This is our sixth report dealing with NI Budgets, and we welcome that it is an ‘Executive Budget’ and a more normal process has applied. Not only has the Executive published a budget well before the end of the fiscal year, but this timing has allowed for a full consultation period.
Today’s publication provides an overview of developments since the 2021 Spending Review and our assessment of the funding and spending position for 2025-26 implied by the Executive’s Budget. We also review potential implications for future years.
Sir Robert Chote, Chair of the Council, said:
We acknowledge the positive impact the UK Autumn budget has had on the Executive’s draft budget for 2025-26 but most of the additional funding meets existing pressures rather than enabling new priorities, or public service transformation. The question of whether NI will be funded at need in future remains an open one, but this shouldn’t distract the Executive from continuing to ensure NI’s public finances are made more sustainable.
The report, press release and charts and tables are available to download here