John O'Dowd
Upper Bann · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“As I set out in response to the previous question, we have in place the vacant property rate relief scheme and the small business rate relief scheme, which are very successful. I set aside £10 million in the draft Budget for small business rate relief to be invested.”
“I am particularly keen to hear from those impacted by vacant commercial units and especially about how any phased increase can be implemented in a sustainable way that is fair, proportionate and sustainable within the tax system.”
“I outlined my intent to take that approach in my statement on 18 November, alongside the fact that reform of rating policy should support growth, make better use of property and ensure that the system is fair, proportionate and aligned with wider economic objectives.”
“The accelerator will operate alongside our highly successful Back in Business scheme, which has helped to bring over 100 vacant high street properties back into use since May 2024. Those issues have been the subject of considerable interest and comment in the Assembly, and it is right that we grasp the nettle now.”
“There are no circumstances in which a hard border would be good for the people of Ireland; it would not be good for anyone. Those who suggest that are being naive at best and dangerous at worst, in the sense of not understanding this society. <BR /> <BR />Rural communities along the border are one and the same.”
“This announcement represents the next step in that. That said, I also put on record my intention to strengthen support for small businesses. In that vein, £10 million has been set aside in the draft Budget to broaden the impact of the small business rate relief scheme in order to increase the number of businesses that can benefit from it.…”
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“With the Speaker’s permission, I will answer questions 6 and 10 together. <BR /> <BR />As I set out in my statement to the Assembly in November, I am committed to delivering positive and progressive change to the rating system. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I want to see extra help going to those businesses, which provide vital employment, supporting workers, families, and communities. <BR /> <BR />To give businesses and interested parties a final opportunity to express their views before I present proposals to my ministerial colleagues, I launched a consultation at the beginning of December on proposed changes to the small business rate relief scheme. The consultation will close on 29 January, with the aim of securing Executive approval shortly thereafter.”
“As the Member will be aware, I cannot discuss Executive business.”
“<BR /> <BR />As part of the autumn Budget, the British Government stated that they would work with the Executive over the coming months on ways to tackle welfare fraud and error and on different funding options, including the potential to share a portion of the resulting savings with the Executive.”
“There is a long-standing commitment in the Fresh Start Agreement that the Executive can bid for a share of savings from actions carried out to reduce benefit fraud and error, where those savings can be verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. On the basis of that commitment, my Department has provided to the Treasury the business case prepared by the Department for Communities making the case for such savings. Treasury has indicated that there are some issues in relation to the business case that it wishes to explore in more detail. Once those issues have been identified by Treasury, my officials will liaise with the Department for Communities to provide a response.”
“My officials engage with officials from all Departments on such matters. We will keep a watching brief on all the issues and will have to work our way through them. I am satisfied that the processes are in place to monitor those situations. If further guidance or information is required by the Assembly or by Executive colleagues, I will follow up with that, and I have no doubt that the Minister for the Economy will too.”
“No, it is an important accounting issue but an accounting issue. No money has been lost, and there has not been an overspend as a result of this matter.”
“I will engage with my officials to establish whether further guidance is required or whether the guidance that is in place is sufficient to ensure that proper processes and outcomes are followed. As I said in my original answer, it was a unique and complex case, but I assure the Member and other Members that it is not a question of money having been lost to the public purse.”
“Due to the use of comparatives in annual reports and accounts, Members will appreciate that the disclaimed opinion will take several years to unwind, and my officials will continue to support and assist DFE colleagues to achieve that goal as soon as possible. It is important to note that the issues highlighted by the Audit Office report do not call into question the approach of the Department or its arm’s-length bodies to value for money, propriety or management of the budget.”
“My officials have reviewed the Comptroller and Auditor General's (C&AG) findings from the 2024-25 Department for the Economy annual report and accounts and are pleased to note that DFE has made improvements on certain issues identified in the previous audit reports. I welcome the commitment that DFE has made to continue implementing a series of targeted improvements to strengthen the 2025-26 group accounts process. It is a highly complex group consolidation, due to differing accounting frameworks, systems and reporting requirements and different year ends. I acknowledge the progress that has been made to date, and it is important to see continued progress.”
