Executive unveiling first budget

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The Executive will unveil its first budget later, as well as setting out its plans for government over the next three years.

Finance Minister Peter Robinson will tell the assembly he wants to underpin the private, rather than public sector.

A 10-year investment programme will see £18bn spent on a range of projects.

These include a rapid transit system with two routes through Belfast, a school modernisation programme and completing the city's sewerage project.

Ambitious targets will be set for the building of more social housing, with an increased role for private developers to become involved.

Arlene Foster's environment department will be challenged to cut road deaths by a third over the next five years.

Enterprise Minister Nigel Dodds will be given additional resources to promote tourism, with a target to increase visitor numbers by 25%, and tourist income by 40%.

It is understood Peter Robinson's own department of finance and personnel may be the only one to suffer a cut in funding.

The public sector can expect to see continuing cuts in the number of civil servants, along with stiff targets for cost-cutting and efficiency.