Coronavirus: 拢316m allocated to pandemic recovery fund

Image source, PA

  • Author, John Campbell
  • Role, 91热爆 News NI Economics & Business Editor

The Northern Ireland Executive has allocated more than 拢300m of pandemic-recovery funding.

Almost 拢100m relates to existing business support grants.

There is 拢60m directed to health services and 拢50m earmarked for education.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said although Covid restrictions were easing, the pandemic's impact remained "profound" and that the money would support "social recovery".

Mr Murphy said the pandemic had also had a significant impact on mental wellbeing and funding had been provided for "a number of mental health interventions".

The breakdown of funding to the education sector will see 拢20m to provide laptops for teachers and voluntary youth services, and 拢10m for wellbeing and pastoral support for students.

Funding will also go to special educational needs (SEN) services as well as the Irish medium sector, outdoor education centres and outdoor play in primary schools.

An additional 拢9m has been allocated for the further education sector.

The full allocation of money will see:

  • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - 拢2.6 million to include funding for the Wastewater Surveillance Programme, Rural Business Community Fund and Rural Community Ornamental Garden Scheme.
  • Department for Communities - 拢10 million for councils, 拢3 million for the Community Support Programme, 拢1 million for Food Interventions, 拢0.8 million to support town and city centres and 拢0.5 million for IT support.
  • Department for the Economy - 拢14.1 million for the Large Hospitality and Tourism Business Support Scheme and 拢18 million for the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme.
  • Department of Finance - 拢64m for the Localised Business Support Scheme and 拢2.7 million for loss of income, staffing and recruitment.
  • Department of Justice - 拢21.5 million of funding for cross-justice recovery, NI Courts and Tribunal Service, NI Prison Service and PSNI.
  • Department for Infrastructure - 拢20 million for lost income.
  • Public Prosecution Service for cross-justice recovery - 拢1.3 million.