Northern Ireland’s First and deputy First Ministers have insisted the Executive is “taking steps in the right direction” despite a £1 billion hole in their proposed budget.
Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly spoke to media during a visit to a day nursery in east Belfast following the publication of a report tracking progress towards the Executive’s Programme for Government which was agreed in 2024.
The programme, which runs to 2027, sets out nine priorities which include reforming public services, growing a globally competitive and sustainable economy, more affordable childcare, cutting health waiting times, ending violence against women and girls, better support for children and young people with special educational needs and protecting Lough Neagh.
In a written statement to the Assembly on Wednesday, Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly said people are “seeing a real difference”, with local families having saved an estimated £26 million from the Childcare Subsidy Scheme.
“Of course, we recognise that there is still more to do and we are clear that many of the challenges we face cannot be resolved overnight,” they said.
“Over £5 million has been invested in the Local and Regional Change Funds to support vital, on-the-ground work to tackle violence against women and girls.
“Ending the scourge of Violence Against Women and Girls will remain a key priority for this Executive.
“Reversing the damage caused to Lough Neagh is part of a longer-term plan, and good progress is being made in delivering the Lough Neagh Action Plan.
“There is no doubt we are taking steps in the right direction.”
They added that moving into the final year of the Programme for Government, they recognise that “many challenges remain, not least the extremely difficult financial position”.
“Quite simply, we have consistently been under-funded relative to our level of need,” they said.
“We will continue to press for a fair and sustainable funding model to enable us to invest in our public services, to ensure they can properly meet the needs of all our people.”
Asked about the lack of agreement on a proposed three-year budget, Ms O’Neill said the budget settlement from the UK Government is “not good enough”.
She said “intensive discussions” are under way between Finance Minister John O’Dowd and the Treasury.
“It (budget settlement) is failing the people here and it needs to be better,” she said.
“Whenever we’re compared in terms of relative need starting point with Scotland and Wales, we’re underfunded, so we’re asking for what is right, people here pay their taxes and they’re entitled to have good public services.”
Ms Little-Pengelly said there is a pressure of around £1 billion in the budget.
“Agreeing a budget doesn’t deal with the fact there would be a billion pounds missing in terms of our core public services,” she said.
“That is something the Executive is absolutely united on.
“There is no way within this financial year that we can either cut or revenue raise to make up that £1 billion gap.
“We believe that type of revenue raising or cuts to public services would have a hugely detrimental impact on the citizens of Northern Ireland.
“That is not something I am prepared to stand over.”
