28/09/2010

Wilson Sounds Stormont Budget Warning

Ahead of new month's UK Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) - that could mean a cut of up to £2bn in the NI budget - it has emerged that an alleged failure by some Stormont ministers to cooperate with the Finance Minister's plans may delay the publication of his own draft budget.

The DUP Minister, Sammy Wilson, said yesterday that he wanted to publish it just after the CSR on 20 October. He said this would have allowed Assembly committees until early December to examine the proposals. Now, Mr Wilson (pictured) has said some have been "extremely slow" to engage with the Executive's Budget Review Group.

The CSR will outline how much the UK will spend over the next four years, as well as how much Whitehall departments and the devolved administrations must save.

To date, only four (DUP-controlled) Stormont departments had so far delivered their proposed savings.

(BMcC/KMcA)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 February 2024
Economy Minister Holds Meeting With Irish Minister For Enterprise
The Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, has held a meeting InterTradeIreland's office in Newry with Ireland's Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD. Highlighting the importance of holding an early meeting with Minister Coveney, Minister Murphy said that the topic of discussion was "how we can prosper from the Windsor Framework".
02 April 2024
Education Minister Welcomes Progress On Teacher's Pay
Education Minister, Paul Givan, has welcomed further progress on a pay settlement for teachers following the Department of Finance's approval of the pay award. All five recognised teachers' unions (INTO, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, UTU) have signalled their acceptance of the teachers' pay offer for 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.
28 March 2024
River Lagan Flood Protection Works Underway
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has announced that flood protection refurbishment work on the River Lagan has got underway. The work costing £900k is being carried out by local building contractor Maurice Flynn and Sons who are replacing the gates at the Hilden and Lambeg river control structures on the River Lagan.
09 April 2024
Economy Minister Highlights Key Role Of Social Enterprises
Social enterprises play a key role in growing Northern Ireland's economy, Economy Minister Conor Murphy has said. The Minister was visiting the IncredABLE Café @ South Lake in Craigavon, a social enterprise who are making a difference to the lives of people with learning/intellectual difficulties and/or autism.
09 April 2024
Minister Calls For Action To Address Decline Of NI Bird Of Prey
Department of Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister, Andrew Muir, has called for urgent action to address the decline of one of Northern Ireland's rarest birds of prey. A new DAERA part-funded survey has revealed that the Hen Harrier, a priority species in Northern Ireland, has declined by more than 26% since 2016.