Multi-million pound package for public services announced

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for Finance, Ian Pearson, announced the allocation of £141m today for public services in Northern Ireland in 2002-03.

He explained that these resources have been made available through savings within Departments. A further £60m is being provided in anticipation of further savings, which should arise later in the year.

Mr Pearson said that the allocations reflected proposals made by the former First Minister, David Trimble, the former Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan, and the former Finance Minister, Dr Seán Farren, prior to the suspension of the devolved institutions.

Mr Pearson said: "These allocations reflect our determination to ensure that the best possible use is made of the resources available to us, and to target these resources where the needs are greatest.

“The savings available for re-allocation are being channelled to priority areas including health, education, animal health, and water service capital and maintenance programmes. The money provided will benefit many hard-pressed areas of our public services and, in particular, will provide more than £40m to address the core needs of the Health Service through the winter.”

Other services in receipt of funding include: £29m for Department of Education; £11.7m for the DRD Water Service; £5m for new buses with better access for the elderly and the disabled; £11m to meet animal health costs facing DARD.

The Minister pointed out that this is not new money, but represents adjustments made within Northern Ireland’s own Budget resources on the basis of need:

“While the amounts are significant, it is important to recognise that they represent the re-allocation of our own resources in the light of new and emerging information," he said.

"Re-allocating £60m of anticipated underspending also means that those services under the greatest pressure will gain the maximum possible benefit now.”

In addition to the £141m for Departments, £20m has also been made available to supplement allocations from the Executive Programme Funds.

(GMcG)