Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
4th Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
HC 1193
Published 23 March 2026
Government response
1st Special Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors: Government Response · published 25 Jun 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
8
Conclusion
Deferred
We have received no evidence to date that the Executive has a thought through or...
Conclusion
We have received no evidence to date that the Executive has a thought through or deliverable plan to address and reform the deficits in planning policy and processes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 55)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges planning delays in Northern Ireland but states it is a devolved matter for the Executive to address. It highlights its provision of £3m funding for the Department for Infrastructure's 'Transforming Planning project', which is on track to appoint inspectors by Q2 2026/27.
Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Office
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11
Recommendation
Deferred
The ‘economic vision’ that the NIO is developing, including time-bound objectives as we recommend earlier...
Recommendation
The ‘economic vision’ that the NIO is developing, including time-bound objectives as we recommend earlier in this report, should clearly set out how the Government will address the structural weaknesses associated with the largely devolved but unignorable policy areas of …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that policy areas like skills, energy, planning, and infrastructure are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. While the NIO coordinates with the Executive and supports them with funding, the response does not detail how the economic vision itself will address these structural weaknesses or align with the infrastructure strategy.
Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Office
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