Stormont budget facing £600m shortfall, says Conor Murphy

The Executive agreed during a meeting this morning to wait until after the Westminster Budget has been set.

There had been a previous indication that the Stormont budget would be set before London’s.

Mr Murphy said there is more certainty for the Executive in going after March 11 rather than going before and potentially having to reallocate funding.

He said finances are currently around £600 million short of the basic requirements put forward by departments – not including commitments made in the New Decade, New Approach deal and the Executive’s aspirations.

He is due to travel to London for further meetings with Treasury officials on Thursday to continue ongoing discussions.

“This morning, the Executive agreed that we would be producing our own budget at the end of March and this is to allow for the March 11 Budget being done by the British Chancellor so we can have a fuller understanding of what funding may be available to us,” he told journalists at Parliament Buildings.

“Whatever comes from the March 11 Budget, nine years of austerity have had a very serious impact on our public services and undoubtedly the Executive is going to continue to be challenged as a consequence of that.”

He added: “On the timing issue ... going after March 11 does present some logistical difficulties but there is more certainty from the Executive’s approach in going after March 11 than perhaps going before and having to reallocate funding on the other side of that.”