Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister MLA:
“Following a briefing this afternoon by the Department of Infrastructure Permanent Secretary and senior staff on the 2018/19 budget I am disappointed to discover that the £200m supposedly additional confidence and supply funding for capital appears to have been used largely to plug a hole in the existing budget.
“In 2017/18 the capital budget was £400m. With an extra £200m coming in confidence and supply the expectation was that the capital budget would grow accordingly. It has not. The capital budget for 18/19 has increased only by £100m to £500m suggesting much of the confidence and supply money has been used to subsidise or plug gaps, rather than bring additionality as was promised.
“This matter needs to be explained.”