Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Northern Ireland Budget Act 2023

Contents

Commentary on provisions of Act

Sections 1 and 2: Use of resources and limits on use of resources

  1. Sections 1 and 2 authorise the use of resources by Northern Ireland departments and other specified public bodies amounting to £26,656,975,000 in the year ending 31 March 2023 for the purposes specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1. The authorisations in sections 1 and 2 supersede those made by section 6 of the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, and under section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 for the year ending 31 March 2023.

Sections 3 and 4: Issue and use of sums out of the Consolidated Fund (of Northern Ireland)

  1. The purpose of sections 3 and 4 is to authorise the Northern Ireland Department of Finance to issue out of the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland the sum of £21,487,341,000 for the purposes set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1. The authorisations in sections 3 and 4 supersede the authorisations and appropriations made by section 4 of the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, and under section 59 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 for the year ending 31 March 2023.

Section 5: Power of the Department of Finance to borrow

  1. Section 5 authorises the temporary borrowing by the Northern Ireland Department of Finance of approximately half the sum covered by section 3. This is a normal safeguard against the possibility of a temporary deficiency arising in the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland and any such borrowing is to be repaid by 31 March 2023.

Section 6: Use of Income

  1. Section 6 authorises the use of income by Northern Ireland departments and other specified public bodies from the sources specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1, for the purposes specified in part 2 of Schedule 1 in the year ending 31 March 2023.

Section 7: Operation from beginning of the year ending 31 March 2023

  1. As the authorisations in sections 1 to 6 supersede previous authorisations in the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and authorisations previously made under section 59 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and under Section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001, section 7 allows the sections 1 to 6 to be treated as having effect from the beginning of 1 April 2022.

Sections 8 and 9: Use of Resources and limits on use of resources

  1. Sections 8 and 9 authorise the use of resources by Northern Ireland departments and other specified public bodies amounting to £17,404,266,000 in the year ending 31 March 2024 for the purposes specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2.

Sections 10 and 11: Issue and use of sums out of the Consolidated Fund (of Northern Ireland)

  1. The purpose of sections 10 and 11 are to authorise the Northern Ireland Department of Finance to issue out of the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland the sum of £14,154,737,000 for the purposes set out in Schedule 2 Part 2.

Section 12: Power of the Department of Finance to borrow

  1. Section 12 authorises the temporary borrowing by the Northern Ireland Department of Finance of approximately half the sum covered by section 10. This is a normal safeguard against the possibility of a temporary deficiency arising in the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland and any such borrowing is to be repaid by 31 March 2024.

Section 13: Act to take effect as if it were a Budget Act of the Assembly etc.

  1. Section 13 provides for this Act to have the same effect as if it were a Budget Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly including references in other pieces of legislation relating to the requirement for the laying and approval of estimates.

Section 14: Repeal of provisions superseded by this Act

  1. Section 14 repeals sections 4 to 6 of, and Schedules 3 and 4 to, the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 which are superseded by the authorisations in this Act.

Section 15: Interpretation and Section 16: Short title

  1. These provisions are self-explanatory.

Schedule 1 – Part 1 – Authorised Amounts

  1. Part 1 of Schedule 1 sets out the amount of resources authorised for use by each Department and other public bodies (sections 1 and 2) and the sums of money granted to each Northern Ireland department and other bodies (section 3 and 4) for the year ending 31 March 2023.

Schedule 1 – Part 2 – Expenditure

  1. Part 2 of Schedule 1 sets out the purposes for which resources (section 2) and money (section 4) can be used by each Northern Ireland department and other bodies for the year ending 31 March 2023.

Schedule 1 – Part 3 – Income

  1. Part 3 of Schedule 1 sets out the sources from which income can be used by each Northern Ireland department and other body for the year ending 31 March 2023.

Schedule 2 – Part 1 – Authorised Amounts

  1. Part 1 of Schedule 2 sets out the amount of resources authorised for use by each Department and other public body (sections 8 and 9) and the sums of money granted to each Northern Ireland department and other body (sections 10 and 11) for the year ending 31 March 2024.

Schedule 2 – Part 2 – Expenditure

  1. Part 2 of Schedule 2 sets out the purposes for which resources (section 9) and money (section 11) can be used by each Northern Ireland department and other body for the year ending 31 March 2024.

Commencement

  1. The Act will come into force on Royal Assent.

Back to top