Other News In Brief

Two People Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

Two people have been convicted for claiming benefits they were not entitled at Belfast Magistrates' Court today, 14 March.

Mark Crossett claimed Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,666 while failing to declare employment. He was given 80 hours community service.

Aivaras Kondrotas claimed Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £8,295 while failing to declare employment. He was given a five-month prison sentence suspended for three years.

They are also required to pay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department.

Call For Social Homes To Be Developed At Hillview Site In North Belfast

Sinn Fein is calling for social homes to be developed on a site in north Belfast.

A BBC Spotlight programme revealed unlawful activity at the Hillview site.

MLA Caral Ni Chuilin said the allegations underline the controversy which has surrounded the site.

She said: "Sinn Féin has long supported calls for an independent inquiry into the decision by some members of Belfast City Council's Planning Committee to create a retail-only development at Hillview.

"And earlier this month, we submitted a dossier to the Auditor and Controller General asking him to investigate why £1.8m of rates relief has been awarded to the owners of a site, given that an illegal market had been operating there.

"The latest allegations are further evidence that vested interests are at work to prevent this site being used for social housing.

"But the fact is that the Housing Executive has a statutory duty to build homes without discrimination. I reminded them of that again today at a meeting and appealed to them to vest the land in line with the clearly established need that exists in North Belfast."

Call For HMRC Workers To Be Protected

SDLP Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, has written to the Head of Civil Service asking that consideration be given to the integration of HMRC workers in L'Derry into the Northern Ireland Civil Service once the HMRC office closes.

The Foyle MLA said: "It is HMRC's intention to close their office here in Derry in September 2020. For the 50-60 staff that will mean a choice between either redundancy or, in some cases, redeployment to Belfast, a move that will be highly impractical if not, for those with caring responsibilities, virtually impossible.

"These are experienced and highly competent staff and would be as asset to any organisation. I have written to David Sterling, Head of Northern Ireland Civil Service, asking him to explore the possibility of them migrating into NICS. This would give these people some peace of mind as well as affording them opportunities to apply their skills in other areas of public service."

(CD/LM)