Other News In Brief

Alliance Calls For 'Root And Branch' Reform Of Sport NI

Alliance has called for "root and branch" reform of Sport NI following the news that the organisation underspent its budget by £1 million.

The party's Sport spokesperson and Lagan Valley MLA, David Honeyford, said the adoption of Alliance proposals on the funding of grassroots sports in Northern Ireland was needed. It follows news Sport NI returned the £1 million to the Department for Communities, after underspending its budget by £500,000 in each of the past two years.

"Clubs have been crying out for funding to support them in the work they do to encourage participation at grassroots level and I have met Sports NI numerous times to drive this message home," said Mr Honeyford.

"Now, £1 million has been lost to sport through incompetence on the part of Sport NI. It's nothing short of disgraceful. Alliance has been calling for big changes to the way Sport NI operates to make it easier for clubs to access funding. The present system is no longer fit for use.

"The vision for development of sports clubs, their facilities and activities should come from the clubs themselves. Alliance has a solid set of proposals to ensure clubs can access funds when they need them and not according to a clumsy timetable imposed from above by Sport NI.

"In the south, the government recently announced an additional 37m euro for sports funding. Sports provision needs to be taken seriously and this latest news from Sport NI suggests we have a lot to learn.

"This is yet another issue that can only be resolved by a return to government and the formation of a new Executive."

Public Sector Workers 'Paying The Price For Inaction' – SF

Northern Ireland's public sector workers are paying the price for one party's inaction and indecisiveness, Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney has said.

Speaking after trade unions Unite, GMB and SIPTU announced transport staff will strike four more times next month, the party's workers' rights spokesperson said: "Our transport staff, like all our public sector workers, deserve fair pay and conditions.

"While workers and families choose whether to feed their children or heat their homes, the DUP's refusal to respect democracy is heaping further pressure on already hard-pressed ordinary people.

"Time is being wasted, and essential financial resources to fund our public services and to pay public sector workers are being jeopardised.

"As a result of the DUP's continuing boycott, politics is stalled indefinitely, and our public services are at a standstill.

"In the absence of an Executive, the British government and Chris Heaton-Harris should pay workers now, and stop punishing them for one party's failures.

"The upcoming strikes can be averted. An Assembly and Executive can be restored and we can get to work with the other parties in tackling the real issues facing people here.

"It is a scandal that the DUP is attempting to wash its hands of responsibility for these crises at a time when people from all sections of society are crying out for political leadership. They should end their reckless blockade and get back to work now."

Glen Road Resurfacing Scheme Underway

The Department for Infrastructure has launched a programme of resurfacing works on Belfast's Glen Road.

The carriageway and footway resurfacing scheme, which stretches between Suffolk Road to Glenside Road will deliver significant benefits for road users.

To facilitate the works it will be necessary to implement weekday road closures for the duration of the works until Friday 12 April 2024 between the hours of 7.00 am and 5.00 pm.

During these times a diversionary route will be in place via Hannahstown Hill– Upper Springfield Road- Hannahstown Road – Rock Road- Mullaghglass Road and vice versa.

Local access for residents and emergency services will be maintained.

Subject to favourable weather conditions all work will be completed by 12 April 2024, however, the Department will keep the public informed of any change.