NI budget aimed at housing and health

Northern Ireland's finance minister has delivered his first budget to the assembly, with a pledge to spend £200m on more than 5,000 affordable homes.

Peter Robinson told MLAs the £200m will pay for an expansion in affordable housing over the next three years, with 1,500 new units in year one, 1,750 in year two and 2,000 more in year three.

Health minister Michael McGimpsey is to be given more flexibility over his budget and is to receive an extra £57m over three years, giving him £30m for mental health services and £14m for the modernisation of the fire service.

Robinson had faced opposition to his draft budget, most significantly from McGimpsey, who had argued he had been given a stand-still budget which would widen the healthcare gap between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

The announcement also included £40m for the Department of Employment and Learning, and £50m on innovation across other departments.

Robinson said: "During the past 10 weeks we have had a vigorous, often robust debate among politicians and the general public about our spending priorities.

"This is important in a democrat. It has been a useful, if sometimes difficult process, but I believe that the final budget is better for it."