£320m spending approved by former Stormont ministers without finance department's consent
BBC News NI political editor
Ministerial Directions are issued when senior civil servants raise questions about departmental decisions. Former Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey approved £22.6m in October to continue the Department's Discretionary Support Scheme which provides financial support to people on low incomes facing hardship, given the current cost of living crisis.
"Legal aid is a vital public service and there are serious implications for access to justice if we cannot afford to provide it," a statement said.Image source,The Ulster Unionist Party has said Mr Swann's ministerial directions include "all of this year's allocations to waiting list initiatives" and to "commencing the delivery of cancer, mental health and substance use strategies".
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