Durkan seeks swift approval of revised £4bn spending plan

Northern Ireland's Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Mark Durkan, has presented revised public spending estimates of more than £4 billion sterling (€6.4 billion) to the powersharing Assembly at Stormont and sought accelerated passage of the Bill sanctioning the expenditure.

The estimates for 10 government departments update figures first introduced by Mr Durkan last December, a month before the Assembly was suspended.

Mr Durkan said the Assembly's approval was crucial to ensure public services could continue beyond the summer.

The Westminster parliament approved interim funding for the North's 10 government departments during the period of suspension, but this is expected to be exhausted around the end of August.

Mr Durkan said: "The need for urgent approval of the estimates and the passing of an Appropriation Bill is very clearly exceptional in current circumstances. I am therefore seeking leave for the use of `accelerated passage' for the Appropriation 2000 Bill."

Assembly members at Stormont yesterday approved the first stage of the Bill, releasing funding for departments before the end of the summer recess.

Total public expenditure in the North this year will amount to £7.8 billion, although £4.3 billion of this now requires Assembly approval.

Taking account of increased allocations for health and education introduced in the budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Gordon Brown, last March, the provisions allow the Executive to spend £2 billion on healthcare in the North this year and £1.2 billion on schools.

Up to £404.2 million will go to regional development, while £167.3 million has been allocated to agriculture and rural development. The Executive plans to spend £288.8 million on enterprise, trade and investment this year and £85.9 million at the environment department. Expenditure at the department of finance and personnel will reach £102.6 million and the estimates also include expenditure of £64.3 million on culture, arts and leisure.

Mr Durkan said the restoration of devolution last week gave Assembly members the opportunity "to move from championing a few issues, to deciding among all the issues, and from offering to leading".

He continued: "The management of public spending is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government . . . We have an opportunity to work together in a unique form of administration, pursuing quality and equality for the good of all our people."