SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has said the Executive has ended a year of little delivery amid growing Budget confusion.
He was speaking as the Executive faces a projected overspend of more than £400m next year while Ministers continue to announce new funding commitments without explaining where the money will come from.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole said:
“Lots of people overspend over the Christmas period, but Ministers are pushing this to the extreme. We have the Finance Minister outlining an overspend of around £440m next year and warning of difficult decisions, while his Executive colleagues commit to spending millions with no certainty that this funding will ever materialise.
“This is no way to run any government. In just the last week we have seen announcements on a childcare strategy, compensation for PSNI officers and staff impacted by the data breach and teachers’ pay. These are all worthy initiatives that the SDLP Opposition supports, but the basic question remains where is the money coming from?
“We have repeatedly urged the Finance Minister to fight for additional fiscal powers, yet he has dragged his feet. The UK Government has been clear that no extra funding is forthcoming and the Executive has all but ruled out even exploring revenue raising. Something will have to give.
“This is an Executive that has delivered very little for the people of Northern Ireland over the past year. We are increasingly seeing DUP Ministers run rings around their Sinn Féin counterparts as they advance their own political agendas. The Executive cannot continue to overspend and pour money into Stormont’s black hole while public services deteriorate further.
“The Finance Minister needs to get to grips with this situation and fast. Based on this year’s performance, people will have little confidence that 2026 will be any better.”
ENDS
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