This funding is part of broader financial package tied to the restoration of devolved government last year, which included £235 million for projects aimed at improving efficiency and financial sustainability.

The Treasury has approved the first allocation of this funding, which will be distributed across six projects spanning health, education, justice, and water infrastructure. John O’Dowd, Finance Minister, acknowledged that while the funding would not fully address the scale of challenges facing public services, it represents a significant step in wider transformation efforts.

The largest reserve of £61 million will support the expansion of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in primary healthcare, which involve partnerships between GP practices and health trusts, integrating specialists such as physiotherapists and mental health practitioners into GP clinics.

This approach seeks to reduce referrals and waiting times by providing a range of specialist services within primary care settings. Originally piloted in 2018, the additional funding will allow for the finalisation of the model in seven existing MDT areas and expansion into five more, covering a population of approximately 670,000.

In education, £17.5 million has been designated to special educational needs (SEN) projects, which will focus on early intervention strategies and workforce development to address financial pressures in the SEN sector.

The justice system will receive just under £23 million for two projects: one aimed at reducing delays in court proceedings and another to explore GPS monitoring for individuals on bail or license.

Additionally, £15 million will fund a sustainable urban drainage pilot, while £3 million is assigned to tackling the backlog at the Planning Appeals Commission.

Further funding round will take place later this year, including support for digital transformation initiatives. “This allocation of UK government funding is a really important step towards this, and in this UK government, the executive will always have a partner that is committed to supporting this work every step of the way”, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State, concluded.