Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
1
Recommendation
Third Report - The funding and delivery…
Deferred
We are concerned about staff recruitment and retention in the health service, with thousands of empty posts and a reliance on costly agency staff. The equivalent of 26.3% of the Northern Ireland population are on waiting lists, with some going on to develop further health complications while they wait. While …
Government response. The government details substantial past and future financial packages for the NI Executive and states that discussions on the next phase of the fiscal framework are commencing. Regarding a statutory duty on the Department of Health to publish workforce projections, …
Northern Ireland Office
2
Recommendation
Third Report - The funding and delivery…
Deferred
After years of under-investment, the education sector has been struggling to fulfil its statutory duties. Spending per pupil has been consistently lower in Northern Ireland than in England. We are particularly concerned about the future of provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN), with the number …
Government response. The UK Government's response did not address the recommendation for the Northern Ireland Executive to account for increasing SEN pupil numbers in education funding, instead quoting a different recommendation without providing a specific reply.
Northern Ireland Office
3
Recommendation
Third Report - The funding and delivery…
Deferred
Cuts in police officer numbers due to recent budgetary pressures will impact on the PSNI’s visibility and ability to respond to increased demand. Officer numbers have dropped some way below the 7,500 committed to under the New Decade, New Approach agreement in 2020. More complex crimes, threats to staff and …
Government response. The government recognises the PSNI's difficult financial position but states that policing is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Justice Minister to determine funding allocation. While detailing significant financial packages to the NI Executive and specific additional security funding, …
Northern Ireland Office
4
Recommendation
Third Report - The funding and delivery…
Deferred
The voluntary, community and social enterprise sector has struggled in the recent funding environment, and this is likely to have piled further pressure onto stretched public services. When making future budgetary decisions the Northern Ireland Executive must take account of the significant contribution that the sector offers and provides often …
Government response. The government recognises the significant contribution of the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector, but states that budgetary decisions regarding the sector are a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Northern Ireland Office
9
Conclusion
Third Report - The funding and delivery…
Deferred
The transformation agenda is critical to getting Northern Ireland’s finances onto a sustainable footing and cannot be delayed any further. The underfunding of local public services by the Treasury and the lack of an Executive for five out of the last seven years has undermined progress and difficult political decisions …
Government response. The UK Government's response did not address the recommendation for the Northern Ireland Executive to set out public service transformation plans and establish the Transformation Board, instead quoting a different recommendation without providing a specific reply.
Northern Ireland Office
15
Recommendation
Third Report - The funding and delivery…
Deferred
We welcome the work of the Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland on further fiscal devolution. The devolution of such powers will not address the difficult situation in which public services currently find themselves but could help strengthen the economy and increase the fiscal accountability of the Executive. Income tax …
Government response. The government's response does not address the recommendation for fiscal devolution negotiations to start in the first half of 2024, instead stating that the Northern Ireland Executive must consider a sector's contribution when making future budgetary decisions.
Northern Ireland Office