Executive deadlock could block windfall

A £50 million windfall for Government projects may be blocked because of the failure to hold meetings of the North's Executive, it was revealed today.

Finance Minister Nigel Dodds periodically gathers money which departments have not spent and redistributes it to schemes in need of urgent funding.

And while the latest financial monitoring round at Stormont has earmarked nearly £50 million to be re-invested, it now seems the cash will be caught up in the deadlock between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin.

The parties are split on a series of issues including the devolution of policing and justice powers and the Executive has not met since June as a result of the dispute.

Details of the financial plan presented to ministers in the power-sharing government leaked out today.

It is understood that the North's Department for Social Development was to receive the biggest cash boost, with approximately £15 million earmarked for housing schemes.

The Departments of Education and Health are in line for a boost of £5 million each.

The Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Culture are to receive substantial funding packages, while an estimated £6 million has been set aside for building work on the Warrenpoint Harbour development.

Mr Dodds said it was regrettable that the figures had got into the public domain, but he said the sums involved highlighted the difficulties being caused by the failure to hold Executive meetings.

"What I think is outrageous and tragic is that, today, when we are facing into such bad news on the global scale, that at least the Executive could have been coming forward with good news on issues," said the Finance Minister.

"And the blame for that lies with Sinn Féin."

He added: "People will find this very hard to accept.

"These are issues for everyone's benefit, not nationalist or unionist."

Mr Dodds said that he would now be looking at ways of distributing the money in the absence of an Executive meeting, but said the use of Urgent Procedure to push the measure through was no substitute for round table discussions with fellow ministers.

Sinn Féin has blocked Executive meetings until the party is satisfied that the DUP is addressing issues of concern to republicans, including the creation of a Justice Ministry at Stormont.

Mr Dodds said that he believed the public would be bewildered by Sinn Fein's refusal to allow an Executive meeting to be held on vital economic matters.

"If they are happy to do it with Urgent Procedure, why not do it at an Executive meeting?" he said.

Amid fears that the crisis at Stormont is eroding public confidence in the Assembly, Mr Dodds said he too was frustrated at the current deadlock.

"I share the outrage and the disgust of the community," he said.

"It is the responsibility, clearly, of Sinn Féin. They are the only party stopping the Executive meeting."