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100,000 households get £150 boost 100,000 households get £150 boost
(about 1 hour later)
Up to 100,000 vulnerable households are to get a one-off £150 fuel credit, as part of the Northern Ireland Executive's £70m hardship package.Up to 100,000 vulnerable households are to get a one-off £150 fuel credit, as part of the Northern Ireland Executive's £70m hardship package.
Finance Minister Nigel Dodds told the assembly those on income support and pension credit will get the payment.Finance Minister Nigel Dodds told the assembly those on income support and pension credit will get the payment.
Business rates had been due to rise in line with inflation but they will now be frozen for next year.Business rates had been due to rise in line with inflation but they will now be frozen for next year.
He also announced the £20m Farm Nutrient Management Scheme to encourage the construction of slurry tanks.He also announced the £20m Farm Nutrient Management Scheme to encourage the construction of slurry tanks.
Several million pounds will be spent on maintaining roads and schools.Several million pounds will be spent on maintaining roads and schools.
Construction firms will be able to bid for government contracts worth £115m for schools and hospitals, as these projects are no longer caught up in a legal dispute over procurements.Construction firms will be able to bid for government contracts worth £115m for schools and hospitals, as these projects are no longer caught up in a legal dispute over procurements.
The measures were agreed by Stormont ministers who have been discussing how to help people affected by the economic downturn.The measures were agreed by Stormont ministers who have been discussing how to help people affected by the economic downturn.
Mr Dodds made the announcements at a special assembly session to debate the executive's decisions.Mr Dodds made the announcements at a special assembly session to debate the executive's decisions.
'Smash and grab raid''Smash and grab raid'
He said the fuel credit scheme had gone beyond proposals by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie which were reported to have caused tensions in the executive.He said the fuel credit scheme had gone beyond proposals by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie which were reported to have caused tensions in the executive.
Ms Ritchie told reporters that the Stormont Executive had made a £30m "smash and grab raid" on her housing budget to help pay for the hardship package.Ms Ritchie told reporters that the Stormont Executive had made a £30m "smash and grab raid" on her housing budget to help pay for the hardship package.
"No other department has been picked on in this way," said the SDLP minister."No other department has been picked on in this way," said the SDLP minister.
"It means the Housing Executive will not be able to take forward badly-needed maintenance projects," she said."It means the Housing Executive will not be able to take forward badly-needed maintenance projects," she said.
"People waiting on housing improvements and maintenance are now going to suffer, and contractors and employees desperate for this work will now go out of business.""People waiting on housing improvements and maintenance are now going to suffer, and contractors and employees desperate for this work will now go out of business."
However, First Minister Peter Robinson dismissed Mrs Ritchie's claims.
"I'm just at a loss, the social development minister doesn't seem to know from one minute to the next what she is doing. She supported it at the executive," he said.
"It's a proposal which goes beyond what she wanted. So I would have thought she would be jumping up and down and rejoicing. Instead we hear carping and criticism.
"These are people who clearly do not understand the first thing about finance."