More than £200m of Covid-19 relief funding not yet spent in Northern Ireland

Q Radio News/PA

More than £200 million of Covid-19 support funding has not yet been spent by Stormont departments.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy has urged ministers to make bids for remaining funds as a “matter of urgency”.

Along with the Scottish and Welsh finance minister, Mr Murphy has also requested flexibility from the Treasury to carry over funding into 2021/22.

Here's the minister speaking in the Assembly:

Northern Ireland has been allocated £3 billion in Covid-19 funding, including £200 million announced just before Christmas.

Mr Murphy told the Assembly on Monday that some £219.2 million of allocations to departments were unspent.This includes £105.4 million from the Department for the Economy and £90 million from the Department of Health.

Mr Murphy also explained how other monies have been freed up after the Treasury committed to directly fund pressures arising from increased carry forward of annual leave, and the Department of Transport to supporting airports.

He also explained that the latest forecasts of regional rate income show that funding set aside for rate relief measures will not now be required.

Mr Murphy said the total amount of Covid-19 funding for allocation is £509 million.

Departmental bids so far have been met in full, he told MLAs.

UUP leader Steve Aiken - "remarkable" underspend. 

Finance Committee chair Steve Aiken expressed concern at how the remaining funding can be spent before the end of the financial year in March and described the underspend as “remarkable”.

Mr Murphy responded saying Scotland and Wales are facing similar issues in terms of dealing with Covid-19 allocations, and together they are pressing the Treasury for flexibility to carry over more funding.

“We have some degree of assurance in terms of the money we received very late, just prior to Christmas, £200 million, but the more that we could carry over into the new financial year, the better for us because we face very significant pressures next year,” he said.

“I do expect to hear something from them (Treasury) this week.”