Home / Sources / Select Committees / Northern Ireland Affairs Comm… / The funding and delivery of public serv…
Index live
Select Committee · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland

Status: Closed Opened: 14 Feb 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 12 recommendations 3 conclusions 1 report

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. The Committee will also take … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - The funding and delivery of public services … HC 46 26 Mar 2024 15 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
11 Conclusion Third Report - The funding and delivery… Acknowledged

Northern Ireland public services face chronic underfunding and insufficient block grant uplift from Treasury.

Many of the structural, resource and funding issues facing Northern Ireland have been a long time in the making, but the lack of ministerial direction and accountability in recent times has not helped the plight of public services in Northern Ireland. Core reforms required across public services have not been … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the severe funding situation for the PSNI and expresses an urge for a rethink by the Treasury, Northern Ireland Office, and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the PSNI’s financial framework.
Read full response →
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
12 Conclusion Third Report - The funding and delivery… Acknowledged

Reduced UK public spending negatively impacts Northern Ireland's block grant and Barnett formula allocations.

Decisions by UK Governments to reduce overall UK public spending have a significant impact on the funding Northern Ireland receives through the block grant, which makes up the vast majority of its expenditure. With tighter budgets in England, annual allocations to Northern Ireland under the Barnett formula have been squeezed. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges Northern Ireland's unique financial challenges and higher relative need, referencing ongoing discussions towards a full fiscal framework and existing structural changes like the 24% needs-based factor in the Barnett formula.
Read full response →
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
14 Recommendation Third Report - The funding and delivery… Acknowledged

Consider lower income households' needs when Northern Ireland Executive examines revenue-raising options for public services.

We note that there have been calls that any consideration given by the Northern Ireland Executive to revenue raising should only take place once UK Government funding at levels equal to or above assessed need has been restored. The Northern Ireland Executive should take the needs of lower income households … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government commits to implementing corporation tax devolution via a Joint Exchequer Committee and notes ongoing discussions for the next phase of the fiscal framework. It states the NI Executive needs to make difficult decisions on revenue-raising to ensure financial sustainability, but does not explicitly …
Read full response →
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
8 Nov 2023 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 View ↗
4 Jul 2023 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 View ↗
21 Jun 2023 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 View ↗
24 May 2023 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 View ↗
3 May 2023 Jayne Brady · Northern Ireland Civil Service, Joanne McBurney · NI Department of Finance, Neil Gibson · NI Department of Finance View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Celine McStravick · Chief Executive Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) 1
David Babington · Chief Executive Action Mental Health 1
Dolores McCormick · Associate Director, Employment Relations and Memb… Royal College of Nursing 1
Dorinnia Carville · Comptroller and Auditor General Northern Ireland Audit Office 1
Dr Lisa Wilson · Senior Economist Nevin Economic Research Institute 1
Dr Tom Black · Northern Ireland Council Chair British Medical Association (BMA) 1
Emma Morgan · Committee Member SEN Reform NI 1
Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland — 1
Jayne Brady · Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Northern Ireland Civil Service 1
Joanne McBurney · Budget Director NI Department of Finance 1
Liam McGuckin · President National Association of Headteachers (Northern Ireland) 1
Margaret Kelly, NI Public Services Ombudsman — 1
Mark Baker · Chief Executive Controlled Schools’ Support Council 1
Mark McNaughten · Assistant Chief Officer for Corporate Services The Police Service of Northern Ireland 1
Michele Janes · Director for Northern Ireland Barnardo's Northern Ireland 1
Neil Gibson · Permanent Secretary NI Department of Finance 1
Pamela McCreedy · Chief Operating Officer Police Service of Northern Ireland 1
Paul Johnson CBE · Former Chair Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland 1
Paul Kavanagh · Committee Member SEN Reform NI 1
Professor Gerald Holtham · Former Chair Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales 1
Professor Mark Taylor · Northern Ireland Director Royal College of Surgeons 1
Rodney Allen · Chief Operating Officer Northern Ireland Audit Office 1
Sara Long · Chief Executive Education Authority 1
Sean Martin, NI Public Services Deputy Ombudsman — 1
Sir Robert Chote · Chair Northern Ireland Fiscal Council 1

Correspondence

8 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Nov 2023 — Correspondence to Permanent Secretary, Northern Ireland Department of Health, r…
15 Nov 2023 — Correspondence from Permanent Secretary, Northern Ireland Department of Health,…
6 Sep 2023 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State, relating to the transformation prio…
6 Sep 2023 — Correspondence to the Secretary of State, relating to the transformation priori…
21 Jun 2023 — Correspondence from Medical General Council, relating to the funding and delive…
7 Jun 2023 — Correspondence from the Head of the Civil Service, Northern Ireland, relating t…
7 Jun 2023 — Correspondence from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Northern Ireland Audit…
24 May 2023 — Correspondence from the Controlled Schools’ Support Council, relating to the fu…