Drive to cut NI waiting lists

An extra £12m is to be allocated to the Department of Health to cut Northern Ireland's hospital waiting lists.

The money is also aimed at boosting bed capacity during the winter months.

Waiting lists in Northern Ireland are the worst in the United Kingdom.

There are almost 50,000 people waiting for treatment, and some have been on the list for up to six years.

The money is from almost £60m being reallocated by Finance Minister Ian Pearson between departments.

'High priority'

Meanwhile, a further £9m has been given to the Department of Education for planned maintenance and building improvement schemes in some areas.

The Department of Social Development is getting £11.6m to address pressures in a number of areas, including welfare reform, urban regeneration and its Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings scheme.

Mr Pearson said the amounts were not additional to the Northern Ireland budget, but represented good financial management in redirecting funding to high priority public services.

"The £58.9m had become available through changes in expenditure expectations identified by departments, he said.

"The amounts being announced today are targeted at those areas of public services which can benefit immediately from additional funding, in particular health and education," he said.