Debate contribution: Budget 2026-2029

Debate contribution by Mr Matthew O'Toole on 23 June 2026.

MLA: Mr Matthew O'Toole
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 23 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Budget 2026-2029
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5636988

Text

Minister, we are not on holiday yet, but you appear to be in almost horizontal mode when it comes to the crisis. I am aware of public services that will be at risk this summer, including councils, community and voluntary sector organisations that operate holiday hunger services, community integration services and social supermarkets. A vast number of public services are at risk, and some will not run at all. You have just, at 2.30 pm, published a document in the absence of the June monitoring round, which makes it clear that we are not able to draw down on Westminster's Main Estimates funding. Will you accept that there are public services in crisis now that cannot proceed this summer to help vulnerable people because you and the Executive have not passed a Budget? Please, be honest about that.

138 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Topical question AQT 2491/22-27.

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Not analysed

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