Commentary on Sections
Sections 1 and 2: Use of resources and limits on use of resources in year ending 31 March 2025
Sections 1 and 2 authorise the use of resources by Northern Ireland departments and other specified public bodies amounting to £28,772,794,000 for 2024-25 for the purposes specified in Part 2 of the estimates set out in Schedule 1. The authorisations in sections 1 and 2 supersede those made by sections 7 and 8 of the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2024.
Sections 3 and 4: Issue and use of sum out of the Consolidated Fund for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2025
Sections 3 and 4 authorise the Department of Finance to issue out of the Consolidated Fund for Northern Ireland the sum of £25,255,627,000 for 2024-25 for the purposes set out in Part 2 of the estimates set out in Schedule 1. The authorisations in sections 3 and 4 supersede those made by sections 9 and 10 of the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2024.
Section 5: Power to Borrow for the year ending 31 March 2025
Section 5 authorises the Department of Finance to borrow a sum or sums up to approximately half of the sum specified in section 3. This is a normal safeguard against the possibility of a temporary deficiency arising in the Consolidated Fund for Northern Ireland. Any sum borrowed is to be repaid by 31 March 2025.
Section 6: Use of Income for the year ending 31 March 2025
Section 6 authorises the use of income by Northern Ireland departments and specified public bodies from a source specified in Part 3 of the estimates set out in Schedule 1 for the purposes specified in Part 2 of those estimates, subject to certain conditions.
Section 7: Resources: excesses
Section 7 authorises the use of resources by the Department of Education for the years ending 31 March 2021, 2022 and 2023. The amounts authorised are £11,409,000 in 2020-21, £10,721,000 in 2021-22 and £7,380,000 in 2022-23. For each year the Department may use the resources for the purposes specified in the Part of Schedule 2 corresponding to that year.
Section 8: Sums issued out of the Consolidated Fund: excesses
Section 8 authorises the Department of Finance to issue out of the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland and apply to the service of the years ending 31 March 2017 and 2019 the sums of £397,000 and £45,000 respectively. In each year, the relevant sum may be used by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the purposes specified in the Part of Schedule 3 corresponding to that year.
Sections 9: Interpretation
As in Budget bill.
Section 10: Short Title
This section sets out the short title of the Budget (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2024.
Schedules to the Act
Schedule 1: Estimates for the year ending 31 March 2025.
Schedule 2: Excesses.
Schedule 3: Sums Issued out of the Consolidated Fund: Excesses.
