Stormont departments face 'significant budgetary challenges'

Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald has warned departments still face "significant budgetary challenges" despite additional funding from Stormont's reallocation exercise.

It includes funds which were unspent at the end of last year and new money which flows from Westminster spending decisions.

A total of £16.9m in day-to-day spending and £53.6m capital funding has been allocated to Stormont departments in what is known as a monitoring round.

Monitoring rounds provide a system to review spending plans and are usually held three times a year, in January, June and October.

The Department of Health has been allocated £7m for pay, waiting lists and pressures and £13.5m in capital funding for pandemic preparedness.

The Department of Education has received £12.5m in capital funding towards the schools' estate with £1.5m in day-to-day spending for special educational needs (SEN).

The Department for Infrastructure will get an extra £5.2m in day-to-day spending and £17.6m in capital funding.

Meanwhile, £4.5m has been earmarked for social housing.

The finance minister said that despite "significant in-year funding of £1bn being provided, departments still face significant budgetary challenges".

"Demand once again outstrips funding available many times over with almost six times as many bids for day-to-day funding and three times as many bids for capital," she added.

"I recognise the funding being allocated today will fall short of the many pressures facing departments.

"It is imperative that each department now lives within its funding envelope set by the January monitoring round."