“I can guarantee you that the message has been received loud and clear by all my Executive colleagues that they need to ensure that they monitor capital projects closely and that, if there is to be a slippage, the money is returned to the centre as quickly as possible so that it can be redistributed.”
“I do not think that I used any of the adjectives that the Member attributed to me, but, if he wants to call me a genius, he should feel free to do so. <BR /> <BR />The issues around delivering capital projects are well known, and there is a challenge for the entire House and for the Executive. If we continue to layer bureaucracy upon bureaucracy on top of capital projects, we should not be surprised when there are delays. All of us collectively have to take a view on which capital projects that make positive changes in people's lives should take priority over other things without putting at risk accountability or our environment. There is a challenge for us all. <BR /> <BR />Can I give you a guarantee?”
“Engagement has been ongoing between my departmental officials and DFI over several months. Obviously, we were all aware that there was an issue with the A5 as a result of a legal challenge. I was aware of the potential surrendering of money, but the exact amount of that money did not come through until a later stage as a result of the complicated processes that DFI had to go through in order to establish exactly how much money had to be delivered. <BR /> <BR />The investment strategy is a matter for the Executive, and questions about it are probably best directed towards the Executive Office.”
“There have been significant allocations to Education over a period of time. As I said, £22 million has been invested in Education this year. The school estate clearly needs significant investment, and I will do all that I can to support the Education Minister in doing that, along with my Executive colleagues.”
“In fairness to all Ministers, there was no monitoring round until December. Ministers and Departments will have been aware of the schedule that we have for monitoring rounds. The Infrastructure Minister had to examine complicated legal requirements and issues before surrendering any moneys. The message is clear to all Ministers: if they expect not to be able to spend funding within a certain time, my Department should be alerted immediately. Where substantial amounts of money come to our attention, we will and can rearrange monitoring rounds, but it is not always as simple as that, and there are often complications. The quicker we can get capital money out the door, the better it is and the more wisely we can invest.”
“Departments have surrendered £280 million of capital in 2025-26. Excluding Irish Government and Treasury earmarked funding that was returned for reprofiling into future years, a total of £199 million of surrendered capital was available to the Executive for reallocation in the June and December monitoring rounds. It was allocated in full. The December monitoring allocations were entirely funded by capital reduced requirements, providing much-needed capital funding across housing, Health, Education and Infrastructure. That included almost £30 million for social housing; just over £25 million for Health; £22 million for schools and the education sector; £12 million for further and higher education; as well as funding of almost £60 million going towards water services, road maintenance etc.”
“When you look south of the border, you see similar challenges there, as there are in England, Wales and Scotland. We need, perhaps, to look at lessening some of the bureaucracy that we put in place around such matters, without damaging accountability or the environment or any of those things. We need to do an urgent review of the way we place layers upon layers of bureaucracy on projects and then wonder why they are delayed.”
“There appears to be a misunderstanding across the House on occasions that I have more power than I have. I have suggested to some of your colleagues that, if they want to give me more power, I will take it. Some of your ministerial colleagues might not be too keen on the matter, but I assure you that I would use it wisely to drive some of those issues forward. <BR /> <BR />My comments are to all Ministers in terms of ensuring that our limited resources are used effectively and efficiently. We have huge challenges in delivering capital projects, and that is recognised across the Executive and in the Chamber. I do not have sole responsibility for approving those projects, but I do and will play my part as a member of the Executive team in order to improve capital delivery. <BR /> <BR />Some of our challenges are not unique.”
“<BR /> <BR />No one in the Chamber believes that we have sufficient funds in our hands to make the substantial difference that we want, but we can take your attitude and say, "Nothing is happening", or those around the Executive table can take the attitude of, "What can we do with what we have?". I believe that we are maximising change with what we have.”
