Almost £25 million included in Northern Ireland Executive’s 2021/2022 Budget to support ‘Benefit Delivery Response’ to Covid-19

Minister confirms that funding for scheme, which will provide financial assistance to vulnerable individuals, is on top of more than £40 million to continue welfare mitigations

Almost £25 million to support Northern Ireland's 'Benefit Delivery Response' to Covid-19 has been included in the Northern Ireland Executive's 2021/2022 Budget.

In a Written Ministerial Statement, Minister for Finance Conor Murphy has advised that the Executive has agreed funding of £24.9 million for the 'Benefit Delivery Response' as part of its final agreement on the 2021/2022 Budget. Later Mr Murphy added that the funding - which will be used to provide financial assistance to vulnerable individuals - is on top of £42.8 million which has been set aside to continue welfare mitigations.

NB - Mr Murphy also confirmed that -

'£20 million for the Jobstart programme ... will create job opportunities for those aged 16 to 24 at risk of long-term unemployment ... [and] over £9 million will support initiatives tackling homelessness with £6 million going towards the Supporting People programme to enable vulnerable people to live independently in the community.'

For more information, see Murphy announces Budget to rebuild economy and support children and young people from ni.gov.uk