Stormont ministers have agreed to release £688 million to make outstanding pay awards for public sector workers in Northern Ireland.Individual departments have each been given an allocation and will now negotiate with relevant trade unions on the pay rises that will be introduced.Departments were allocated more than £1 billion in total on Thursday, with £380 million of non-pay-related resource to be spent addressing immediate pressures and overspends. Ministers also agreed to distribute £83.5 mi

Stormont ministers have agreed to release £688 million to make outstanding pay awards for public sector workers in Northern Ireland.Individual departments have each been given an allocation and will now negotiate with relevant trade unions on the pay rises that will be introduced.Departments were allocated more than £1 billion in total on Thursday, with £380 million of non-pay-related resource to be spent addressing immediate pressures and overspends. Ministers also agreed to distribute £83.5 million for capital spending.