Other News In Brief

Unvaccinated Visitors To Balmoral Show Urged To Get Jabbed

Any unvaccinated visitors to the Balmoral Show have been urged to use the opportunity to get jabbed.

The mobile vaccination clinic, which is located at stand B30, near the show ring, is offering walk-in first dose jabs from today until 5pm on Saturday 25 September. Those vaccinated with a first dose at the Show will be able to receive their second dose via a community pharmacy.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: "The Balmoral Show is an important date in the calendar for many farming families and the wider rural community in Northern Ireland so it's great to have it back again.

"I would urge anyone who is planning to visit the Show over the next few days to use the opportunity to visit the clinic and get vaccinated if they haven't already done so. Vaccination will help protect you and the people who are close to you."

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots said: "My Department continues to play an important role in the vaccination roll out by transitioning the services normally delivered by the Farm Families Health Checks Programme to enable its staff to assist Health Trust personnel to deliver vaccinations in low uptake rural areas. Anyone yet to be vaccinated should take the opportunity provided in their locality."

New £30m Erne Campus of South West College Opened

The new £30 million Erne Campus of South West College in Enniskillen has been officially opened by Economy Minister Gordon Lyons.

Standing at 8,200 m2, the new, fully accessible, state-of-the-art campus opened its doors to students for the first time at the beginning of September and can accommodate 800 full-time students, 2,000 part-time students and 120 staff.

Designed by Hamilton Architects and constructed by Enniskillen-based Tracey Brothers Ltd, the Erne Campus is one of the world's most sustainable educational buildings, having secured both PassivHaus Premium and BREEAM Outstanding accreditations.

Speaking after performing the official opening, the Minister said:

"I am delighted to be able to officially open this fantastic new educational facility for South West College. The new complex is a superb example of what we can achieve in Northern Ireland and will provide a high quality educational environment for learners for many years to come.

"The building has secured world-class sustainability accreditations, the first in the UK to do so, and the college will capitalise on this by delivering a series of innovative and complementary learning and skills programmes, including wind, biomass, sustainable construction, hydrogen, energy storage and sustainable food."

Major Roadworks Announced For Blackwater Village

A man carriageway resurfacing scheme in Blackwater Village has been announced to start on Monday 27 September.

The £450,000 improvement works will extend approximately 2.7 kilometres from Blackwatertown Village to approximately 150 metres south east of the Tullysaran Road junction.

Minister Mallon said: "This significant investment will greatly improve the strength and surface quality of this section of the rural road network to the benefit of all who use it. I would like to thank local residents and businesses in advance for their cooperation and ask that they comply with all temporary traffic restrictions while these much needed works are completed."