The Executive parties are clashing over Finance Minister John O’Dowd’s new multi-year budget, which he claims will ‘drive transformational change’.
On Tuesday, he launched a consultation on the proposed budget that will cover 2026 until 2029/30. It will be the first time an Executive has produced a multi-year budget in over ten years.
However, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) released a statement shortly after the announcement from the Department of Finance, claiming the budget had not been agreed by the Executive.
A spokesperson said: “This draft Budget is John O’Dowd’s Budget, it has not been agreed by the Executive and it is not supported by the DUP. While we recognise the very real financial pressures facing Northern Ireland, the choices and allocations set out by the Sinn Fein Finance Minister are deeply flawed and will require significant changes if they are to command our support.”
“The DUP will not accept a Budget that fails to properly prioritise frontline services, particularly education, while wasteful and unnecessary spending continues elsewhere. The Finance Minister must return with proposals that put essential public services first, ensure taxpayers’ money is used efficiently, and deliver for families and communities across Northern Ireland.”
The SDLP leader of the opposition, Matthew O’Toole, has called it an “unambitious ghost budget bereft of vision” and claimed it was an “attempt by this do nothing Executive to hoodwink the public into believing that they are doing something, while all they are delivering is more of the same.”
“This draft multi-year Budget represents the continued failure of Sinn Féin Minsters to deliver for people in Northern Ireland, while their DUP counterparts run rings around them at the Executive table,” he added.
The Ulster Unionists, who are also part of the Executive, said “the allocations are insufficient to achieve the necessary transformation.”
Steve Aiken, their Finance Spokesperson, said: “While the Minister insists that anyone criticising his budget should bring forward their own proposals, it is noteworthy that his own party holds two departments where substantial revenue could be raised. These obvious measures would require political decision making rather than mere ‘Brit bashing.’”
The TUV’s Timothy Gaston has said “Stormont is broken and it is failing the people it claims to serve.”
In a statement, he added: “Here we have one Minister formally briefing the Assembly on a draft budget, only for a senior colleague to issue a withering public rebuke shortly afterwards and one half of the head of government to call for the public to oppose the draft budget. This is not collective responsibility. It is open disarray.”
The Finance Minister said this budget would give departments “the certainty they need for long-term planning”.
“I am proposing providing almost £26 billion to support our health service, including £495 million dedicated to cutting health waiting lists. Almost £10 billion would be provided for education.”
“My proposals would also see the PSNI Workforce Recovery costs of £133.3 million met in full and increased funding towards ending violence against women and girls.”
Commenting on the proposed Capital allocations over the four years (2026-2030), Minister O’Dowd added:“I believe this Draft Budget focuses capital investment towards our Programme for Government commitments.
“Over £4 billion is proposed for infrastructure projects including funding for the A5, A6 and Belfast Transport Hub which are vital to driving economic growth and enhancing connectivity.
“I am proposing £441.7 million for the building of new social homes with £433.7 million for water infrastructure to unlock capacity and enable the construction of more new homes.
“To better support our children and young people with Special Educational Needs, I am proposing £24 million specifically for the SEN schools’ estate.”
