Northern Ireland's Health Service was today expected to receive a substantial boost in Finance Minister Mr Sean Farren's draft budget.
The budget, which was agreed after a lengthy session of the Executive last week, was expected to spend millions more on improving hospitals and schools.
Minister for Health Ms Bairbre de Brún last week said a study of the service showed it was underfunded by up to £200 million.
If, as expected, she receives a large increase in funding, this will be used to try to drive down waiting lists - the highest in Europe.
The Executive described its draft Programme for Government introduced yesterday as a "manifesto for reinvestment and reform and a pledge to improve public services".
The announcement last May of a new Reinvestment and Reform Initiative gives the Executive potential to borrow more money to finance an estimated £6 billion deficit in infrastructure.
PA