Cold Castle
And you thought journalism was glamorous? I have spent most of tonight hanging around in the freezing fog outside Stormont Castle waiting for the Executive to finish its deliberations on the budget. As I lose contact with my toes, I experience a sense of deja vu -it feels so much like the deep freeze during the Hillsborough negotiations on devolving justice which kicked off 2010.
Right now I am getting thawed out, after Stormont officials took pity on the press and invited us into the castle. My smart phone resisted all attempts to blog, so I have purloined a government computer on which to tap out a few words of wisdom.
As I write it looks fairly certain that the draft budget will be put up for debate in the Assembly chamber tomorrow. It won't necessarily be endorsed by all ministers - the SDLP and the UUP are more likely to let the document go to consultation without giving it either a thumbs up or thumbs down.
We are getting a trickle of bullet points. Belfast Harbour is to be asked to contribute Β£125 million to the Executive over four years. The cash reserves of local housing associations may also be tapped. We are in line for a plastic bag tax which it's thought could yield Β£16 million. The regional rate will rise in line with inflation. Public sector workers on more than Β£21,000 a year will be subject to a pay freeze.
Alex Attwood gets a "social solidarity fund" to help those hit by welfare benefit changes. The OFMDFM proceed with their community renewal fund, which the SDLP previously criticised.
Arlene Foster's Enterprise Department will get some more funds for job creation. And there's money for additional film studios in Belfast's Titanic Quarter. The budget should also confirm the rescue package for Presbyterian Mutual Savers.
I can't tell you at this stage what cuts each department will get, or how the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey will respond to his settlement. Some sources claim it's more generous than what's on offer for health in Scotland and Wales, but will he see it that way? There's suggestions that an external efficiency team (like the PEDU Performance Efficency and Delivery Unit set up when Peter Robinson was Finance Minister) will be asked to examine the health department to see what scope there is for further cost cutting.
There should be more detail in the Assembly tomorrow and, if my cold wait is not to be in vain, a bit more clarification from the First and Deputy First Ministers before the night ends.
I'm 
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