COVID-19: another £300m for NI
Stormont has acquired an extra £300m to help tackle coronvirus.
The money is coming from the UK Government and can be carried over to the next financial year.
it comes as Ministers had been concerned that the extra funding they received in December would not all be spent and some would have to be handed back to Westminster.
The money is in addition to the £3 billion already provided for this year through the upfront Barnett guarantee, bringing the total to £3.3 billion.
Discussions are expected to take place over the next few weeks over how it will be divided up.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: "I welcome this additional £300m which will be used towards our covid-19 response
"Along with the finance ministers from Scotland and Wales i have been pressing Treasury for flexibility to carry funds into the next financial year given the continued demands there will be as a result of the pandemic."
And Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis added: “The UK Government has stood side by side with people and businesses across Northern Ireland throughout the coronavirus pandemic - shielding them from its worst effects.
"The Northern Ireland Executive has received unprecedented levels of funding from the UK Government this year and this additional money, which can be carried over into the next financial year, will give the Executive the certainty and flexibility to deliver on its priorities for the benefit of all in Northern Ireland.”