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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“Water infrastructure and waste water infrastructure are, understandably, often debated in the Chamber and elsewhere, but the further investment in that will allow more businesses and more homes to be connected to water and waste water services.”
“I, too, pay tribute to Willie. I do not think that he is in the Chamber, but I understand that he is stepping down from this place — the lucky duck — so he is moving on to other things. <BR /> <BR />We have made a significant investment in the Department for Infrastructure, covering a wide range of areas, including water services, public transport, road maintenance, drinking water infrastructure and trains and infrastructure for the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise service. It is about funding that has become available being reinvested in front-line public services and making a real difference to people's lives.”
“<BR /> <BR />I mentioned in my statement that there would be a further fiscal event at Westminster: the Estimates in January. Some small amounts of capital may come from that, and we will again allocate those to Departments that can spend them in the time frame in which we are able to do so. The multi-year Budget will allow us to plan much better the delivery of major capital projects, which will mean that less capital comes to the centre. At the end of the day, this money today is going to projects that are worthy and needed and would not have been delivered otherwise.”
“It is worth remembering that the Chancellor's autumn Budget was probably four weeks later this year than it usually is because of needs in Westminster and elsewhere. We were operating four weeks behind the usual time frame. While a significant proportion of the funding has been returned from the A5 and other sectors — the A5 is beyond our control at this stage because of legal challenges; legal deliberations on it are taking place today — the Departments have to improve how they deliver capital projects. I am not arguing against that, but we allocated the money to all Departments as soon as it was practically possible. I welcome the fact that we have increased and will significantly increase the delivery of social housing as we move forward.”
“The fact of the matter is that, today, despite all your suggestions in the Chamber yesterday, the Executive agreed almost £300 million of funding for front-line public services that will improve the lives of the citizens whom we all serve. Despite your, perhaps, wishing overnight with your fingers crossed, the Executive agreed that this morning, and we will now move on to the multi-year Budget.”
“Criminal mismanagement. If the Member has any evidence of criminal mismanagement, he should bring it forward. It sounds to me like a very serious accusation for the leader of the Opposition to make. If the leader of the Opposition has any evidence to back that up, the leader of the Opposition should come forward with it. <BR /> <BR />It has become Matthew's job to be the dark cloud over the Executive. No matter what you come forward with, Matthew will find fault with it; he will direct a negative agenda towards it; and he will attempt to get a headline that is as dramatic as possible and runs down the efforts of the Executive, the Assembly and public-sector workers to improve the daily lives of the people whom we all serve.”
“I think the Member referred to "criminal negligence" — was it?”
“We have also agreed funding for infrastructure, which is critical to sustainable economic growth and connectivity, with allocations for key projects in water, roads and rail. <BR /> <BR />Following the conclusion of the December monitoring round, my next step will be to bring the multi-year Budget to the Executive. The multi-year Budget will give Departments the certainty they need to plan on a longer-term and more strategic basis and to transform our public services for the years ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />The allocations made today reflect our determination as an Executive to deliver tangible change across a wide range of public services and utilities. Despite the highly constrained financial environment, we continue to invest in our workers and public services. The allocations agreed will make a positive difference to citizens' lives across society. Much-needed funding is being provided towards public-sector pay awards. Reflecting our key priorities in the Programme for Government, capital allocations have been made to enable the delivery of new social housing. We are also investing in our schools estate, further education colleges and higher education institutions, reflecting our commitment to supporting learning and delivering investment in skills.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ring-fenced resource DEL can be used only for non-cash costs relating to depreciation and impairments. Given that only £0·9 million was available for allocation, no allocations have been made in this round. Should funding become available at Westminster Estimates, it will be allocated in line with the bids set out in the tables accompanying the statement. To increase transparency, the statement is also accompanied by tables outlining the detail of changes to departmental budgets. Included under "Technical Adjustments" are Treasury-earmarked funding for city and growth deals and budget cover transfers from Whitehall Departments. In total, those amount to £11·6 million resource DEL and £26·6 million capital DEL.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Executive also agreed a central allocation of £0·027 million capital DEL to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for the city and growth deals complementary fund. <BR /> <BR />On financial transactions capital DEL, the Executive have allocated £2·5 million to the Department for the Economy for Invest NI to support businesses and encourage innovation, as well as £1·5 million to the Executive Office for capitalised loan interest. Following those allocations, there remains £12·8 million of FTC to be allocated. I have encouraged all Ministers to explore further opportunities for utilising FTC in the remainder of this financial year. Full details of all the allocations that have been made are set out in the tables accompanying the statement.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, the Department for Infrastructure will receive £59·8 million, which will fund £34·1 million for waste water services, public transport, rail and road projects and ensuring that the Department can maximise the delivery of capital projects to meet statutory obligations; £13·2 million for road maintenance and safety improvements; £4·1 million for drinking water infrastructure, which supports housing development as well as improving water quality; £5 million for new trains and track improvements to support the Enterprise cross-border service, which will enhance connectivity on the island of Ireland on the cross-border rail corridor between Belfast and Dublin; £2 million for street lighting, contributing to safer environments and encouraging more active travel; and £1·5 million for the A26 Glarryford Lands Tribunal case.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department of Education will receive £22 million, which includes £5·2 million for essential school maintenance; £3·2 million for schools' minor works and energy-saving solutions; £6·7 million for business-critical ICT pressures; £1 million for ICT infrastructure contractual commitments; and £6 million for Irish-medium accommodation and facilities. <BR /> <BR />The Department of Health will receive £25·2 million, recognising our commitment to investing in our health service and supporting bids to modernise it. Allocations include £19·7 million for IT equipment and £5·5 million to tackle significant backlog maintenance across the health estate.”
