STORMONT has £430 million of its budget still unspent in this financial year.

According to the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, almost £300 million of this is funding that was provided to tackle Covid-19 pressures.

Minister Murphy, speaking in the Assembly last Monday, January 25, detailed that £294 million of Covid funding remains, with the Department of the Economy returning £105.4 million, while the Department of Health returned £90 million.

When asked what the Government should be spending this money on, the people of Fermanagh called for further funding into the health service, roads, support for families, mental health and to help with businesses that have been affected by the pandemic.

Caroline Wheeler called on support for unpaid carers in Northern Ireland: "Working for 40 pence per week and our Health Minister allows this and then adds injury ... to sending back this money.

"Wonder would he work for nothing? Actually would all MLAs work for nothing! Yet carers are the backbone of NI."

Alice Brannigan Donald, and Paul Kellagher, wanted money to go towards mental health provision for young people, with Paul believing there should be a focus on school and community-based early intervention services.

For Tracey Little, the people who "bore the brunt of this pandemic" should be the ones looked after: "Key workers, small businesses, mental health is going to be a massive thing coming out of this.

"There has to be more done to make help available for those who are definitely needing it now and in time to come, and any other group that has suffered tremendously due to this virus. Bring more services back to our hospital."

There were three areas that Jane Furness could see the money being spent on: pay rises for healthcare workers dealing with Covid, small-business owners who have not been able to open, and to help a speedy recovery for all other essential non-Covid health services and procedures.

Joy Graham wants to see money go towards helping students and their families who are still paying rent at the minute, even though they are studying from home.

Anna Marie Hassard had a long list of areas where the money could be spent, including hospitals, the elderly, cancer patients, more financial help for unpaid carers, more rural buses, more community nurses, rent and rates assistance for long-stay hospital patients, pay for decently-run care/nursing homes, plus pay for the care for these people.

She also wants the money to pay for "some decent politicians who are actually qualified for the job and who will really work for each and every constituent".

Elizabeth Wallace thinks the roads are a "disgrace", saying: "When I think of our tremendous road surfaces 50-60 years ago I cry out in despair."

While many put forward what they would like to see the money spent on, Gerard McCahery asked: "The question should be why wasn't it spent. What are them idiots in the hill actually doing, and if the budget is not spent, do they get another big pay day again?"

Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, does plan to seek additional funding for student hardship, while Minister Murphy published a draft budget for 2021/22 last week.