Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill has called on ministers to work together to agree a multi-year budget for Stormont departments, saying the executive has a responsibility to find a way forward.
Speaking as assembly members returned from the Christmas break, O’Neill acknowledged that talks could end in disagreement but stressed that her focus was on cooperation, not stalemate. She said a long-term budget would help departments plan better and deliver services more effectively, noting that Northern Ireland has not had such a budget in over 10 years.
Last week, Finance Minister John O’Dowd published draft budget proposals, which were quickly criticised by opposition parties. The DUP described the plans as “deeply flawed,” arguing that a multi-year budget is meaningless without enough funding from the UK government.
O’Neill said the funding provided by London was inadequate and admitted that difficult decisions would be required across departments. She added that ministers must work through their differences to make progress.
Under the draft budget for 2026/27, only the education, health, justice and infrastructure departments would receive small funding increases.
However, the figures do not account for expected overspending this year. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has warned of a possible £100m overspend, while Education Minister Paul Givan said rising staff and pay costs were putting pressure on his budget.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long called on parties to reduce political tension and focus on delivering results, warning that time was running out in the current mandate.
The SDLP also warned that failure to agree a multi-year budget would damage public trust. The draft budget remains open for consultation for seven weeks, with the aim of final approval before the new financial year begins.
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