The Stormont Executive may struggle with a £100 million gap from rising national insurance costs, impacting public services funding.
Belfast: So, it looks like the Stormont Executive is in a bit of a pickle. They might be short by £100 million because of the national insurance rise. That’s a hefty sum, especially when it comes to funding public services.
Caoimhe Archibald, the Finance Minister, recently spoke to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. She mentioned that they’re bringing in an expert to help assess the region’s needs as they prepare for the Spending Review for 2026/27.
She pointed out that while they’ve received some funding, years of underfunding can’t just be fixed overnight. It’s a tough situation, and they need to find a way to make public services work better.
Archibald also raised concerns about the national insurance increase, which could cost departments around £200 million next year. She stressed that the Executive doesn’t have the funds to cover these extra costs.
She’s been in talks with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, asking for clarity on funding and support for public services. It’s clear they need more help to manage these rising costs.
Earlier this month, a fiscal council chairman warned that the Stormont Executive might hit a financial wall when the UK Government’s support runs out. Archibald is working on gathering evidence to push for more funding.
Meanwhile, Fleur Anderson from the Northern Ireland Office mentioned that while there are challenges, the funding is available. She believes the Executive has the tools to tackle these issues but needs to make some tough decisions.
DUP MP Gavin Robinson raised questions about whether the national insurance increase was considered in the budget. Anderson acknowledged that changes happen throughout the year but insisted that the money is there to make necessary transformations.
It’s a complicated situation, and while there’s funding, the focus now needs to shift from just having money to actually delivering better public services.
