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Public services in Northern Ireland will get a small amount of additional money as a result of the <\/b>Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to freeze bus fares<\/b><\/a> in England.<\/b><\/p>\n The exact amount will not be known until the Autumn Budget but is likely to be around \u00a310m to \u00a315m.<\/p>\n As is normal Stormont ministers will not be obliged to spend the money on public transport.<\/p>\n The rules of devolution funding mean local ministers set their own policies and priorities.<\/p>\n Earlier this month Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport company, said it would have to make cuts to services<\/a> due to budget pressures.<\/p>\n It has launched a public consultation on the proposals which will run until the end of September.<\/p>\n Translink said there were “very real financial pressures facing public transport, driven by rising costs and a reduction in funding”.<\/p>\n Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the executive should ring-fence the funding arising from Burnham’s decision and invest it in Northern Ireland’s public transport network.<\/p>\n “This would help deliver more affordable fares, improve services and provide greater choice for consumers,” he added.<\/p>\n Roberts said affordable, accessible transport was “an investment in the future of our local economy”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n