Compulsory housing measures for poultry and captive birds are set to be lifted in Northern Ireland at midnight on Tuesday 13 April, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots announced today.

A West End resident recently contacted me regarding the bins at Seabraes :

“I had a lovely walk up Perth Road yesterday but was saddened to see the gulls had been out in force at Seabraes.

Any chance the bins can be changed to the ones at City Quay which are more gull proof please?”

I took this up with our local environment manager who has now updated me as follows :

‘Just a quick note to say that we are looking into this. 

 Any replacement bins would have to be in keeping with the rest of the furniture and of a suitable type and construction, so we are looking into what is available.’

First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have announced the extension and reopening of the Bereaved Self-Directed Assistance Payments Scheme.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds today announced 20 high quality training places on an Assured Skills Academy with FinTrU.

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced an additional £1.3m for hospices in Northern Ireland.