Executive meeting: what they said

The executive met on Thursday for the first time in five months

Measures ranging from the deferment of water charges to reform of planning policy have been announced following the Executive's first meeting in five months.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised a �500m funding boost in a meeting on Wednesday with the first and deputy first ministers at Downing Street.

Here is a selection of quotes from ministers given following Thursday's meeting.

The controversial PPS 14 planning policy which restricted building in the countryside is being replaced by a more liberal policy, something which Mr Wilson welcomed.

"It will enable people to build properties that previously would not have been allowed under the decision which had been made by direct rule ministers in relation to development in the countryside.

"It's a policy which seeks to strike a balance between building sustainable communities in the countryside, whilst at the same time protecting the environment."

Ms Ruane said the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority on 1 January 2010 would "see the long overdue reform and modernisation of the education system".

It will take on the functions of the five Education and Library Boards, the Council for Curriculum Examinations and Assessment, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, the Staff Commission and the Youth Council.

"The ESA will create a much-needed focus for improving educational outcomes and ensuring equality of access to a curriculum that will match provision to the needs of learners.

"The authority will also lead the drive for school improvement where necessary.

"The creation of a single authority replacing nine statutory organisations will allow the administration of education to be streamlined.

"This will enable us to put additional funding into schools, where it will make a difference."

The ministers did not reach a final decision on Ms Ritchie's plan to tackle winter fuel poverty, but she was happy with what had been discussed.

"A wide-ranging discussion took place on the credit crunch including areas to do with fuel poverty," she said.

"I am pleased that the December monitoring paper is going to be brought forward to next week to allow a statement to be made before Christmas.

"I would hope that this would include measures that would lever money into the pockets and purses of people who are currently suffering and who will suffer from fuel poverty."

Mr Dodds welcomed the extra funding being made available to the Northern Ireland Executive following Wednesday's negotiations with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He said the postponement of water charges would "ensure that households will not be paying �160 next year that they would otherwise have been paying.

"And it's also important to note that the prime minister has further agreed that, in recognition of the progress that is being made, a further �100m will be available to us to address a range of further issues facing the Executive."

Mr Murphy said years of direct rule had left the Executive with a legacy of chronic underinvestment in the water infrastructure.

"We have argued for a long time that we were left with an enormous burden not of our making and would need some assistance to deal with that," he said.

"We did get some assistance last year which allowed us to defer the issue for a year, and we have now received further assistance which I welcome.

"I think this will be welcomed by households but we have a range of other measures that we want to discuss as ministers to see how we can ease people's financial burdens at this difficult time."

In a statement, Mr McGimpsey said the Executive's endorsement of free prescriptions was "a a significant step towards abolishing an unfair system".

"The cost of prescription charging will be met from within the existing budgets.

"No existing services will suffer as a result of this decision. In addition, processes will be put in place to ensure that prescribing rates are kept within acceptable limits.

"Healthcare professionals must practise responsible prescribing and the public must play a part by only taking medication if they really need it."

The cost of a prescription will be reduced to �3 in January 2009 and will be free of charge by April 2010.

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