NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE
                                                  17 March 1998
______________________________________________________________

  INCREASED INVESTMENT IN KEY PRIORITIES FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
                     WELCOMED BY MO MOWLAM
                                
Mo Mowlam, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, warmly
welcomed today's Budget announcement which  provides over 20
million pounds extra investment  to meet  the Government's key
priorities in Northern Ireland in 1998-99.  Because of the
Government's prudent management of public expenditure this year,
it is able to allocate additional investment to its key
priorities:

-    A further 13 million pounds is being provided to cut
     patient waiting lists in Northern Ireland. This  brings the
     total additional money  for health in Northern Ireland to 
     44 million pounds in 1998-99.

-    6.2 million pounds is to be provided for education, to
     raise standards and enhance skills. This brings the total
     additional money on education in Northern Ireland to over
     41 million pounds in 1998-99.

-    1.3 million pounds is provided to improve rural transport
     facilities in Northern Ireland.

-    Northern Ireland is also set to benefit from the
     Chancellor's  "New Deal for the Communities" Initiative and
     will get 390,000 pounds to participate in the pathfinder
     projects.

Welcoming this new package Mo Mowlam said: "These are welcome
additions which will benefit a wide range of people across
Northern Ireland. They are further proof that this Government
keeps its promises."
 


NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. Northern Ireland's share of the extra funding has been
determined on the basis of the Barnett formula; this provides for
Northern Ireland to receive a percentage of the cash increases
to comparable programmes in England. In last July's Budget, the
Chancellor announced  an additional 31 million pounds for health
and 35 million pounds for  education in Northern Ireland in 1998-
99.



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