THERE was widespread criticism yesterday of sweeping cutbacks in budget allocations for housing, education and training in the North, announced earlier by the Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew.
Unionist and nationalist politicians alike condemned the cuts, which Sir Patrick blamed on the resurgence of violence. He said it was necessary to restore the law and order budget as his top spending priority. Almost £120 million extra is being provided for security and compensation over a three-year period up to the year 2000.
He said the "peace dividend" has been reversed, and "the IRA and those responsible for the disturbances which occurred last summer bear a heavy responsibility."
He added: "The IRA's abandonment of its ceasefire, witnessed in the bombings earlier this year, and recent terrorist activity mean that financial resources need to be restored to security and compensation.
"On top of this we have the costs of the very serious disturbances of last summer which arose at and following Drumcree; these include costs of police time, compensation for injuries and for damage to schools, commercial premises, vehicles, roads and houses."
Provision also had to be made for the very expensive policing of events such as marches and football matches, and this money had to come out of the budget block allocated to Northern Ireland.
Over the next three years, an additional £77 million is to be allocated to the Northern Ireland Police Authority to fund the RUC. In 1997-98, the authority's grant will be £657 million, an increase of £36 million.
An extra £42 million has been provided for the North's Compensation Agency to meet forecast expenditure on criminal injuries and criminal damage, reflecting arson and bomb attacks and the upsurge in violence during the summer.
Four thousand training places, both adult and young people's, are to be cut; 20 libraries run by the education and library boards will have to halve the amount they spend on new books; there are reductions in the provision for the youth service and discretionary and postgraduate student awards.
Housing expenditure is to be cut by £22 million in the coming year; Housing Executive rents are to be increased by an average of £1.32 per week. Roads expenditure is also to be cut.
The planned public expenditure for the North for the next three years is £8.22 million in 1997-98, rising to £8.26 million in 1998-99, and £8.36 million in 1999-2000.
The SDLP said the budget was "a kick in the teeth" to everyone in the North. Those in public housing and on waiting lists would be severely affected.
The UUP said the cuts would hit many of the most vulnerable in society.
The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance said that cutting the funds for training was an extremely short-sighted step.
The Housing Executive chairman, Mr Sid McDowell, said the rent increase was 4 per cent, or twice the UK average.