Other News In Brief

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Newry Crown Court.

Kathleen Marron claimed Income Support and Housing Benefit totalling £5,902 while failing to declare she was living with her partner. She was given a three month prison sentence suspended for two years.

She is also required to repay any money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Four Schools In L'Derry To Undergo Improvement Works

Four schools in L'Derry are to undergo improvements under the Department of Education's minor works scheme.

A total of £281,745.08 has been approved for an electrical review of Drumachose Primary School in Limavady and two classrooms are also to be refurbished.

St Canice's Primary School in Dungiven has been allocated £164,998.99 for toilet refurbishment works and additional new build storage provision.

St Patrick's & St Brigid's College in Claudy will benefit from £80,972 to refurbish toilet facilities and £13,500 has been approved to convert the library to a general classroom at Rossmar School in Limavady.

Education Minister Peter Weir said: "It is estimated that over £51million will have been invested in the minor works programme in the 2016/17 financial year. This investment will enable improvements to be carried out across the schools estate, positively impacting on pupils, teachers and school staff."

Elsewhere, a number of schools in Fermanagh and South Tyrone are to benefit from £1,022,619 investment under the scheme.

Enniskillen Integrated Primary School will benefit from approved funding of £112,750 for an additional modular classroom. £4,500 towards access control and bin compound has been made available to Tattygar Primary School. Enniskillen Royal Grammar School has secured £580,869 funding for a new modular toilet & changing facilities, refurbishment of existing facilities including additional lockers and conversion of music classroom to general classroom. St Paul's Primary School, Irvinestown has benefitted from funding of £7,500 for security fence and ramps.

Third Runway To Be Developed At Heathrow

Ulster Unionist MP Danny Kinahan has welcomed the announcement that a third runway will be built at Heathrow.

A statement was made by the Transport Secretary in the House of Commons outlining the Government's plans for airport expansion.

Mr Kinahan said: "While I appreciate environmental and local concerns that people have, it is vital that we continue to build our airport capacity in the United Kingdom to encourage investment and keep the economy growing.

"Airport expansion should not be a question of either Heathrow or Gatwick, we should be ambitious enough to expand both.

"Gatwick is reaching full capacity and does not face some of the challenges that Heathrow does in terms of proximity to housing, and therefore could be a 'shovel-ready' project, which can advance quickly."

(CD/MH)