Stormont deputy first minister criticises John O'Dowd's draft budget

Emma Little-Pengelly said the draft multi-year budget does not provide sufficient funding for education and communities, while Finance Minister John O'Dowd said he is "in listening mode" and aims for a final budget by the first of April.

Stormont has published a draft multi-year budget that the deputy first minister says fails to meet key targets. A multi-year settlement would allow departments to plan for longer-term spending and has not been agreed for more than a decade. Finance Minister John O'Dowd said the proposals would allow public services to be transformed and said he was "in listening mode" to other ideas. Other executive parties, including Emma Little-Pengelly, have criticised the draft’s funding levels for areas such as education and communities. Key points: - Emma Little-Pengelly said the draft is "not sufficient" for education and does not give the communities minister funding to meet housing targets in the programme for government. - John O'Dowd said he will meet other ministers and parties and aims to bring forward a final budget by the first of April, and that he cannot provide every department with the funding it requested. - Under the draft budget for 2026/27, only education, health, justice and infrastructure would see mild increases in their allocations. - The figures do not reflect potential current-year overspends; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said he may exceed his budget by up to £100m this year for pay awards, and Education Minister Paul Givan has warned of staffing and pay pressures for this year. Summary: The discussion records disagreement within the executive about whether the draft multi-year budget delivers necessary funding for key public services and housing targets. Ministers have proposed line-by-line scrutiny and exchange of alternative proposals. Finance Minister John O'Dowd has said he will engage with colleagues to finalise a budget by the first of April. Continued talks within the executive are the next scheduled procedural step.