“The investment strategy is an Executive document. I assume that it will be up to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to announce when it will be available. However, I want to correct some of the Member's assumptions. He will know that there has been progress on Casement Park. There have also been announcements from the GAA. There are allocations in the draft Budget for it and other sporting fixtures. I just commented to my colleague Mr Sheehan that, as a direct result of investment from the Executive, we have, in a strategic way, fulfilled water connections to 5,000 new homes since February 2024. Therefore, we are making a difference, and we are making change.”
“It would be up to the Communities Minister to reassure you about the calculations and figures and how they deliver the quantum of housing in each case. There may be different circumstances around site ownership and the stage of development of programmes etc.”
“One more fiscal event has yet to take place in Westminster: the Supplementaries. I expect some funding from that, but I do not expect major investment to come this way.”
“The Department for Infrastructure was allocated £59·8 million to deliver essential improvements to our roads, transport and water services. That includes £13·2 million for road maintenance; £5 million to deliver eight new trains and track improvements, enhancing connectivity across the island of Ireland by improving the Belfast to Dublin Enterprise service; and £38·1 million investment across a range of water, transport and roads capital projects. Those allocations and previous funding allocations since autumn 2024 have contributed to the unlocking of waste water capacity for over 5,000 properties across the North, supporting future housing and wider economic development.”
“In healthcare, an additional £25 million will be invested in IT and the healthcare estate. Some £22 million was secured for investment in schools and education, including funding for Irish-medium facilities, and a further £12·6 million was provided to DFE for investment in higher and further education. <BR /> <BR />Those capital allocations reflect our Programme for Government commitment to "Doing What Matters Most", by investing in health, education, infrastructure and housing.”
“In the December monitoring round, as well as providing over £100 million of resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) to help deliver pay awards for a number of groups of public-sector workers, I secured Executive agreement to allocate £162 million for capital investment, which will deliver real improvements to public services and infrastructure. Over £59 million of that capital spend was provided for the water service, road maintenance, safety improvements and rail projects. That capital investment will drive forward economic growth and enhance connectivity. <BR /> <BR />Almost £30 million of additional investment was provided for social housing. That, along with earlier funding allocations, will contribute to 1,750 new social homes being delivered, helping to address housing need locally.”
“As I said, there may well be legal proceedings under way, so I am somewhat constrained in what I can say. My understanding is that the premises have been managed by a company. The individuals in the company may well be associated with a political party, but my understanding is that the bill is in the name of a company.”
“The case is not being dealt with differently from any other case of outstanding moneys owed to LPS. I assure the Member that the case has not been given special treatment. We have to be careful about naming those responsible for the payment of outstanding debts because of legal requirements, legal protections and the legal entitlements of all involved. I again emphasise, however, that the case is not being dealt with differently from any other case.”
“Land and Property Services (LPS) has robust processes and procedures in place for the collection and recovery of rates and is committed to collecting all unpaid rates and takes proactive steps to do so. They include ongoing billing; notifications, emails and text messages; direct contact with ratepayers via telephone calls; the initiation of legal recovery actions; and discussion and agreement on payment plans over extended periods. A failure to engage on the contact made by LPS and persistent non-payment will result in legal recovery actions. <BR /> <BR />I can confirm that the outstanding balance of £5,018·82 remains payable for 9-11 Church Street, Ballymena. It is currently being pursued through ongoing rate collection processes. The payment of rates helps fund the vital public services on which our citizens and businesses rely.”
“There has clearly been a slippage for all to see in the delivery of Casement Park. However, I and other Ministers are engaging with the Communities Minister to ensure that that project is delivered and built and that it meets the needs of the GAA. It is unfortunate that it has not progressed at this stage, but I am still confident that it will.”
“Deliberations about empty properties will form part of the ongoing rates review. The Member will be aware that I am proposing to increase the rates on empty non-domestic properties. That consultation has gone out in the past week or so. Further exploration of the rates reviewing policy is ongoing. If there is an opportune time to further develop that proposal, it could be something that we consult on.”
“I am familiar with the Ballynahinch bypass, given my previous role as Infrastructure Minister. However, I am not sure what stage it is at, Harry. The Infrastructure Minister will have to profile her budget in a way that responds to how that project is moving forward. I have no further information for you on it.”
