THE Department for the Economy (DfE) is set to proceed with virtually every cut it first mooted last month as it aims to make an eye-watering £130 million in cost savings.
It launched a public consultation on June 7 on the implications of its 2023/24 budget, which will hit areas across tourism, university tuition fees, skills, job creation and screen industries.
And following responses from the public and business organisations in the first four-week period to identify any early mitigations which might be put in place, DfE has confirmed a largely unchanged budget position.
Only an all-age apprenticeship scheme will escape the guillotine.
A spokesman said: "As a result of this assessment, to mitigate the impact of reductions in funding for skills and education, the Department can confirm it will proceed with All Age Apprenticeships in the current financial year. Details will be announced in due course.
"Launching All Age Apprenticeships will also benefit further education colleges, alongside the contracted training provider network, as they will be funded to provide training.
"But no other changes to the proposals presented in the consultation are being considered at this stage."
The Department says it will "continuously monitor" its budget throughout the year, and the consultation remains open until August 30.
If easements emerge in any areas across the budget during the year, the responses to the consultation will inform the identification of further mitigation measures during in-year reallocations.
"If further reductions are required during the year, responses will also be used to help minimise impacts," the Department added.
The initial assessment report and consultation are available at www.economy-ni.gov.uk/budget-2023
The Department said in June that it needs to identify more than £100 million savings in the current budgetary year, while additional fund pressures of £30 million have been identified for 2023/24.
Nearly three quarters of its existing budget supports skills, further education and higher education.
But the proposals will also lead to a 33 per cent reduction in funding to Tourism NI, which will impact on investment in events, marketing, and capital development, which will slow the renewed growth in the sector.
