Conclusion 9

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 which should have been made were avoided even when the institutions were in place, further prolonging reform. This Chapter of our report has highlighted the scale of transformation required for Northern Ireland’s public services, particularly in health and on the implementation of the 2016 Bengoa Report. Transformation should be mainstreamed across all aspects of Government. The Northern Ireland Executive The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland 37 must set out its plans for public service transformation in an agreed Programme for Government and establish the Public Services Transformation Board without delay to unlock additional ring-fenced funding. The Northern Ireland Executive must set out its plans for public service transformation in an agreed Programme for Government and establish the Public Services Transformation Board without delay to unlock additional ring-fenced funding. This plan should include the articulation of a clear understanding of what transformation entails, with aims, objectives, estimated costings and savings, and performance metrics.