Debate contribution: North/South Bodies: Funding

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew McMurray on 27 May 2025.

MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

27 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

North/South Bodies: Funding

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4972569

Read the official Assembly record

Text

It is no secret that our public finances in the Executive are under severe strain. Every Department is looking for additional money, but it is not easy to come by. We need to look at doing things differently and see where we can establish new sources of funding. We cannot be precious about reviewing funding models and accepting additional money where it is offered. It was good and welcome that the Minister for Communities was able to match the one-off funding allocation by the Irish Government earlier this year to allow both Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency to benefit. However, we all know that scrambling for mid-year injections is not a sustainable way to operate. We need to look at funding models to see whether they can consistently deliver what is needed. If they cannot, we need to be open to changing them and to finding a solution that works. The deputy First Minister has said that she can see no reason to change the current funding model, but it is clear that the funding that it can provide year after year is not enough. I cannot see how that is not a good reason to look at a different funding model. It will not come as a surprise to anyone to hear that I value cross-border cooperation and want to see a thriving shared island. It is regrettable that the North/South Ministerial Council has not always lived up to its potential, but that does not take away from the very important and necessary work that its North/South bodies do. That is work that can be done through cooperation and from which we all benefit as a result. Waterways Ireland and the Loughs Agency deal with a range of economic and environmental matters on marine and inland waterways in the border region. Water quality is a big issue that we need to tackle together. Everything flows in rivers and loughs. It is self-evident that cross-border water bodies can only be successfully managed together. InterTradeIreland is equally important. We all benefit hugely from its efforts to promote trade and business and to increase our global competitiveness on an all-island and cross-border basis, especially in today's difficult global climate. We can only be strengthened by working together. It is right that both jurisdictions contribute to that very important work. However, in light of the huge pressures that we face in Northern Ireland on bread-and-butter issues such as policing, housing, health, social care and waste water, it is simply not realistic to increase our contribution to North/South bodies in the long term. The Republic is in a different place, financially speaking, and it can contribute more. If it is willing to do that, we should let it. The deputy First Minister is concerned that a unilateral increase in the funding could break the balance between contributions from the two Governments. It was also said that it would affect the amount of say that each jurisdiction has in bodies' activities and their funding model. I do not see that as an inevitable outcome. A 75%:25% funding ratio is already in place, but that does not mean that Northern Ireland has only a 25% say in decisions. There is nothing to suggest that a change to that ratio would inevitably affect the rules that govern the decision-making of the bodies. They would also have to continue to undertake work according to the agreed ministerial priorities, and Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive would retain oversight of how the money is spent in their areas of responsibility. If anything, increased contributions from the Irish Government would give the Northern Ireland Executive more resources and control than their contribution warrants. It would be a win for Northern Ireland. I, therefore, welcome and support the motion.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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