Housing and health cash bonanza

Reaction to budget provisions

More than £200m has been allocated to build more than 5,000 affordable homes in Northern Ireland.

The announcement was made by Finance Minister Peter Robinson as he delivered his first budget to the assembly.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has been given more flexibility over his budget, including £10m a year for mental health provision.

Some £40m will go to the Department of Employment and Learning, with £50m on innovation across other departments.

Mr Robinson said the budget was proof that devolution is working.

"It is almost 40 years since a finance minister elected by the people of Northern Ireland presented a budget in a stable political environment," he said.

AT A GLANCE £205m for social and affordable housing over three years £90m overall for innovation projects, including 60m euros from Irish government £40m for roads schemes Extra £50m distributed among departments over three years Health to get extra £10m per year Children and young people to get a total of £13m Arts to get extra £4m for two years Victims funding to rise £6m over three years iPlayer: Watch Stormont Live

He said the average Northern Ireland household would be better off by £1,000 per year.

The final budget came after significant tensions in the executive over funding.

The £200m going to Ms Ritchie's department will meet housing targets over the next three years.

This will see 1,500 new units in year one, following by 1,750 in year two and a further 2,000 units in year three.

'Good deal'

Ms Ritchie said she was pleased with the money being allocated for social housing.

"In respect of social and affordable housing, I think this has been a good day for the people of Northern Ireland and a good budget deal for housing," she said.

Mr McGimpsey's budget means he can keep efficiency savings and is guaranteed £20m a year from unspent executive funds, money that becomes available in each spending year.

After 12 weeks of civil war in the Stormont executive, Peter Robinson's final budget felt like the start of a January truce Mark Devenport BBC NI political editor Click to read analysis

This would total £60m over three years.

He has also received £30m for mental health, plus £14m for the fire service.

Mr McGimpsey said he had worked hard to achieve "real gains for health in Northern Ireland".

"It is a good budget for health and within that, it is a good budget for mental health and learning disability," he said.

READ THE BUDGET STATEMENT Budget 2008-11 [89KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

The cash for the Department of Employment and Learning will partly fund extra PhD students, as well as other research.

Sinn Fein finance spokesman Mitchel McLaughlin said he was pleased that equality impact assessments would be used to determine future funding and policy decisions.

"This approach can have a significant impact on eliminating inequalities and tackling poverty and disadvantage," said the assembly's finance committee chairman.

Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party said the budget retained three structural weaknesses, including "no attempt to tackle the costs of a divided society".

"It is more of a recipe for creating a low-tax society rather than growing the economy (and) it does not assist with creating better and sustainable public services," he said.

The budget will now pass through the assembly before becoming law.