Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister John O’Dowd has published a draft multi-year budget, initiating an eight-week public consultation, despite ongoing disagreement within the powersharing Executive. The Sinn Fein minister urged colleagues to engage constructively, emphasising the need to set a budget for the first time in over a decade.
The DUP swiftly rejected the plan as “deeply flawed”, with Education Minister Paul Givan stating Sinn Fein must make “significant changes” for DUP support. The draft outlines a three-year resource budget and a four-year capital investment plan, allocating £26 billion to health, including £500 million for waiting lists, and £10 billion to education.
Key infrastructure projects include over £1 billion for the A5 transport corridor upgrade and more than £100 million for Casement Park redevelopment, significantly above the original £62.5 million ringfenced in 2011. The budget also allocates £442 million for social housing and £434 million for water and wastewater improvements.
On rates, the draft proposes a 5% annual increase in the domestic regional rate and 3% for non-domestic rates over three years, generating an additional £250 million. The next financial year is expected to be the most challenging, with only a 0.8% funding increase, potentially reduced by any overspend from the current year.
Mr O’Dowd challenged other Executive parties to present alternatives, stating: “I look forward to hearing other parties’ proposals.” The draft budget now enters public consultation amid political impasse.
