£175 million funding boost announced to protect frontline workers

by Q Radio News

The Finance Minister has announced a funding package of £175 million to protect frontline workers. 

It's being allocated as part of a wider package of £226.5 million. 

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said “These allocations includes £175million to purchase additional PPE.

"This will bolster supplies and ensure the continued protection of frontline health workers leading the fight against Covid-19.

“Over £15.2million of capital allocations will fund the purchase of medical equipment across cardiology, urology and radiology specialisms, and help procure licenses for digital health technology." 

Finance Minister Conor Murphy

Meanwhile, Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the reallocation of funding to help boost PPE stocks. 

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “I welcome the move by HM Treasury and that they have recognised the need for exceptional measures this year, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The changes made by the Treasury will allow my Department to spend £175m in this financial year on PPE supplies that can be used in the 2021/22 financial year.”

Consumables such as PPE are normally counted as expenditure as they are used. 

The concession in relation to Covid PPE will allow stocks of PPE to build and to overlap financial years.

The Minister continued: “PPE is essential for protecting our staff and patients and this year more than ever it is vital that we continue to build on our stocks.  The move by Treasury will allow my Department to spend the money in the 2020/21 financial year to boost supplies for later use.  This will be significant in dealing with the cost consequences of the pandemic.” 

The new funding comes from unallocated funding currently available to the Executive. The Department of Health had previously returned £90m of Covid-19 funding as the budgeting rules had prevented it from being spent on PPE at that time.

The Minister added: “This year’s health budget was boosted significantly by special emergency Covid allocations."

Last week, the Executive already agreed to £27.3 million will go towards providing additional support for students, £ 9million is being allocated to the Forest Service and £42,000 of capital funding for the Commission for Victims and Survivors.”

Commenting on unallocated funding, Minister Murphy added: “I continue to discuss funding flexibility with Treasury and expect to carry forward any further funding provided into 2021-22.

"However, Treasury have advised this will not include flexibility in relation to the funding received before Christmas. It is therefore important this £200million is now made available for reallocation.

“I continue to urge Executive Ministers to bring forwards proposals to use available funding, particularly for those who to date haven’t received support.”