Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The Communities Minister for Northern Ireland has expressed disappointment over the additional £370 million allocated to the region in the government’s Autumn Budget, stating it falls significantly short of the actual financial needs. Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed this supplementary funding on Wednesday, addressing Northern Ireland’s budgetary challenges. Meanwhile, Finance Minister John O’Dowd highlighted a looming £400 million overspend at Stormont due to existing commitments.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pointed out on Thursday that the new funds would be distributed across four financial years. He emphasized that Northern Ireland is already facing financial pressures amounting to hundreds of millions this year alone. According to the Department of Finance, £240 million of the additional funding is earmarked for routine expenditures, while £130 million will support capital projects.
In an interview on Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster program, Lyons criticized the budget harshly, describing it as “very, very bad.” He appreciated the decision to lift the two-child cap on means-tested benefits but felt that this positive measure was overshadowed by other budget policies that could have harmful effects. Responding to these concerns, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn stated that the Northern Ireland Executive has the option to generate additional revenue if it chooses to do so. Benn mentioned water charges as an example of a potential revenue source, noting their application elsewhere in the UK.
Nonetheless, Lyons opposed further revenue raising, arguing that it would place additional burdens on workers already struggling financially. He stressed that these measures would affect the same group of people who “are already getting hammered.” On the topic of wage increases announced by Reeves, Lyons acknowledged the intent to ensure fair pay but warned that businesses might bear the economic consequences. Benn countered this by suggesting that higher wages would stimulate economic growth by putting more money into people’s hands, allowing for increased spending. He framed fair pay as a societal choice, emphasizing its importance for workers going about their daily jobs
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.