Coronavirus Northern Ireland: £20 million announced for local councils | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Coronavirus Northern Ireland: £20 million announced for local councils

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced that the Executive is allocating £20.3 million to local councils to assist them with their financial pressures as a result of Covid-19.

 

The funding will ensure that local councils can continue to provide essential services and support those in need.

 

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Speaking to Newry Times, Minister Hargey said, “Despite the current Covid-19 pandemic, councils continue to play an essential role in delivering essential services such as waste collection and disposal, community support, and provision of registration and cemetery services.

“The restrictions that have been introduced, with the clear purpose of protecting life and ensuring our health service has not been overwhelmed, have created a severe financial challenge for our 11 councils as they have lost practically all of their self-generated income through the closure of council facilities.

 

 

“This funding will help assist councils with their cash flow and support them in the delivery of the vital services they are providing to the community at this time.

“It will also help ensure that they are ready to play their key role in our post-pandemic recovery and limit the financial impact on ratepayers going forward,” she insisted.

The £20.3 million will be allocated to councils to reflect their financial pressures.

 

 

The Minister previously announced that councils here are eligible to apply to furlough staff through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. 

This will help ensure that the rights of workers are respected and jobs are protected.

This scheme along with this additional funding is supporting councils through this period.

Minister Hargey continued, “I welcome the Executive’s commitment to this issue which will support council employees, suppliers and communities. 

“It is a clear commitment from the Executive that we support and appreciate the role of our local government colleagues and provides assurance that councils will be put on a sound and sustainable financial footing.”

 

 

Finance Minister, Conor Murphy added, “I’m pleased to provide councils with this funding so they can continue to provide vital services during the Covid-19 crisis.

“This support is in addition to the Executive absorbing the full cost of the business rates holiday so that it won’t impact on council’s income,” Murphy added.

 

Keep up to date with all the latest Northern Ireland Coronavirus / Covid-19 news HERE

 

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Posted by on May 21 2020. Filed under Coronavirus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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