Minister lays out £350 million plan to fund Jersey's health and infrastructure needs over five years
Talking exclusively to ITV News, Deputy Tom Binet says Project Breakwater is a five-year plan to tackle "critical" shortfalls in funding, with £220 million allocated for infrastructure needs such as the regeneration of Fort Regent and the town centre market, and a long-term commitment to European flights.
The remaining £130 million will go towards overhauling the health service's digital systems and measures to prevent illness.
Ideas for where to get the money from will appear in the Budget later this year but could include borrowing, dipping into savings and new medical charges.
Speaking about the issues across infrastructure and health, Deputy Binet says: "Both of these areas have been badly underinvested in over the last ten years.
"I'm very determined that we press for this money and commit to it properly.
"Some of it might have to come from savings ... we do have a strategic reserve which we may or may not look at borrowing against. There are a number of different options."
Highlighting the importance of increased funding, Deputy Binet adds: "It's critical. If we don't, we're just building up a lot of trouble for the future. We've identified, particularly in health, what needs to be done and have a very clear vision to make it right.
"I think the savings are being delivered as aggressively as we possibly can; there's only so much you can do in terms of cuts against a background of making sure patient safety isn't compromised."
He acknowledges the plans may have to be flexible, perhaps cutting out the "nice to haves" to reduce the overall cost slightly or extending the five-year funding period.
US President Donald Trump has already put a dampener on the Government's previous hope to raise £52 million a year from taxing the biggest multinational companies at 15%, by seeking to exempt American businesses.
Deputy Binet has also faced tough conversations with the Council of Ministers.
He explains: "It's not all easy going because every department wants money but I made the point that it's not my health service, it's the island's.
"I'd just ask everybody in the Assembly what type of system they want for their own family.
"People need some hope and that's what we're trying to produce."
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