A £20.3m funding boost to local authorities has given ‘hope’ to the councils and their partners, leaders have said.

Responding to the extra cash, Northern Ireland Local Government Association president, Cllr Frances Burton, welcomed the funding and said: ‘Working with all councils, NILGA and chief officers have outlined the income annihilation that local government has suffered and will suffer solely due to Covid-19.

‘The pressures on councils right now are huge and mounting daily.

‘We will work with Stormont to ensure that this funding is allocated swiftly. NILGA sees this as the first in a range of substantial funding measures which will help sustain essential council services for those in greatest need, thereby protecting frontline public services.

‘This funding gives hope, not just for institutions like councils, but for the many partners that councils work with, to serve the community in the new Northern Ireland that must emerge out of Covid-19. Ultimately this is about caring for our community. We owe it to all those who are sacrificing so much, so selflessly.’