FNC wants more cash spent on health, the environment and welfare

Federal budget for 2014 reveals a lack of funding for several sectors, the FNC said

ABU DHABI // The Federal National Council is seeking a bigger budget for health, the environment and social sectors.

The finance committee believes next year’s federal budget will not meet their needs in certain areas.

They looked at the figures during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Social Affairs.

The Cabinet has approved a budget of Dh46 billion for next year. Half of this is for social welfare, with Dh3.7bn for health.

It is has yet to be confirmed how much has been set aside for the environment, but the FNC suspects there will be a shortfall.

“They came and were very honest with us,” said Ali Al Nuaimi (Ajman).

Committee members were told that the ministries had worked with the Ministry of Financial Affairs and a budget had been set based on their needs and priorities.

But once Mr Al Nuaimi and other members discussed the budget in depth, they found it was too similar to the current budget, and would not achieve greater results.

They said it also failed to take into account the FNC’s previous recommendations to improve conditions.

“We have not yet compiled the final report but overall the budget does not achieve strategies and would not help towards the 2021 vision,” Mr Al Nuaimi said.

“The vision must be worked on every year. We need to build on today for the future.”

He said the budget must be revised if certain sectors, particularly health and environment, were to reach their goals.

This year’s budget was set at Dh44.6bn but throughout the year the Cabinet has increased it twice to accommodate Government’s needs.

Broken down, 21 per cent of next year’s budget will go towards the general and higher education sectors. Just over Dh18bn has been allocated for the government affairs sector to upgrade and boost delivery of services to citizens locally and abroad. Dh1.4bn has been set for housing schemes and Dh400 million for the Government’s marriage fund.

The budget will be debated on December 24 with the Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Al Tayer.