Ulster set for 'sizeable' budget increase

More money was expected for Northern Ireland’s hospitals, schools and roads as Finance Minister Mark Durkan was set to announce his draft Budget for 2002/3 today.

Mr Durkan (SDLP, Foyle) is expected to announce that the Budget will be higher than this year’s figure of £5.8bn.

The Department of Health should receive several million more than planned as it attempts reduce the North’s waiting lists, currently the longest in the UK.

Education will also receive a boost as the focus continues on improvements to school buildings.

With a big spend anticipated on the North’s roads and rail networks, the Department of Regional Development is also expected to receive a sizeable increase in this year’s budget.

It is likely that in order to help pay for these increases, the Minister will announce a hike in this year’s rates.

Last year, Mr Durkan’s announcement of a rate increase of 8% in the domestic rate caused outrage in the Assembly. He later reduced the increase to 7%.

The Budget, which will go out to consultation and to scrutiny by the Finance and Personnel Committee, is expected to be finalised by early December.