi-Use Games Area Opens At Primary School In Portadown

A Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) at a primary school in Portadown has officially opened.

Education Minister Peter Weir attended the opening ceremony at Orchard County Primary School.

The MUGA was completed recently at a cost of over £120,000.

Minister Weir said: "I would like to thank the Board of Governors and the Principal for their kind invitation and warm welcome today to celebrate the opening of their new Multi-Use Games Area.

"Visiting schools is a key part of my role as Education Minister and one I greatly enjoy. It was particularly good to be here today to open the new facilities and to see, first hand, the pupils enjoying the new games area."

Construction Work Starts To Develop Over 70 Homes In Co Antrim

Construction work has started to develop over 70 new homes in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

The 74 homes on Larne Road will accommodate 238 people when the development is completed in April 2018.

The Department of Communities allocated £4.4 million funding and an additional £4.1m has been provided by Choice Housing Association through private finance.

The first phase of homes is expected to be handed over in September 2017.

Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA said: "One of my key objectives as Housing Minister is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access good quality, affordable accommodation.

"When completed, this new development will do just that by providing 74 modern homes to people on the social housing waiting list in an area where there continues to be a high housing need."

Michael McDonnell, Chief Executive of Choice Housing said: "This important project will bring 74 high quality new homes for families of varying sizes in Ballymena. It is good news particularly for those who are on the waiting list and will help bring a new vibrancy to the Larne Road area.

"This is a site that we have worked hard to secure and we are grateful for the support received from the Department for Communities and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council."

Taboo Around HIV Needs To Be Broken - Alliance

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said the taboo around HIV needs to be broken, after it was revealed over 900 people here were living with the virus.

The Detail investigative site revealed 934 people in Northern Ireland have been diagnosed with HIV – the highest level on record. A total of 126 people diagnosed with the virus have died, including AIDS and AIDS-related deaths.

South Belfast MLA Ms Bradshaw said a major issue surrounding HIV was people still not talking about it.

"By and large, many people don't feel comfortable talking about HIV and associated issues, whether in the home or among their friends and family. As long as it remains a taboo, that will remain the case," she said.

"We need to normalise it so it becomes a subject people feel comfortable talking about. Therefore, they can ask for advice and guidance on HIV and any related matters.

"We must do everything we can to help people who have been diagnosed with HIV. While drugs to treat HIV would consist of an initial financial outlay, money could be saved in the long run.

"It would give us more to invest in groups such as Positive Life, which can run community education and preventative measures, among other actions."

(CD/JP)