Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has outlined his commitment to an innovative "doing things differently" approach in his initial budget allocations for the 2025-26 financial year, aimed at delivering positive outcomes for people across Northern Ireland.

Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Minister Lyons emphasised the transformative nature of his department's work: "The work that my department does is transformational. It impacts people across Northern Ireland and delivers positive outcomes, often for those in greatest need. I am determined to use the money that has been secured to best effect. Recognising the financial pressures, this means doing things differently."

The Minister announced a series of key initiatives, including proposals to:

• Increase home building: Lyons will bring proposals to the Executive shortly on how to build more homes with existing funds. His proposed budget of £63.0m is expected to facilitate the start of approximately 900-1000 new build social homes, in addition to £105m for pre-commitments from the previous year.

• Boost employability: A new, extensive employment program will be introduced, designed to support all age groups and tackle the barriers to economic inactivity.

• Protect discretionary funding: The Discretionary Support Grant Budget will be maintained, but reforms will be introduced to protect it from fraud and ensure it reaches those who genuinely need it most. Lyons highlighted that simply asking for more money is not enough, stressing the need for innovative solutions within current financial constraints.

Initial budget allocations revealed by the Minister include:

• An additional £3.7 million for Homelessness and the Supporting People Programme, exceeding the 2024-25 budget.

• £2.8 million in capital funding for the New Foundation Project, aiming to secure 110 units of accommodation for young people leaving care.

• Investment in the new employment program to tackle economic inactivity.

• Additional resource allocation to National Museums NI and Libraries NI.

• Capital funding of £750,000 for the replacement of Enniskillen Library and £200,000 allocated to Newtownards Library.

• £30,000 capital for National Museums NI's Museum Collection Fund and £80,000 for small capital grants.

• Grassroots arts funding of £750,000 for musical instruments and £500,000 in small capital grants to support local venues and creative spaces.

• £4 million for Neighbourhood Renewal capital schemes.

• £2.5 million as part of a wider funding package for Glengormley Public Realm; £3 million for the Shankill Gateway public realm scheme; and £5 million for Public Realm works adjacent to the city walls in Londonderry.

• £1.6 million investment in essential conservation works at Carrickfergus Castle.

• A six-fold increase in the "Your School, Your Club" programme.

Minister Lyons encouraged public engagement: "My initial budget allocations are set out in detail in the Equality Impact Assessment consultation. I would encourage everyone to make their views known to inform the decision-making process going forward."