The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed a new funding package worth £29.7 million in capital allocations, alongside £25 million to support public sector pay awards, following additional funding through Barnett consequentials and reduced departmental requirements.
The allocations are intended to support key public services, including the road network, education, health and community infrastructure.
The additional funding has been made available as a result of Barnett consequentials, as well as underspends and reduced funding requirements identified across departments. Ministers say the allocations will help address immediate pressures while supporting longer‑term investment in public services and infrastructure.
A significant portion of the funding will support infrastructure investment, including:
- £16.8 million in capital funding for the Department for Infrastructure, helping maintain and improve the road network
- £6.5 million in capital funding for the Department for Communities, supporting community‑based capital projects
The Executive says investment in infrastructure is vital to economic resilience, public safety and connectivity.
The funding package also includes allocations to support frontline services:
- Department of Education
- £6.8 million in resource funding
- £6.4 million in capital funding
- Department of Health
- £18.3 million in resource funding, helping meet service pressures
In addition, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation will receive £0.2 million in resource funding.
Northern Irish Finance Minister John O’Dowd commented:
“At December Monitoring, I committed that if any further funding became available, I would move quickly to allocate this towards public sector pay pressures.
“As an Executive we remain fully committed to supporting public sector pay. We have therefore agreed to allocate £25million in additional resource funding towards meeting health service and teacher pay costs.”
Alongside the departmental allocations, the Executive has agreed £25 million to support public sector pay awards, helping address workforce pressures and support staff across public services.
The funding is expected to contribute towards pay settlements while wider work continues on longer‑term public sector pay sustainability. Further budget decisions are expected as part of the ongoing financial planning process.
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