Executive agrees £118 million in June monitoring allocations

Date published: 30 June 2025

Speaking after the announcement Finance Minister John O’Dowd said: “I have worked collectively with Ministerial colleagues to prioritise the finite resources available and agree allocations which will make a positive difference. We are providing £25 million for health, £25 million for education to include funding for Special Educational Needs and childcare, funding for our higher education sector and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

“In line with our commitment to make childcare more accessible and affordable the £50 million set aside in Budget 2025-26 for the Early Years and Childcare Strategy, as well as the further £5 million being committed to in-year is now being formally allocated. We are already seeing the impact of this funding with it enabling the expansion of the Childcare Subsidy Scheme to school age children from September, supporting our hard-working families.”

Commenting on funding for the PSNI, Minister O’Dowd said: “£5 million is being allocated to cover unforeseen costs facing the PSNI in dealing with the recent deplorable public disorder. Recognising the importance of investing in our police workforce we have also agreed the Department of Justice will be given first call of up to £7 million on funding in future monitoring rounds this year for PSNI recruitment. I look forward to working with Minister Long and the Executive on progressing on delivery of the PSNI Workforce Recovery Plan as part of the multiyear Budget process.”

Turning to capital funding Minister O’Dowd added: “As with resource funding, bids for capital funding far outstripped what was available for allocation. In line with our Programme for Government commitments a further £11million will be provided to the Department for Infrastructure for water. With £9million being provided to create more social, affordable and sustainable housing.”

Allocations for Departments include:

• Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - £3.2 million Resource
• Department for Communities - £0.6 million Resource / £9 million Capital
• Department of Education - £25.4 million Resource / £11.3 million Capital
• Department for the Economy - £9.8 million Resource / £2.5 million Capital
• Department of Finance - £1 million Capital
• Department of Health- £25 million Resource
• Department of Justice - £5 million Resource
• Department for Infrastructure - £6.1 million Resource / £15.7 million Capital
• The Executive Office - £3.5 million Resource / £0.7 million Capital

The Minister concluded: “Looking forward my Department’s focus will now turn to the multi-year budget. With public expenditure likely to be constrained for some time, transformation must be an essential part of this Budget if the Executive is to deliver its ambitions within the funding available.

“This will be the first multi-year budget in over ten years. This will provide an important opportunity to put our finances on a more sustainable footing and, along with the Programme for Government will set the longer-term strategic direction.”