The UK government has announced that it will provide the Stormont Executive with £400m in funding this year to help departments manage their budgets, according to a recent statement.

An estimated overspend of approximately £400m had been forecast by Stormont's Finance Minister, John O'Dowd, with the health and education sectors facing the most significant financial pressures.

Previously, the government had emphasized the importance of the Executive operating within its existing budget allocation.

However, on Wednesday, Northern Ireland Minister Matthew Patrick revealed that the Treasury has approved a one-off reserve claim to safeguard public services, which will be repaid over a three-year period.

A reserve claim is a mechanism that allows for access to a Treasury fund designated for covering unexpected and unavoidable expenditure that cannot be afforded within existing budgets.

It is believed that the Treasury extended this offer to the Executive late last month.

During Northern Ireland questions in the Commons, Matthew Patrick informed Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson that the government had given its approval for the reserve claim.

Patrick characterized this decision as "exceptional" and stated that it would be accompanied by a thorough review of departmental spending, referred to as an "open book exercise".

Gavin Robinson noted that his party's efforts had led to a reevaluation of the initial figure, which had subsequently "doubled and rightly so".

In a subsequent statement, Robinson described the £400m in funding as "exceptional" and providing "vital short-term flexibility", but cautioned that it would not address underlying systemic issues.

Robinson emphasized the need for accountability in public spending, arguing that the previous year's expenditure should not automatically serve as the starting point for the current year.

He also called for comprehensive reform within the Civil Service, citing concerns such as low expertise, high sickness levels, and unacceptable vacancy and temporary promotion rates.

The allocation of the £400m has not been finalized, but the health and education ministers have consistently warned that their departments are at risk of exceeding their budgets due to various pressures, including public sector pay and staffing costs.

A request for comment has been made to the Department of Finance.

In County Londonderry, a fire is currently raging at a building within an old linen mill complex, prompting local residents to seal their homes by closing windows and doors as a precautionary measure.

On Wednesday, at 09:06 GMT, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service received a report of a fire at a location on the Kilrea Road, near Maghera in Upperlands.

Emergency responders have deployed multiple fire engines and a water tanker to combat the blaze.

According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the fire service has detected asbestos in the affected building, leading to advisories for nearby residents to keep their windows and doors closed as a safety precaution.

Authorities are urging the public to steer clear of the area surrounding the fire.

The situation remains active and ongoing.

Notably, the site of the current fire is also home to the William Clark and Sons textile plant, which suffered a similar incident in 2017; the company's history dates back to 1736.

Ulster Architectural Heritage has expressed concern over the loss of another significant part of the B1 listed textile factory complex, describing it as a further erosion of the region's industrial heritage.

A spokesperson for the organization emphasized the need to protect and preserve the region's historic industrial sites, stating that this incident highlights the importance of safeguarding such heritage.

The Irish government is set to introduce a financial support scheme for artists, providing a weekly stipend of €325 (£283) to help them pursue their creative work.

According to Ireland's Culture Minister, Patrick O'Donovan, the Basic Income for the Arts initiative makes the country a pioneer in artist support, offering a permanent solution that is reportedly the first of its kind worldwide.

A total of 2,000 artists will be chosen to participate in the scheme, which will commence after the application process opens in May, with each recipient receiving the weekly payment for a period of three years.

This permanent initiative follows a pilot program launched in 2022, aimed at revitalizing the arts and culture sector in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister O'Donovan highlighted the pilot's success, noting that every €1 (£0.87) invested yielded a return of €1.39 (£1.21), while also enabling artists to focus more on their craft and improving their overall well-being.

The Culture Minister described the permanent scheme as a significant achievement, designed to support the long-term careers of selected artists and retain their talent within the arts sector.

O'Donovan emphasized that research on the pilot program consistently showed its positive impact on recipients, as well as the challenges artists face in Ireland due to financial insecurity.

He urged artists from across the country to apply, ensuring that the selected participants represent a diverse range of artistic disciplines and practices.

Ireland's Department of Culture has announced that the 2,000 available spots will be filled through an anonymous random selection process, giving each applicant an equal opportunity to be chosen.

The department will release detailed application guidelines in April, outlining the eligibility criteria, which will be used to assess applicants.

To be eligible, artists must meet specific requirements, which will be outlined in the forthcoming guidelines.

Although the department anticipates a large number of applications, it notes that not all eligible artists can be funded, but those who are not selected in 2026 will have the opportunity to reapply in 2029.