Other NI News In Brief

Climbers Saved

Five climbers have been rescued from cliffs in Co Antrim. The group got stuck on a ledge above the rocks at the Gobbins cliffs near Islandmagee on Sunday. They were winched to safety by a Royal Navy helicopter. Lifeboats from Larne and Bangor took part in the search for the climbers. None of them was injured.

Ardoyne Riots 'Cost'

The NI Policing Board has been told the cost of policing the rioting that engulfed the Ardoyne area of north Belfast last month was an estimated £422,000 on three successive nights of public disorder that erupted following the annual Twelfth of July demonstrations. Dissident republicans were blamed for stirring up trouble which saw police come under attack from petrol bombers and stone throwers. The bill for all police operations linked to marches last year was £5m.

Board Members Sought

The Department of Education has launched a public competition to recruit members to the Board of the new Education and Skills Authority. It will be established from 1 January 2010 to replace the five Education and Library Boards and the functions currently performed by the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment and the Youth Council. It will also take on the front-line support and related functions currently undertaken by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta.

Maze Price Tag Grows

An estimated £5m will be spent by government this year examining plans for the future of the former Maze Prison site. A development corporation will be set up to look at options for the site after the decision not to build a multi-sports stadium and the cost emerged in response to a question from MLA George Savage to the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.

Internet Training Boosted

Belfast-based internet solutions company, biznet IIS, has launched an extensive staff training and development programme to increase capability and boost profits, with support from Invest Northern Ireland and the EU. The company provides content management systems and a range of other advanced internet solutions. These include information management and customised web-based applications which integrate with the internal systems and processes of biznet IIS' clients. The company is currently helping a variety of leading organisations and businesses to improve their operations and online marketing performance. Its clients include Dublin Bus, the Road Safety Authority of Ireland, the Law Society of Ireland, Irish Rail, Fáilte Ireland and the City of Westminster Council. Invest NI has worked closely with biznet IIS since its inception in 2007 as a spin-out from Biznet Solutions, offering a range of support and advice. Invest NI backing for this latest project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Teachers Pay Revealed

The average teacher working in Northern Ireland earns almost £35,000. An Assembly question tabled by Strangford DUP MLA Simon Hamilton revealed that £34,682.24 is the average salary. However, the calculation includes principal/vice principal pay as well as all other related teachers' salary bands in one mean figure.

(BMcC/KMcA)