COVID19: £566m for NI's 'under-pressure' health service
Northern Ireland's crisis-hit health service is to receive a cash injection worth more than half a billion pounds.
It is part of a £790m package announced by Finance Minister Conor Murphy yesterday (Thursday).
The funding comes at a time when health services across Northern Ireland are being stretched to the limit – as healthcare staff tackle the covid pandemic on top of all of the other usual pressures.
Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed the £566m and explained where the money will go.
“The funding will enable us to augment still further our stocks of PPE and facilitate safe storage; continue with enhancements to our test, trace and isolate systems; and provide funding for our ongoing response to this pandemic, such as the completion of the second Nightingale Hospital at Whiteabbey,'' he said.
“It also allows me to move forward immediately with the provision of free car parking to HSC staff until March 31 2021.
“A further allocation of £7.3 million provided to my department for hospices and the Cancer Fund for Children will help support the important services they provide given the impact of Covid-19 on their fundraising activities.''
Mr Murphy said he has also prioritised education, allocating £61m to cover reopening schools, staff costs, free school meals and uniform grants.
And after an appeal from taxi drivers earlier this week, Mr Murphy announced £19m for the taxi, private bus and coach sector which has been severely impacted by the pandemic and hasn't benefitted from previous schemes.
Meanwhile £15m is being allocated for sports organisations, £7m for local hospices and £6.5m for emergency community support and food packages