Other News In Brief

LPS Confirms Delay In Issuing Rates Bills

Land & Property Services (LPS) has announced a delay in the issuing of rates bills for 2017/2018.

Normally at the beginning of April each year, LPS issues annual rates bills to homes and businesses across Northern Ireland and this year bills will be late due to the delay in the setting of the Regional Rate.

From the end of this week, LPS will be issuing a letter to every rate payer about the delay and providing advice and further information.

The LPS has informed all Councils that they are putting plans in place to allow bills to be issued in May 2017, giving ratepayers the choice of making payment by the usual ten installments and to avail of the early payment discount as appropriate. The bill will cover rates assessed from 01 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, as well as any unpaid rates from previous years.

If a ratepayer normally pays by Direct Debit they don't need to do anything as no direct debit payments will be taken until a new bill is issued. If a ratepayer normally pays by Standing Order/online/cheque, LPS is urging ratepayers to make a payment based on last year's assessment.

New Powers For Public Services Ombudsman Welcomed

Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has welcomed new powers for the public services ombudsman, meaning they can investigate complaints against schools here.

People will now be able to complain if they feel a school has treated them unfairly. East Belfast MLA Mr Lyttle said the move would make a more accountable system.

"The Department of Education, Education Authority and schools should improve their systems to ensure pupils and parents' complaints are dealt with in a timely and proactive manner before they have to take action by going to the ombudsman to open a case.

"However, it will be of particular help for pupils with special education needs and their parents who have not had their complaint properly managed by schools.

"This is a positive step, as it sends a clear message pupils and parents' complaints must be dealt with in a timely and fair manner."

Call For Urgent Action to Secure Emergency Dept At Daisy Hill Hospital

SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty MLA has called for urgent action to secure the future of the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. Mr McNulty was speaking after the Southern Health and Social Care Trust issued a statement warning of the difficulties in recruiting the appropriate consultant for the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill suggesting that it could lead to its temporary closure.

Mr McNulty said: "The staffing crisis facing Daisy Hill A&E is nothing new. They have been relying exclusively on locum cover since the end of January 2017. Last November I raised this issue with the then Health Minister Michelle O’Neill in the Assembly Chamber. I was aware of the pending retirement of a senior medic within the department and could see this hurtling down the track.

"Local people campaigned long and hard to protect our A&E department and they will be bitterly disappointed by the removal of this service even if only temporary. More so than in any other area of care, time is a key factor in A&E. If someone turns up to Daisy Hill and needs emergency treatment only to be sent to Craigavon it could be the difference between life and death.

"I applaud the Southern Trust for their numerous recruitment efforts to try and secure a permanent solution to the problem however, it now seems that politics has once again got in the way. No Minister,no leadership in the department, and now no emergency cover in Daisy Hill.

"Those currently working to find political agreement must not lose touch with reality. Real services are being stripped away and real lives are being put at risk while the political vacuum persists. Decisions are not being made, action cannot be taken and budgets are being slashed."

(CD)