Recommendation 4

Northern Ireland must have appropriate funding now to transform its public services in the medium term. In recent years, Northern Ireland has received one-off funding packages to alleviate short-term problems. This well-intentioned resourcing has done little to help Northern Ireland plan and invest strategically for long-term public service transformation. We note, however, that the Executive has more than the ring-fenced £235 million at their disposal which they could spend on transformation, but it has failed to do so. In the case of the Executive restoration package, funding has been diverted to day-to-day spend. Despite Government reassurances, the public sector, and community and voluntary sector are still concerned about upcoming increases in National Insurance contributions. The Executive, public service providers and, most importantly, service users need longer-term funding settlements to enable better long-term planning, implementation and outcomes. With the political institutions stabilised, funding needs to follow suit. We also note some evidence which seems to demonstrate that the siloed nature of NI Executive Departments works against joined-up government and collective responsibility. The cohesion of government structure in the Executive and between the Departments in Northern Ireland will need to be enhanced in the medium-term if the funding and delivery of public services is to be more efficient and effective in the future. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61) 36