The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 14 Feb 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is launching an inquiry into the funding of public services in Northern Ireland. The inquiry will look at the financial situation facing Northern Ireland’s public services, including health, education and the police, and how the lack of a functioning Executive has impacted on budgetary management. … Read more
12 Recommendations
3 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
8 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 20 events
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
Emma Morgan · SEN Reform NI Paul Johnson CBE · Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland Paul Kavanagh · SEN Reform NI Professor Gerald Holtham · Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales
Celine McStravick · Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) David Babington · Action Mental Health Dr Lisa Wilson · Nevin Economic Research Institute Michele Janes · Barnardo's Northern Ireland Sir Robert Chote · Northern Ireland Fiscal Council
Dorinnia Carville · Northern Ireland Audit Office Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland Margaret Kelly, NI Public Services Ombudsman Mark McNaughten · The Police Service of Northern Ireland Pamela McCreedy · Police Service of Northern Ireland Rodney Allen · Northern Ireland Audit Office Sean Martin, NI Public Services Deputy Ombudsman
Dolores McCormick · Royal College of Nursing Dr Tom Black · British Medical Association (BMA) Liam McGuckin · National Association of Headteachers (Northern Ireland) Mark Baker · Controlled Schools’ Support Council Professor Mark Taylor · Royal College of Surgeons Sara Long · Education Authority
Jayne Brady · Northern Ireland Civil Service Joanne McBurney · NI Department of Finance Neil Gibson · NI Department of Finance
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
6 Recommendation Not Addressed
Third Report - The funding and del…
Mandate Government to assess public service funding implications from 2026/27 cliff-edge.
Northern Ireland’s public services, especially in the health, education and justice sectors, are in a poor state after years of political instability, lack of funding and of reform. The additional £520 million per year promised by the Government in 2024/25 … Read more
Government Response
The government states that budgets for 2026-27 onwards are based on projections and confirms the Executive can plan on being funded at or above 124% of their relative need. It provides general information on the fiscal framework but does not explicitly set out an assessment of the implications of the expected funding drop or the rationale for its two-year stabilisation funding decision as requested.
Northern Ireland Office
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10 Recommendation Not Addressed
Third Report - The funding and del…
Require Treasury to provide guidance on building investment cases for NI funding bids.
Northern Ireland would benefit from being more entrepreneurial in how it bids for funding for public service reform - for example, by linking its bids into wider Government agendas and aims including cross-Departmental working, partnership with the business community and … Read more
Government Response
The government provided £235 million for public service transformation and notes the NI Executive has established a Public Sector Transformation Board and published its Programme for Government. However, the response does not address the specific recommendation for the Treasury to provide guidance on building investment cases for funding bids.
Northern Ireland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 15 of 12 classified

Total 12 recs + 3 conclusions
Correspondence 8 letters
15 Nov 2023 Correspondence to Permanent Secretary, Northern Ireland Department of Health, relating to suspension of emergency surgery in county Fermanagh, 3 November 2023
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15 Nov 2023 Correspondence from Permanent Secretary, Northern Ireland Department of Health, relating to suspension of emergency surgery in county Fermanagh, 13 November 2023
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6 Sep 2023 Correspondence to the Secretary of State, relating to the transformation priorities for the Northern Ireland health service, 20 July 2023
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6 Sep 2023 Correspondence from the Secretary of State, relating to the transformation priorities for the Northern Ireland health service, 4 September 2023
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21 Jun 2023 Correspondence from Medical General Council, relating to the funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland, 16 June 2023
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7 Jun 2023 Correspondence from the Head of the Civil Service, Northern Ireland, relating to the funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland inquiry, 31 May 2023
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7 Jun 2023 Correspondence from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Northern Ireland Audit Office, relating to allocation of budget to the Northern Ireland Audit Office 2023-24, 26 May 2023
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24 May 2023 Correspondence from the Controlled Schools’ Support Council, relating to the funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland inquiry, 11 May 2023
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