“Mr Durkan asked how close we were to the target: it will be for the Communities Minister to make an announcement in that regard. He will have all of the facts and figures. <BR /> <BR />On Tom's question, I have not had a discussion specifically with the AERA Minister about those vacancies. I do not know what the specific challenges are with recruitment in DAERA. The public sector faces the challenges that many private-sector businesses face with recruitment: at times, it is difficult to recruit the staff you need for the jobs that you have at that time. That question is probably best directed to the AERA Minister.”
“How close will we get to the target? That is another way of looking at it. <BR /> <BR />Monitoring rounds are not a new invention. I did not wake up during the week and say, "Here is what I will do: I will have a monitoring round". Monitoring rounds are a part and fixture of budgetary processes in the Assembly and elsewhere. They are a proven way of doing business in institutions and of redistributing moneys across Departments at set periods. I have not made that process up; it is a fixed, sound process. As I said, the reason why it is a bit later in the year is that the Chancellor's autumn Budget was approximately four weeks later than it would usually be in the Westminster calendar. That prevented me coming forward with proposals to the Executive earlier and the Executive signing off on them.”
“For clarification, I have not funded anything: this is an Executive document. The Executive approved it. The Executive can make whatever decisions they want about monitoring rounds and how they fund items. A considerable amount of capital was brought forward on this occasion. My officials work with departmental officials across the board on what could be spent in the time frame that we have, hence the presentation that you have in front of you.”
“One or two Departments will probably give us an overspend. However, I am not in a position to predict firmly what that overspend will be at this stage, because there are still a number of moving elements. I have engaged with the Health Minister at length about that, and my officials have engaged at official level.”
“I have had ongoing discussions with the Health Minister over a protracted period on the pressures that his budget is under. There has been a significant decline in the forecasted pressures on Health as a result of the work of the Health Minister, his permanent secretary, the team around them and all the staff involved in the health service. They are all playing their part in that work. <BR /> <BR />As I said to another Member, a number of manoeuvres are still to be made in this financial year. There is still a fiscal event to come in Westminster with the Estimates, when we will receive some money, although we are not expecting huge amounts from that. That will allow us to further analyse the figures and better project how we will overspend. I suspect that there will be an overspend by the Executive.”
“A ministerial direction is a document on its own and contains information etc, but, in principle, that is the way to proceed to ensure that all our public sector workers receive their agreed pay awards.”
“Let us be clear: there has been a ministerial direction approved by the Executive on health workers' pay. That has been agreed: health workers' pay will now proceed. The £7 million for police restructuring and recruitment has been agreed and will proceed. I understand that the Justice Minister will set out later how she will implement policing pay. That leaves teachers and infrastructure workers. I understand that the Education Minister is bringing forward a ministerial direction in relation to teachers' pay. As I have said, if that is laid out in the same circumstances as the Health Minister's ministerial direction was, there will be grounds for the Executive to approve that.”
“Not only has he done his homework but he has been reading the dictionary. <BR /> <BR />I have heard no one around the Executive table or, indeed, beyond it claim that patients should be kept in anything other than first-class, first-rate conditions in our health service. Despite the best efforts of our health workers and teams, circumstances often fall below par, but patients very often receive world-class care in world-class conditions. Where there is a maintenance backlog, I will work with the Health Minister and others to try to alleviate that. Nowhere in my statement is there any suggestion that the allocation that we have made today will resolve that problem. We are doing the best that we can with the limited resources that we have, but we will continue to drive forward change.”
“I am not aware of any projects, other than the ones that we have funded at this stage, but, again, I have encouraged Ministers and their senior officials to engage with the various sectors with which they operate, to see whether we can further invest that FTC.”
“I am sure that the Education Minister will further outline how he intends to deal with the pressures facing his Department, and the particular pressure with regard to teachers and education workers' pay. I will support any ministerial direction if it is in line with and similar to the way in which the Health Minister approached the issue previously. That is the way forward; it is a well-tested route, and it received a collective response from the Executive. I am willing to work with the Education Minister on that. I think that there is a way through it, but it has to be a managed process.”
