Debate contribution: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2025-26

Debate contribution by Mr John O'Dowd on 23 February 2026.

MLA

Mr John O'Dowd

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

23 February 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2025-26

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5399722

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I beg to move

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

As you have set out, the debate covers the two Supply resolutions for the spring Supplementary Estimates (SSEs) 2025-26, which cover the current financial year, and the Vote on Account for 2026-27. Both are associated with the Budget Bill that will be introduced today. As Members will be aware, Budgets that set out the Executive's spending plans do not, in themselves, give Departments the legal authority to draw down cash or use resources. That is done through the Assembly's approval of Estimates and the associated Budget Bills. The Main Estimates for the 2025-26 financial year were presented to the Assembly and approved on 3 June 2025. The Supplementary Estimates seek the approval of funds for changes required since the Main Estimates were agreed for the same financial year. The Supply resolution for the 2025-26 spring Supplementary Estimates presented before the House relates to the final planned position that was agreed by the Executive on 11 February 2026. I therefore seek the Assembly's approval for Departments and other public bodies' changes as described in the spring Supplementary Estimates 2025-26 document laid in the Assembly on 16 February 2026. Following Executive agreement, I made a written ministerial statement notifying the Assembly of the outcome of the Executive's January technical exercises. Members will be aware that, following the monitoring round, there remained significant pressures in the Department of Health and the Department of Education. Following the negotiations and in recognition of the significant financial challenges faced by the Executive, the Treasury agreed to provide a reserve claim of £400 million for 2025-26. I made a written ministerial statement notifying the Assembly of that outcome on 11 February 2026. That £400 million has been reflected in the spring Supplementary Estimates. I apologise to the Speaker and to Members for the absence of a printed copy of the Estimates publication. While I understand that an electronic version has been provided to Members for consideration, unfortunately, due to the late confirmation of the reserve claim, it has not been possible, on this occasion, to provide hard copies of the document in the time available.

It is anticipated that they will be available later this week.

While I regret that that has occurred, I have said before in these debates that, in my view, we need to look again at whether the production of multiple printed copies of the Estimates documents is a worthwhile use of the finances that are involved, not to mention the environmental impact. Following the completion of the Budget process, I intend to write to the Speaker to understand whether an alternative approach could be adopted that still meets the needs of Members, particularly given that most Members now do their business on the electronic devices that the Assembly Commission has provided them with. The spring Supplementary Estimates also incorporate areas of expenditure or income that rely on the sole authority of the Budget Act. That is where the authority of a statutory power has not yet been obtained through legislation. 'Managing Public Money' guidance provides for that as an interim measure, enabling expenditure until such powers are in place. My Department closely monitors reliance on the sole authority by seeking quarterly updates. I am pleased to announce that progress is being made, with enabling legislation planned to be in place by early 2027 on a number of those matters. In addition to the spring Supplementary Estimates for 2025-26, a Vote on Account 2026-27 document has also been prepared. The Vote on Account provides Departments with the authority to utilise resources and access the amount of cash that is necessary to continue to deliver services until work on the 2026-27 Main Estimates and associated Budget (No. 2) Bill has been completed. The Vote on Account for 2026-27, which was laid on 16 February 2026, is routine and equates to 45·7% of the 2025-26 provision. I am keen to finalise spending plans for 2025-26 and put them on a legal footing. I therefore request Members' support for the resolution of the spring Supplementary Estimates for 2025-26 and the Vote on Account for 2026-27. I am looking forward to the debate and hearing Members' views. Following today's Supply resolution debate, I will introduce the Budget Bill. The Bill will then be debated tomorrow, which provides legislative cover for the two Supply resolutions. Should the Bill proceed as planned, it is anticipated that it will receive Royal Assent by late March 2026, which will ensure that services continue to be funded for the remainder of the financial year.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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