Murphy allocates over £150 million including over £40 million to support education

Date published: 20 January 2022

Finance Minister, Conor Murphy today allocated over £40 million to education as part of the January Monitoring Round.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy

£151.3 million has been allocated with almost a third of all resource allocations going to education. Other allocations include support for the transport sector, local councils, and funding for compensation for those impacted by the Avian Flu outbreak.

Outlining the allocations, Minister Murphy said: “Over £40 million will go towards education. Covid has created huge challenges for schools and funding is being provided to help schools pay for substitute teachers and PPE. It also includes £18.4 million for Special Educational Needs.

“£17 million is being provided to support local councils.

“Public transport continues to face reduced passenger numbers and with that loss of income. £24 million is being provided to subsidise bus routes along with a further £19.8 million for Translink including lost income as a result of Covid.

“Recognising the difficulties facing the private bus and coach sector, £4 million will be used to deliver a further financial assistance scheme.”

January monitoring departmental allocations are as follows:

  • Department for Infrastructure – £71.8 million – Covid-19 lost income, Bus route subsidy, A6, NI Waters, Roads Energy, DVA and Penalty Charge Notice bad debt write off.
  • Department of Education - £43.8 million – Covid-19 pressures, Special Educational Needs, Voluntary Exit Scheme and Depreciation.
  • Department for Communities – £18.2 million – Council Funding for Covid impacts, De-rating grant and Rates Support Grant
  • Department of Justice – £12.3 million – PSNI and Legal Services Agency NI
  • Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs – £4 million – Avian Flu
  • Department of Finance – £0.8 million - Covid-19 Small Business Top UP Grant
  • NI Audit Office – £0.4 million – Building Project Costs

The Minister continued: “All bids submitted by Departments have been met in full.

“If further bids to meet urgent priorities come forward from Departments, further allocations can be made.

“However, given the constrained budget position next year, the Executive does want to carry over funding into the next financial year. The Treasury caps the amount of funding we can carry over. Therefore if we are to avoid surrendering money to the Treasury it is critical that underspends from Departments are kept to a minimum.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The £151.3 million is broken down as follows:

  • £146.7 million resource
  • £4.6 million capital

2. A further £31.9 million was also allocated across a range of departments for accounting charges relating to depreciation/impairment of assets

3. View the Written Ministerial Statement, on the DoF website, outlining full details of the allocations. 

4. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Finance Press Office on Tel: 028 9081 6724 or email dof.pressoffice@finance-ni.gov.uk.

5. Follow us on Twitter - @dptfinance

6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

 

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