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The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, and Social Security has received the largest allocation of the recurrent estimates totalling $271.9 million, or 42.5 percent.<\/p>\n
This was disclosed by Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre during the presentation of the 2023-2024 National Budget on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf this amount, $106.6 million is allocated to debt service, while $45.1 million is appropriated for retirement benefits,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Additionally, he said the non-contributory pension, which now extends to individuals 65 years and over, and insurance premiums for Earthquake, Tropical Cyclone, and Excess Rainfall perils with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) are also included in the allocation for the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Dr. McIntyre said the second largest budgetary allocation of $73.0 million, or 11.4 percent, is for the operation of the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThe Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence will receive the third highest allocation of $71.5 million or 11.2 percent,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
\u00a0He continued, \u201cAn amount of $59.0 million, or 9.2 percent of the total recurrent expenditure, is allocated to the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cThe Ministry of Public Works and the Digital Economy will receive $55.0 million, or 8.6 percent of the total recurrent expenditure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moreover, he said although the recurrent budget for this Fiscal Year has been reduced, all of government\u2019s social programmes which are currently in place to support the vulnerable, will continue\u2014including the Public Assistance Programme, the Foster Care programme, the care of our juveniles who come in conflict with the law, our Centenarian programme, the 65 and over Non-Contributory Pension Programme and of course, the ‘Yes We Care’ Programme.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWe will also continue to support the non-government institutions which care for our most vulnerable, particularly, senior citizens, and begin implementing the recommendations made by the recently appointed National Advisory Board for Health and Social Care of the Elderly, to improve their standard of care and quality of life,\u201d Dr. McIntyre noted.<\/p>\n
In April this year, the government passed into law five bills to protect the rights of women, children and the elderly, and victims of domestic violence, and to improve their access to justice. They allow the vulnerable to seek redress on a number of matters, guide the provision of childcare services, facilitate proper administration of matters related to domestic violence and enhance the delivery of justice, for the protection of children.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Meanwhile, he said the government continues to address the housing needs of Dominicans, under various programmes.<\/p>\n
Dr. McIntyre revealed that currently, 344 homes are under construction, this includes 256 housing units in eleven communities, namely, Grand Bay, Pointe Mitchel, Wesley, Scotts Head, Paix Bouche, Vieille Case, Penville, Woodford Hill, Canefield, Trafalgar, and Eggleston; and 88 houses in other communities. We will construct another 327 houses this Fiscal Year, including the relocation and resettlement of some residents of Good Hope, San Sauveur, Petite Soufriere, and Campbell; \u201cUnder the Future Housing Development Programme, 50 homes will be constructed in Warner and Cotton Hill, to help more young professionals, the youth, and employees in the public and private sector to realize their dreams of owning a home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHe went on to state that an impediment for many people, especially young people, who would like to build their own homes is the affordability of land. That has already been put in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment has already implemented measures to help reduce those costs, particularly as relates to land transfer fees. Government will go further now and will make available at least 500 lots for sale in various communities, at reduced cost, to public officers,\u201d he revealed. \u201cThis, along with the favourable rates provided for public officers at the Government Housing Loans Board will significantly enhance the prospects for public officers to own their own homes.”<\/p>\n
\u00a0He also reminded young people, 40 years and under, preparing to own their first home of the added benefit of a $10,000 housing grant to assist with their ambitious undertaking.<\/p>\n
This Programme started during the 2020\/2021 Fiscal Year and to date, government has disbursed grants amounting to $1.9 million to 200 applicants. An additional $1.5 million has been allocated to continue this programme in this Fiscal Year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, and Social Security has received the largest allocation of the recurrent estimates totalling $271.9 million, or 42.5 percent. This was disclosed by Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre during the presentation of the…","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":305768,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,286,77,235,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-305767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy-development","category-governance","category-homepage","category-homepage-carousel","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n