Debate contribution: Budget Allocations 2025-26

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 2 June 2025.

MLA

Mr Gordon Lyons

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

2 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statement

Heading

Budget Allocations 2025-26

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4980844

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Member for his hearty welcome for my statement and for his endorsement of that and of the job that I am doing. The Member mentioned the serious issue of housing. Clearly, if I had all the budget allocation that I wanted, we would be able to proceed with the homes; it would just mean that we would be looking at areas in which there is capacity in the system. We are keen to look at that. On the wider issue of housing, is the lack of waste water capacity an issue? Absolutely. It is driving up the cost of building and completing homes. I want to see that change. I met the Infrastructure Minister's predecessor in relation to that issue and will, no doubt, meet the current Infrastructure Minister soon, because infrastructure, particularly waste water infrastructure, is absolutely critical, if we are to meet the targets in the housing supply strategy. I will work with all Executive colleagues to make sure that that happens, because it is one of the most critical issues that we face.

I have been clear that I want to make sure that we have the right people in the right place doing the right jobs. We have to remember that every post is funded by people who pay their rates and taxes, and therefore we need to make sure that we have the right staff in place. Earlier, I announced that I had 1,000 vacancies that, for a number of years, I have not been able to fill. That is the sort of thing that we need to look at. I want to look at all our vacancies and make sure that we have the right people in place throughout the Department and that we no longer retain posts that are not needed, because, ultimately, we are here to serve the public and to make the best use of the resources that we have. I just want to make sure that I prioritise my baseline and that any additional money that I get goes to the right place.

I thank the Member for inviting me to Newtownards library. I found it unacceptable just how small that library is for a town the size of Newtownards, and I am really pleased that there are plans in place to expand it.

The £200,000 that I have allocated is for work that will need to be done in this financial year to start the process. That money is part of a wider package of almost £6 million of capital investment by my Department. I am pleased that we have been able to deliver for libraries in Fivemiletown and Enniskillen. I look forward to doing the same for Newtownards. Mrs Dodds is lobbying me about Banbridge library, and no doubt I will hear from other Members about libraries in their constituencies. Libraries are an essential resource. I want to make sure that they are fit for purpose, and I will do all that I can to progress that work on behalf of the people of Newtownards and beyond.

I absolutely agree with the Member. For too long, Libraries NI has had to deal with year-on-year cuts. It has managed to keep its head above water despite those financial challenges. This year, I increased the resource allocation and, as the Member outlined, provided capital money for Libraries NI. I hope that that will ensure a more timely spend for Libraries NI's book stock and ensure that libraries are fit for purpose. I do not have a timeline to share with the Member today, but I have no doubt that she will continue to lobby me on that and many other issues in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

I am really proud of this place and of the people who came before us. I am proud of those who left these shores and had such an incredible impact on the founding of the United States of America. I want to capitalise on opportunities, and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is one such opportunity. That is why I announced funding of £250,000 in 2025-26 to support community-based and high-profile cultural events. My officials are working on the development of a funding scheme. A number of people from arts and cultural organisations have already come to me with ideas about how they can showcase Northern Ireland and tell the stories of the people who left this area to go to the United States. In the US, the commemoration is being led by America250. I met Jen Condon, executive vice president, during my visits to Washington. I was able to secure special status for Northern Ireland. America250 is enthusiastic about the opportunities to partner on events to commemorate the anniversary. I am pleased to say that the memorandum of understanding between my Department and America250 is nearly complete. For me, it is about promoting this place and highlighting Northern Ireland in the United States of America. Some in this House do not seem to like that too much — some would rather that I did not get stand out for Northern Ireland — but I am going to continue to do that, because it will be of benefit to people across Northern Ireland.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:41 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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