All of Dr Caoimhe Archibald’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
The Member is aware of the content of last week's amendment. I cannot remember the exact detail of it, but I felt that it added to the motion as it stood. We need to do all that we can to put our finances on a more sustainable footing and to deliver the best public services that we can, and those that the people we…
The Member will be aware that we have asked Departments for proposals for using transformation funding. He will also be aware that, as part of the Budget sustainability work, we have committed to looking at all opportunities to deliver efficiencies where there is duplication, to generate revenue and to look at the…
Of the proposals that have been received, 29 are moving forward, and 18 of those will be included in a digital landscape review. A number of Departments submitted proposals in the digital space, and we thought that the most effective use of money would be to do something on that collectively. A further 11 proposals…
The Member will be aware that the public sector across the North is in critical need of investment and reform to ensure that high-quality public services can be delivered efficiently. Transformation will be essential for doing that and for helping to put the Executive's finances on a more sustainable footing. I…
It is certainly my intention to ensure that it is delivered by the end of the mandate. At the minute, we are scoping options as to how it can be delivered. It is my intention to make it happen as quickly as possible.
The Member has raised that with me on a number of occasions and has considerable interest in the subject. He will be aware that I am committed to delivering the scheme, which will help to recognise the loss that parents feel and, in some small way, to process that loss. I met the Health Minister last Monday to review…
I am not aware of the specific issue in Lagan Valley to which the Member refers, but a number of general concerns have been raised in relation to the issue of management fees. I would be happy for the Member to correspond with me in relation to that issue, and we can get some advice from officials.
I have had quite a bit of correspondence on management companies from Members. I am sure that many of us have received concerns from constituents about them. I have raised the matter with officials and asked what can be done. As the Member will be aware, there are different responsibilities for the issues across a…
I thank the Member for his question. My understanding is that the Government mean 30 October, the Budget date. However, I await full clarification from the Treasury on a lot of issues. It is my view that Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid South West should not have to wait until the end of October before getting the…
I agree with the Member. It is really concerning. As he knows, an awful lot of effort and time went into developing those projects. We signed the heads of terms for the Causeway Coast and Glens growth deal back in April. There has been considerable investment in developing the business cases. Unfortunately, we still…
I thank the Member for his question. Of course. The relationship between the Department and the Committee is one where such information is regularly shared. We try to be as transparent as possible.
If I understand the question, the Member is asking about the additional Barnett consequentials that are based on our assumptions after discussion with the Treasury. They are based on engagement at official level about what is likely to come to the Executive for the rest of the year. As I said in my previous answers,…
The sale of the buildings will enable some much-needed capital funding to be reinvested in public services, as well as reducing building costs for the Executive, including the costs of energy usage.
My Department is progressing an ambitious review of its office estate, with the aim of reducing the in-scope footprint by 40% by March 2028. The sales process is nearing completion for Netherleigh House, Clarence Court and Victoria Hall, and officials are confident that sales will be completed in coming weeks.
There is research being looked at and that does not necessarily lead directly to a policy change being implemented. As I said in my previous answers on the rates consultation, proposals will go to the Executive on the short-, medium- and longer-term rates measures in coming weeks, and it will, of course, be for the…
The economic policy centre conducts research on behalf of a range of people. My Department had asked for some research to be done on the poundage across the North and the impact of the poundage across the different council areas. That is a slightly different issue from the one to which the Member refers.
We took the opportunity to raise the need for investment in public services and capital infrastructure. At no point were my officials made aware that an announcement was being made on Friday evening.
Obviously, the issue of Casement Park has been raised on many, many occasions with the Chancellor and with all levels of the British Government. We had been told on a number of occasions that a decision was imminent, and it came on Friday evening after many, many months of dither and delay from the previous Tory…
I met the Chancellor in London last week along with the First Minister and deputy First Minister. That followed an initial meeting with the Chancellor in July shortly after she came into office. I also separately met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the end of July. The meetings provided an opportunity to…
No, it did not, and, in fact, it was communicated at official level and brought to my attention only on Wednesday afternoon because it was such a concerning announcement and came as a bolt out of the blue. They are really important projects that have been years in the making. The handling of the matter and the…
The Member will be aware that the Department of Finance leads on the delivery of the city and growth deals, but they involve partners, including local government and private-sector partners, and are delivered across a number of Departments. My Department takes the central role and, as you would imagine, was very…
I completely agree with the Member's analysis. She represents the Mid South West deal area, and I represent the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and we probably share frustration at the difference in treatment that there now is between the deals. Certainly, that is the case that I made to the Chancellor on Thursday…
The Member will be aware that I made a statement just before Question Time. My clear view is that the pause on the funding commitments to those deals needs to be lifted. There can be absolutely no disparity between the deals. I met the chief executives and representatives of the Mid South West deal and the Causeway…
There had been excellent progress on the Derry City and Strabane District Council city deal, which was preparing for deal signing this week. As you will now be aware, the British Government took the deplorable decision to pause their funding commitment to city and growth deals until further consideration in the…
I thank the Member for her question. That is, obviously, something that has been considered. The intention of any support that we put towards the childcare sector is to make childcare more affordable for parents and families. The analysis is that the amount of money that would go towards individual providers may not…