Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2024

Departmental expenditure limit

Expenditure arising from:

The provision of agricultural, educational and knowledge transfer services, research and development and payments and grants to students, societies, associations, institutions, businesses, clubs and other organisations for agri-food purposes, horticulture, equine, fisheries and aquaculture purposes, environmental purposes, and rural development; and harbour development. The provision of veterinary services, official controls and other official activities including animal health and welfare, veterinary public health and veterinary certification of live animals and animal products, including aquatic and fish health, and payments of compensation to farmers for animals culled in disease control programmes. The provision and application of policy support, policy development and legislation for the agri-food and equine industries, animal health and welfare, veterinary medicines, antimicrobial resistance, dog control, wildlife interventions, rural needs and the protection for all aspects of animal, bee and plant health and animal welfare. The provision and application of policy support, policy development, science support and legislation for protection, regulation and conservation of the environment, biodiversity, fisheries, aquaculture including for mitigating and adapting to climate change; and for furthering the achievement of sustainable development and green growth. The provision of country parks, and nature reserves and information centres. Net spend of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority and the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland. Grants to the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland, the Climate Change Committee and grants for scientific services by other bodies, support for innovation, providing hardship assistance, conservation, natural heritage, green growth, environmental legislation and protection and operation of the carrier bag levy. Subsidy and grant to Forest Service in relation to the regulation, maintenance, protection, development and conservation of forests and the management of the Forest Service estate. Payments under European Union or nationally funded programmes including the Common Agricultural Policy and disallowance, payments to district councils and other approved delivery bodies and other expenditure on activities that are required as a result of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Expenditure on enforcement activities, contingency planning and exercising, digital services, administration costs, compensation payments, governmental response to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, UK Covid-19 Inquiry activities; associated non-cash items.