Budget includes extra £140m 'for health and education'

The budget was published on Thursday morning. Credit: Press Eye

Northern Ireland is to get an extra £140m this year from the Treasury.

The new funding is included in the 2019-20 budget, which was published by Secretary of State Karen Bradley on Thursday.

Ms Bradley said it comes “in recognition of the lack of opportunity for more fundamental service reconfiguration”.

UTV understands the money will be used to ease pressures in health and education.

It comes as the latest hospital waiting time statistics revealed a rise in the number of patients waiting over a year for treatment.

Over £300m from the DUP’s confidence and supply agreement with the Conservative Party is also included in the budget, for health transformation and infrastructure projects.

Nigel Dodds MP said the budget is "good news for our schools and hospitals with increased spending on those frontline services".

The Government has taken on responsibility for setting the region's annual spending plans following the collapse of Stormont in 2017.

Ms Bradley said she has "engaged intensively" with the senior civil servantswho are currently in charge of running public services here, and has also discussed the budget with the main political parties.

The health service is set for a 6% cash increase, but when inflation is factored in the uplift equates to around 2% in real terms.

Meanwhile education gets a 3.2% boost - but that works out at a 0.7% cut when inflation and this year's in-year spending is factored.

Around £1.5bn has been allocated for capital projects.

Ms Bradley said that would include the York Street motorway interchange in Belfast, the city's Mother and Children's Hospital, and the upgrade of the A6 between Belfast and Londonderry.

The domestic rate will increase by 4.79% - 3% in cash terms and 1.79% in inflation - while the business rates will only increase by inflation - 1.79%.

The Government decisions on rates are in line with those taken next year.

The budget also confirmed Northern Ireland will receive £20.4m infunding to prepare for Brexit, with a further £16.5m specifically for the PSNI.