“Around £5 million has been set aside for urgent repairs to the health estate, and there is a substantial investment in IT equipment for the health sector. It is vital that we have modern, up-to-date IT equipment in all Departments, but particularly in the health sector, to allow it to run as efficient and effective a service as possible.”
“There can be changes in circumstances from month to month that may be to people's advantage or disadvantage, but I continually monitor the situation and engage with Executive colleagues to ensure that overspend is minimised to as little as possible.”
“Let us not send out a mixed message from the Chamber today. Let us be very clear about this: the pay award for health and social care workers is going to be paid. That is beyond doubt. The Executive have passed a ministerial direction supporting the Health Minister on that. It will go ahead, therefore, and it will be paid. There is no doubt or question about that. <BR /> <BR />How the Executive deal with that in their future Budget is entirely a matter for the Executive. I will make recommendations to the Executive on the three-year Budget and how we deal with the potential overspends of this year. It will be up to my Executive colleagues to decide how to respond to those. As I said to another Member, however, the final whistle has not blown on this financial year. The game is still on.”
“The delivery of the pay award is down to the Justice Minister and the Chief Constable. I have no doubt that the Justice Minister will comment further on that later today. <BR /> <BR />My understanding is that legal engagement on the data breach will not conclude in this financial year. That will allow us to plan making payment on the data breach in the following financial year. That is the recommendation that I will make to my Executive colleagues. However, we continue to engage with the Treasury and others to urge them to allow the Assembly and the Executive access to the reserve claim. That goes to the highest levels of government, including the Prime Minister.”
“They will go across a range of areas. Social housing, which is one of those commitments, has been mentioned. Significant investment is going into bringing us towards the target for social housing. There has been other investment. If you look at infrastructure, for instance, you will see that allocations to that will allow us to develop more homes and connect more businesses. There are investments in further and higher education, such as investment in skills etc. That is a theme of the Programme for Government where our economy is concerned and for ensuring that we have a skilled workforce to further develop and support that economy.”
“I am on record saying that one of the recommendations that I will make as part of the multi-year Budget will be that the fund for the police recovery plan be supported and that we see a recovery in our police numbers. That is essential to delivering front-line public services, of which policing is one. It will also assist the police to recruit from across our community, ensuring that policing represents the community that it serves.”
“The final whistle has not blown on this financial year. At least one fiscal event is still to take place in Westminster, from which, I hope, the Executive will benefit, although I do not suggest that that will be by huge amounts. There may also be some reprioritisation of capital in the Executive's Budget. I will commit to working with all Ministers to ensure that that funding is spent where it can be delivered. If it can be delivered in social housing, I will have no difficulty in directing it towards social housing. As I said to Mr Tennyson, I have no doubt that there will be robust engagement and negotiations around the three-year Budget and that, if Ministers keep themselves focused on the need for a three-year Budget and the benefits that it will bring to all Departments, we will get it delivered.”
“That is a welcome allocation of £6 million for Irish-medium education and for Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta for the facilities that it provides to the Irish-medium sector. It is a significant investment, but I have no doubt that continued investment in that sector and others will be needed. That, again, shows the value of monitoring rounds, by which funding can be allocated to areas of need. Those areas of need can absorb that funding quickly.”
“The Executive have agreed a ministerial direction that authorises the Health Minister to proceed with the health workers' pay award. There should be no doubt in the Chamber that the health sector's pay award is going ahead.”
“In most institutions, there will be tension between Ministers and the Finance Minister. It would be hugely surprising if other Ministers and I were not in correspondence and engaging with one another. The letters that were leaked to the media are an example of that. I am confident that all Ministers around the Executive table see the worthiness of a three-year Budget. I have no doubt that there will be some bartering and negotiations ahead of our getting an agreed draft Budget out to public consultation, but all Ministers see the benefit of having a three-year Budget, and, when they focus on those benefits, that will allow us to deliver a Budget for public consultation.”