Written Ministerial Statement

The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process.

Department of Finance - Public Expenditure: 2023-24 Final Plan - Late Allocations

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Published on Thursday 2 May 2024

Dr Archibald (Minister of Finance): I wish to update the Members on late allocations of Resource DEL to the Department for Infrastructure in 2023-24.

The March Outturn and Forecast Outturn returns provided by Departments on 10 April, forecast a Resource DEL underspend of £13.6 million. Excluding £1.7 million of Treasury earmarked funding which cannot be used for other purposes, some £12 million remained.

As any unspent Resource DEL in 2023-24 will be returned to the Treasury, all departments were asked if they could utilise additional funding in this financial year. The Department for Infrastructure was the only department that confirmed it could utilise additional funding in 2023-24. 

On 24 April I was advised of a further underspend in my department of £1 million due to the carry-over of annual leave at year end which is less than had been anticipated.

To minimise the risk of funding being lost to the Executive, the Department for Infrastructure will receive a further allocation of £13 million of Resource funding to bolster Translink’s and DVA’s reserves.