AQO 1941/22-27
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast
Tabled Date: 10/04/2025
Answered On Date: 07/05/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of his Department’s final budget allocation for 2025-2026.
Answer:
On Resource DEL, my assessment is whilst I welcome the Executive earmarking of the £332.5m for agriculture, agri-environment, fisheries and rural development previously received as part of Westminster earmarked funds, I am disappointed that an inflationary uplift in this funding has not been possible given the wider pressures facing the Executive. In relation to the agreed £19.0m general allocation to my Department, this will cover some but not all of DAERA’s significant statutory obligation on bTB Compensation or contractual pressures on pay, employers national insurance and running costs. This is an extremely difficult outcome for DAERA and further work will be required as part of the imminent June Monitoring Round to determine the extent of these pressures across the Department. However, I welcome the £5.0m indicative Executive Earmarked Resource DEL allocation to DAERA for Lough Neagh at June Monitoring. This would align with the ‘Protecting Lough Neagh and the Environment’ priority in the PfG and would help my Department take forward further work in the Lough Neagh Action Plan in 2025-26. On Capital DEL, I welcome the Executive Earmarked allocation of £12.3m to DAERA for a Just Transition Fund for Agriculture. However, as the £119.5m total Capital DEL allocation is £7.1m less than my Department’s £126.6m inescapable bids, I have agreed to make an opening overcommitment of £15.0m to take forward all of DAERA’s inescapable and some high priority bids. This is on the basis that there will be some in-year slippage as well as opportunities to secure additional funding at Monitoring Rounds.
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