Finance minister unveils draft budget for NI

Northern Ireland Finance Minister Mark Durkan has revealed his 2002/3 draft budget, detailing how he will allocate government resources totalling over £6 billion.

The budget details were announced on Tuesday 25 September following the publication of the draft legislative Programme for Government on Monday.

Mr Durkan has drawn up his budget of £6.3 billion between the assembly’s 10 government departments, which forms an increase of seven per cent on last year’s budget.

The primary areas receiving the most capital centre round health, education and the transport system.

Speaking on Tuesday in the Assembly, Mr Durkan said: “We have sought to focus spending where the best advantage can be obtained, or where the needs are most acute. There was a general consensus that it was right to provide more for health and the draft budget provides an increase of 8.1 per cent over the current year.

“The Executive also came to the view that education and roads should be given priority.”

The largest single programme goes to Health, Social Services and Public Safety, which is set to receive nearly £2.5 million.

The Department for Regional Development will receive £538 million in revenue, representing a substantial increase of 14.8 per cent in order to sustain the investment programme for public transport. Mr Durkan said this allocation reflected the Executive’s commitment to improve and modernise Northern Ireland’s infrastructure.

The Department of Education will receive £1404 million in order to provide continuing government support in education and skills.

In the finance minister’s concluding statement he said: “This draft budget marks the start of an eight week consultation process in the Assembly on the draft Programme for Government and Draft Budget. I look forward to with the Assembly to complete the process of settling next year’s spending plans by December and believe that we will then see, increasingly, that we can make a difference for the better and deliver the benefits of devolution.” (AMcE)