Direction » Audit Office looking into grants awarded to Ulster sporting bodies

gardens so get the gazebo up and hope for good weather over the Easter weekend.”

Also yesterday, it emerged that the Audit Office will look into Covid-related grants given to sporting bodies.

The move comes in the wake of revelations about large sums being given to some groups.

In a statement, the Stormont Public Accounts Committee said the move was on “foot of media speculation about the Sports Sustainability Fund” which is run by the Department of Communities.

Chairperson William Humphrey said: “I have spoken with the Audit Office which has confirmed it will be scrutinising Covid-related expenditure in their audits of government departments and in their public reporting programme.

“The Audit Office has also confirmed that this type of grant expenditure will be examined.” Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill used a school visit yesterday to highlight the tough experiences students have endured amid the pandemic.

She met pupils at St Pius X College in Magherafelt, Co Derry.

She said: “We hear so often that, thankfully, the majority of young people are not seriously affected by the virus.

‘But sadly the educational, emotional and physical impacts of the pandemic on their lives have been deep and severe.”

Also yesterday, Catholic churches re-opened for public worship.

The Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches will resume in-person services from Good Friday.

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Number of people here in ICU with 10 of them being ventilated