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Road safety campaign could be reduced following budget cuts | Road safety campaign could be reduced following budget cuts |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The Department of the Environment's road safety promotion campaign could be significantly curtailed as a result of budget cuts. | The Department of the Environment's road safety promotion campaign could be significantly curtailed as a result of budget cuts. |
The department could also shed up to 500 jobs - almost one third of its staff - and cut emergency assistance for homes affected by flooding. | The department could also shed up to 500 jobs - almost one third of its staff - and cut emergency assistance for homes affected by flooding. |
The proposals have been published in the department's draft budget consultation. | The proposals have been published in the department's draft budget consultation. |
The department faces a budget cut of £12.9m in 2015-16. | The department faces a budget cut of £12.9m in 2015-16. |
In the draft budget, published on the department's website, it says that more jobs are likely to be lost in a wide range of voluntary, educational and private sectors bodies which will have their grant funding cut. | In the draft budget, published on the department's website, it says that more jobs are likely to be lost in a wide range of voluntary, educational and private sectors bodies which will have their grant funding cut. |
'Small pie' | |
The Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said there were "tough decisions to be made". | |
He said: "No-one wants to make tough decisions like this, however it's imperative that we do remain capable of discharging the functions of the department. | |
"Many of the grants we provide are pretty dire as it stands. I can assure you I'm not scaremongering. I voted against the draft budget and outlined my reasons for doing so. | |
"The implications are severe whatever way we cut what has become an extremely small pie." | |
Stormont departments have been laying out their plans for how they will deal with reduced budgets next year. | Stormont departments have been laying out their plans for how they will deal with reduced budgets next year. |
'Reduce services' | 'Reduce services' |
On top of jobs cuts, the Department of Environment says there will be other significant effects. | On top of jobs cuts, the Department of Environment says there will be other significant effects. |
It says there is no more money for emergency payments for households which are hit by flooding. | It says there is no more money for emergency payments for households which are hit by flooding. |
Road safety promotion will have to be cut back and the grants that the department provides to councils and a range of other bodies will also be cut. | Road safety promotion will have to be cut back and the grants that the department provides to councils and a range of other bodies will also be cut. |
SDLP MLA Alban Maginness, who is on the environment committee, said the cuts would have a huge impact on a relatively small department of 1500 people. | SDLP MLA Alban Maginness, who is on the environment committee, said the cuts would have a huge impact on a relatively small department of 1500 people. |
"All of this emanates from a ferocious budget that has savagely cut other departments," he said. | "All of this emanates from a ferocious budget that has savagely cut other departments," he said. |
"The cut will also affect local councils as they will lose part of the support grant that they get, so councils will have to put up rates or reduce services." | "The cut will also affect local councils as they will lose part of the support grant that they get, so councils will have to put up rates or reduce services." |