Northern Ireland administration £523m short after UK Budget

Stormont departments had identified an extra £1.4 billion needed to relieve pressures including those on the health service and increasing the pay of nurses and teachers.

Ministers also want to compensate victims of historical institutional abuse and mitigate the effect of welfare reform on the vulnerable.

A total of £800 million had already been made available to offset these pressures.

Following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget, the Executive will receive £77 million in day-to-day resource funding and £138 million for capital spending like road projects.

Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy said: “This Budget fails to deliver the funding needed to provide first-class public services.”

Northern Ireland’s allocation is expected to be £523 million short of the £1.4 billion sought by departments which make up the devolved administration for day-to-day spending.

The country’s detailed budget is expected to be set at Stormont towards the end of this month for the next financial year.

Mr Murphy said: “Our public services are already under enormous financial pressure.

“Before this Budget was announced the gap between inescapable pressures identified by departments and the budget available to us was nearly £600 million.

“We are also dealing with the emerging challenges of coronavirus which will have a profound impact on people and the economy.”

It is too early to say whether Northern Ireland will follow England’s lead and give small businesses a rates holiday.

Mr Murphy said: “With finite resources and infinite demands, myself and ministerial colleagues will take a collective approach to prioritisation, making the best possible use of the available resources.”

The New Decade, New Approach deal which led to restoration of devolved powersharing envisaged billions of pounds of extra spending.

It could exceed £9 billion over a lengthy but time-bound period.

Mr Murphy said: “Over recent months I have been engaging with Treasury and making the case for the funding committed under the New Decade, New Approach document and for the reinstatement of outstanding confidence and supply money.

“If the British Government is serious about ending austerity then this summer’s spending review must release further funding to devolved administrations.”

Ann McGregor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Budget will not deliver the stimulus Northern Ireland’s economy needed.

She said: “No reference was made to recent calls for the suspension of Air Passenger Duty, which could prove vital for securing Northern Ireland’s connectivity with other major cities.

“And on Brexit, there was also no indication of measures to help businesses here prepare for the Northern Ireland protocol.

“It is now vital that local firms are supported in the forthcoming Northern Ireland Budget.”

Federation of Small Businesses NI policy chairwoman Tina McKenzie said the range of measures to support SMEs over coronavirus will bring some relief to firms in a difficult period.

“We are already seeing businesses impacted by reduced footfall and supply chain issues, so it is vital they get all the support possible.

“Focus now turns to Stormont, where the restored executive must now rise to the challenge to support small businesses when they need it most.”

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts hoped the reduction of interest rates would help boost the economy and promote increased consumer spending from mortgage holders.