14/12/2005

Hain unveils multi-billion pound regeneration blueprint

Secretary of State Peter Hain today unveiled the most significant regeneration initiative for Northern Ireland in decades.

The Investment Strategy sets out a long-term high-level view of planned investment over the next 10 years with potentially up to £16 billion worth of projects possibly supported over the same period.

At the same time, Mr Hain revealed the contents of the revised Priorities & Budget. The public expenditure plans for Northern Ireland show that by 2008 total spending on regional public services here will exceed £16 billion.

Over the last two years, current expenditure on public services has increased by 12.6% in real terms and will have increased by a further 3.4% in real terms by 2007-08. Planned capital investment will have increased in real terms by more than 52.1% between 2002-03 and 2007-08, to around £1.3 billion annually.

By 2007/2008 current expenditure on Health will have increased by more than 14% and on Education by 8%, compared to this year.

Speaking at the recently-opened, state of the art Lisburn City Library, Mr Hain said: “The Investment Strategy sets out the Government’s strategic plans for investment across the public sector over the next 10 years, with the priorities focused on health, education, transport and water.”

Contained within it are firm allocations for the years 2006-2008 along with indicative spending plans for future years. Mr Hain pointed out that over the next three years alone, to the end of the current Budget period, capital expenditure would approach £4 billion: “We are clearly signalling Government’s strong commitment to taking forward major programmes of work including education, health, and transport and, of course, those areas that fall within EU compliance. The projects identified cover almost every aspect of life in Northern Ireland," the Secretary of State concluded.

(MB/SP)

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