Debate contribution: Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland

Debate contribution by Mr Mark Durkan on 7 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Mark Durkan
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 7 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5669789

Text

I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. It is four years since the consultation on the investment strategy. In April of this year, the First Minister said that we were weeks away from its publication — from seeing the final version. As the Opposition, the SDLP, of course, supports the Executive's bid for a fairer financial package, but are we any closer to the publication of that important strategy? Do we have a firm date for publication? What guarantee can the deputy First Minister or the Executive Office give that the strategy, once it is eventually published, will actively correct the decades of underinvestment in the north-west, rather than simply prioritising greater Belfast?

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

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 3850/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification