T4. Ms Armstrong asked the Minister of Finance to clarify his role and that of his Department in the management of Fresh Start money. (AQT 1794/17-22)

Fresh Start money is generally earmarked as part of an agreement, so, to a large extent, it is ring-fenced. We obviously liaise with the NIO, through which the Fresh Start money came, to make sure that we access it and include it in our budgets, but it is earmarked for a range of matters. Some of it was health transformation money. Some of it was money to be spent by TEO on tackling paramilitarism and other areas. It is not a matter of taking a pot from the NIO and then making recommendations on its allocation to the Department of Finance. Parties agreed with the British Government on spending on a range of areas. It still will be included in our budgets this year, but it is largely ring-fenced for certain areas.

The Minister of Education has been to the Treasury and got agreement for re-profiling some of the Fresh Start money. I am concerned, because 17 integrated education schools are in planning and have been told that they will proceed. Is there any risk to those schools?

It is for the Department of Finance to engage with the Treasury on those issues. Specifically on the Strule Shared Education Campus, we have spoken to the Treasury about re-profiling money. We want to ensure that, where there is capital money that will not be spent at the time, particularly for Education — there was capital money for shared housing too — we engage with the Treasury to re-profile it in order to make sure that the money is not lost.