Debate contribution: Budget 2026-29/2030: Reports

Debate contribution by Mr Pat Sheehan on 11 May 2026.

MLA

Mr Pat Sheehan

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

11 May 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Budget 2026-29/2030: Reports

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5524096

Read the official Assembly record

Text

This debate takes place in the context of years of chronic underfunding by successive British Governments. That is the starting point for any honest discussion about the Budget. The reality is that public services here are being asked to do more with less, while demand, inflation and pay pressures continue to rise. The Finance Minister made clear that the additional funding that Westminster announced falls far short of what is needed. The Fiscal Council report lays bare the pressures facing Departments. Against that backdrop, the Finance Minister has sought to do two important things: first, to protect public services as well as possible within an extremely constrained financial envelope, and, secondly, to finally move away from the chaos and short-termism of annual budgeting by putting forward a multi-year Budget that gives Departments the ability to plan strategically over a longer period. That is vital because workforce planning, public-sector transformation and big infrastructure projects cannot be delivered effectively on the basis of one-year firefighting exercises. Of course, the money available in the Budget is insufficient. Nobody is pretending otherwise. We continue to argue for greater fiscal powers and a fair funding model, because the current system is just not sustainable. However, while public services are under immense pressure, there are also questions to be asked about political priorities and waste. Frankly, the DUP needs to take a look at itself in that regard. Let us look at the DUP's record, particularly in the Department of Education, where it has been in charge for a decade now. In a number of reports, the Audit Office has found that, despite hundreds of millions of pounds being spent on SEN provision, neither the Department nor the Education Authority could demonstrate value for money. Hundreds of millions have been spent, but there is no evidence that the DUP is delivering. At the same time, we see hundreds of thousands being spent on a phone pouch gimmick and millions being poured into a regressive and harmful reform agenda that was lifted straight from the failed experiment carried out by Michael Gove in England. At a time when the independent review of education has called for simplification and a move towards a single management authority, the DUP wants to go in the opposite direction with more duplication. Another management body, another layer of bureaucracy: how many more millions will that cost? We know that the initial costing is £1·2 million to set it up, with recurrent funding of over £1·2 million every year thereafter. We have school buildings with roofs at risk of collapse and classrooms that are not fit for purpose, and we are told that there is no way to prioritise fixing them, yet, somehow, there is money for a state-of-the-art pitch in a school that is already awash with sporting facilities. Let us not forget that we give taxi operators £83 per mile to bring children to school. Yes, there are difficult choices in the Budget, but DUP representatives stand in the Chamber and say, without a hint of irony, that departmental budgets should be used efficiently and effectively.

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

I thank the Member for that intervention. Of course, the process to build the A5 is ongoing. Court proceedings are under way, and I do not want to say anything to compromise those court proceedings in any way. However, the Minister has assured the House on any number of occasions that she is confident that the A5 will be built. If I am to believe anyone, I will believe the Minister on that. Some, including the Member's colleagues, have supported the diversion of billions of pounds into greater militarisation. Many of them have also been cheerleaders for the illegal attacks by the US and Israel on Iran. They then displayed their brass necks when they stood in the Chamber and expressed concern about the increases in fuel prices. I wonder whether there was any causal connection between the illegal war against Iran and the increase in petrol prices. Funnily enough, the Iranians told everyone beforehand what they would do if they were attacked. They said that they would block the Strait of Hormuz, which would affect the global economy, and they did just that. Keep cheerleading the illegal wars.

Keep cheerleading the supply of munitions to the Israelis to bomb children in Gaza.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:38 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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