The Northern Ireland Executive has announced plans to spend £27.6 million sterling on initiatives by the 10 government departments over the coming year, with special emphasis on health services, agriculture, schools and transport.
Launching the agenda, entitled "Moving Forward Together", the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said it offered "new and effective measures to improve and modernise Northern Ireland" and was the result of a "significant coming together of Northern Ireland's politicians for the benefit of the entire community".
Eight of the 10 Stormont Ministers attended yesterday's launch, with only Mr Peter Robinson and Mr Nigel Dodds, both of the DUP, absent.
The money for the programme will come from a "modernisation fund", which is made up of underspends and other savings from various packages, including the British government's block grant. It will be complemented by the European Peace II programme. A second tranche of funding will be announced in the autumn.
The biggest slice of the funds - £6.2 million sterling - will go towards the improvement of school buildings. A further £5 million will be aimed at reducing hospital waiting lists. The rail network will receive £3 million to improve safety.
Some £2 million each have been earmarked for improvements in health and safety at sports grounds, community and voluntary sector groups, and housing adaptations for the disabled. The rural economy is to receive a £1.3 million cash injection.
Mr Trimble said the Executive had taken a strategic decision on the nature and direction of the new administration, which was not to be simply a continuation of the direct rule administration.
"When we resumed our positions last month, we felt that instead of going through the motions and continuing with a bureaucratic regime, we wanted to make a real difference to the people of Northern Ireland, based on the assumption that this administration is permanent,["]" he added.
Asked whether he was concerned that the two DUP ministers were absent, given that many of the agenda's provisions concerned their departments, Mr Trimble said: "It would have been better if they carried out their responsibilities fully. Why they think they are sharing responsibility fully when they are only sharing on paper is something I find difficult to understand."
The Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, said that putting together the agenda was a considerable achievement, given that it was the product of four parties with different ideologies working together.
"Yes, it's basic, it's not as much money as we would hope to have, but it was still a very worthwhile exercise considering that for the first time, we have all worked together on specific programmes, identified specific targets and given them a timeframe," Mr Mallon added.
The Executive's full programme of government is expected to be launched next April, but that did not mean urgent matters could not be addressed straight away, Mr Mallon said.
"We are determined to give leadership and to start immediately to build the strong, effective, accountable and fair type of government that Northern Ireland people expect."
Ministers are expected to outline details for their departments in the coming days.
The Regional Development Minister, Mr Peter Robinson, welcomed the £3 million earmarked for the improvement of railway safety.