Executive allocates additional Covid funding support

The Department for Communities has been allocated funding of £50.3m to help provide support to the people, communities and sectors who have been directly impacted by the pandemic.

The £50.3 million allocation is to address a range of pressures including £10 million to Councils to ensure the continued delivery of local public services, as well as £3 million to support council-managed community development and advice services via the Community Support Programme.

The total also includes £13 million to Arts, Culture and Heritage to support ongoing recovery within the sector. £5 million is provided to the Sports Sustainability Fund to help alleviate the ongoing effects of the pandemic on sporting bodies, while an additional £5 million is being provided to support charities and social enterprises facing continued financial difficulties.

The pandemic has had a significant impact on levels of unemployment. £12 million is therefore also being provided to allow the Department to progress its Restart scheme, which will support older people in returning to employment.

Of the overall £220 million budget, nearly £60 million will support the health service to help continue the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. Over £50 million is being allocated to support children and young people’s education - this includes £20 million to provide laptops for teachers and voluntary youth services. £10 million for well-being and pastoral support for students, funding for Special Educational Needs services as well as support for the Irish Medium sector, outdoor education centres and outdoor play in primary schools.

£9 million will be provided for the Further Education Sector to ensure a safe learning for students including through funding for Covid testing.

A written Ministerial statement outlining the allocations in full can be found here.

A breakdown of DfC allocation includes:

• £10m to Councils
• £3m to support council-managed community development and advice services
• £13m to Arts, Culture and Heritage
• £5m for Sports
• £5m to support charities and social enterprises
• £12m to allow the Department to progress a scheme to support the long term unemployed find work
• £1m for Food interventions
• £0.8m to support towns and city centres
• £0.5 million for IT support.