Other News In Brief

NI's Public Finances A 'Matter Of Grave Concern' – UUP

UUP Finance Spokesperson, Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has said that Northern Ireland's public finances are a "matter of considerable concern".

Dr Aiken said: "The report from the Fiscal Commission today brings to the fore the stark reality of Northern Ireland's Public Finances. That the budget can only be balanced by bringing forward a £297M claim on the Treasury Reserve - that has to be paid back this year - is a matter of considerable concern.

"However, looking again at how we actually spend our money, for instance how we make use of RRI and Financial Transaction Capital, coupled with delays in such projects as the City Deal, and major infrastructure programmes, shows that even with the monies we do have, we need a transformation on how we both budget, and effectively spend, the resource and capital that we have.

"Not having a functioning NI Executive helps no-one. Any further delay in re-establishing the Assembly and having our own Ministers is only going to exacerbate our budget position. Abrogating that responsibility to the Secretary of State, as was the case for 3 years under the last hiatus, lets down all of the people of Northern Ireland."

Green Cllr Stephen Dunlop Expresses 'Sadness' At End Of Cycling Proficiency Scheme

Green Party NI Cllr Stephen Dunlop has expressed "sadness" at news that funding for the school cycling proficiency scheme is to be axed.

The Department for Infrastructure has said that 'budget constraints' mean that the scheme will come to an end.

Cllr Stephen Dunlop commented: "The axing of funding for the school cycling proficiency scheme saddens me. Many of us have really fond memories of doing our  cycling proficiency when we were kids and really want our children and grand children to learn how to cycle in a safe way and experience the joy and freedom of cycling.

"The axing of this scheme disempowers children and robs them of cycling as an important component of a cleaner, greener future. Cycling is good for our physical health, it's good for our mental health and it should be encouraged and promoted across departments."

Cllr Stephen Dunlop concluded: "If there was a Minister for Infrastructure in place, this decision could be properly scrutinised and challenged. Unfortunately, the DUP Stormont boycott removes an opportunity for scrutiny and accountability and renders this funding withdrawal a fait accompli."

SDLP Meet With DLUHC Minister Over European Social Fund

The SDLP's Claire Hanna has met with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister Dehenna Davison to urge immediate UK Government intervention to support charities and social enterprises facing a cliff edge following the loss of EU funding.

Following the meeting, Claire Hanna said: "Along with charities and groups who provide support and communities, I have been sounding the alarm for many months about the impact of the loss of European Social Funds and the broken promises of the UK Government to ensure this region would not lose out as a result of Brexit. The ESF provided a lifeline to marginalised groups especially those with learning difficulties, but others too facing real barriers to the labour market. It has been clear for years that the proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund was not going to be an adequate replacement and the absence of an Executive means that local departments also working on this issues have not stepped in.

"Following a parliamentary debate I secured last month and a Northern Ireland Affairs Committee roundtable event with affected groups last week, I met with the Minister today to highlight the funding gap and the fundamental problems relating to design and scope of the replacement funds. It's not good enough for distant ministers in London to pick winners and losers with no real sense of strategy and purpose, and with recipients being kept dangling until the last minute. This is no way to provide services.

"Following this interaction, it appears that funding announcements will be made later this week about the ESF replacement component of the SPF, but it is also clear that not all previous recipients will be covered. I pressed the need for meaningful engagement with NI departments, which has been absent in the design of this scheme so far and which is made worse by the DUP's dereliction of duty over Stormont."