£30M IN CRISIS FUNDING FOR ULSTER HELD

Finance Department blocks TORY-DUP deal cash

MORE than half of the £50million given to Northern Ireland before Christmas is still being held by the Treasury.

The money was announced by former Secretary of State James Brokenshire in November.

And it was to be used to ease mounting pressures in hospitals, health care and also schools.

But Stormont’s Department of Finance has revealed £30million of that pot hasn’t been used and will not be spent in the 2017-18 tax year.

Public services and health care were pushed to the brink over the festive season.

Green Party leader Steven Agnew has expressed deep disquiet over the lack of spending.

The North Down MLA said: “I would call on the Secretary of State to end the game playing with the health and education budget.

“Even though £20million is being released, it appears that the only thing preventing the release of the remaining £30million is politics.

“Given the winter pressures we are currently facing, it is nothing short of a disgrace these games are being played with people’s lives and the well-being of their children.”

In October – 100 days after the DUP’S confidence and supply deal was struck with the Conservatives – the Mirror reported how Northern Ireland had not seen a penny.

This was followed by the November announcement that the first £50million of the £1billion deal agreed under the DUP-TORY pact would be released this financial year, dependant on the outcome of a supplementary estimates vote.

Mr Brokenshire made the announcement when he brought his £10.6billion budget before the Commons.

And he told MPS once the money was released civil servants would be able to decide how it was spent. A spokesman said: “The Department of Finance has assessed the position across departments in 2017/18 and based on that assessment has confirmed the remaining £30million will not be accessed in 2017/18.

“Whilst Treasury have confirmed that the £30million can be reprofiled into 2018/19 on top of existing arrangements, access to this requires the approval of both Parliament and the Assembly.” A spokesman for HM Treasury added: “The UK Government remains committed to making the £50million available. “HM Treasury has therefore granted this flexibility on the funding.”