“There is £8·6 million for the cladding safety scheme, which will ensure that residents live in buildings that have the necessary building safety standards, and £4 million for priority adaptations to Housing Executive properties for tenants living with a disability. <BR /> <BR />The Department for the Economy will receive £12·6 million to provide strategic support for higher education research and essential works in further education colleges, investing in skills and innovation for the future.”
“<BR /> <BR />Moving to capital DEL, the Executive have agreed allocations of £162 million targeting key priorities across social and affordable housing, education, health and infrastructure. The Department for Communities will receive £42·4 million. That includes £29·8 million to meet in full its bid for the social housing development programme. That investment will be a major contribution to the Executive's Programme for Government (PFG) target of providing more social, affordable and sustainable housing. That investment and others that I am announcing today will be a huge boost to the construction industry and the local economy by sustaining and creating jobs.”
“The ministerial direction agreed by the Executive for health workers' pay parity will ensure that there is no delay in the implementation of the award to health workers. Today's allocation demonstrates the priority that the Executive and I attach to our vital public-sector workers and our desire to support public-sector pay despite the financial constraints that we face. <BR /> <BR />I have asked all Ministers to endeavour to find further efficiencies to help to fund the pressures that are facing Departments. I have also committed that, should any further Barnett consequentials arise from the Westminster Estimates in January, I will move quickly to bring recommendations to the Executive to allocate that funding towards those costs.”
“That represents a significant step towards supporting pay award costs for health workers, police, teachers and infrastructure workers. The Department of Health will receive an allocation of £69·3 million for the Health and Social Care (HSC) pay award. The Department of Education will receive £25·6 million for teachers' pay. The Department of Justice will receive £4·6 million for the PSNI pay award. The Department for Infrastructure will receive £4·6 million for pay awards. <BR /> <BR />I understand that the additional funding provided in the December monitoring round will allow the Minister of Justice to work with the Chief Constable on delivering police pay recommendations.”
“<BR /> <BR />On 16 October, the Executive agreed that the Departments of Health, Education, Justice and Infrastructure would have first call on available funding of up to £150·4 million in total for pay awards. No other resource bids were sought from Departments. Instead, the focus was on working towards meeting those previous commitments to ensure that public-sector workers receive the pay that they deserve. <BR /> <BR />The autumn Budget delivered just £18·8 million in additional Barnett consequentials this year. Combined with reduced requirements from Departments, that meant that the Executive had £104·2 million of available funding to allocate. In line with the prior commitment to public-sector pay, the Executive have therefore agreed that the funding available will be provided across the four Departments earmarked for pay.”
“<BR /> <BR />Looking now — I think that it is time for the glasses — at the funding available for allocation, following the autumn Budget, the Executive had the following available for allocation: £111·2 million resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL); £162 million capital DEL; £16·8 million financial transactions capital (FTC) DEL; and £0·9 million ring-fenced resource DEL. <BR /> <BR />Turning first to resource DEL, I will begin by addressing a prior commitment made by the Executive as part of June monitoring. The Executive agreed that the Department of Justice would have first call of up to £7 million towards PSNI workforce recovery costs, recognising the importance of investing in our police workforce. That funding is now being allocated in full.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to update Members on the 2025-26 December monitoring round, which was agreed by the Executive earlier today. Reaching that decision as soon as possible following the autumn Budget was essential to provide Departments with the certainty that they need to plan and deliver. That was particularly important, given the magnitude of the capital funding allocations that we are in a position to make to allow investment in vital infrastructure.”
“As has been said, the Bill provides for the establishment of a baby loss certificate scheme. <BR /> <BR />I have had the privilege of bringing several pieces of legislation through the Assembly in different eras, all of which were important in their own right, but I can think of no other legislation that is more important or more meaningful than the legislation that I propose to the House today. It will, in many ways, offer a small candlelight of hope to many families who have gone through terrible times. Today, the Assembly has stepped forward, and I hope that the Bill offers them some light at the end of that very dark tunnel in that we are now recognising the loss of their baby through this scheme. Well done to you all, and well done to everyone who has been involved in the legislation. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.”
“It has been said time and time again that our ability to work in partnership on the issue has paved the way for, hopefully, a successful conclusion to the Bill process today. <BR /> <BR />I remind Members of the Bill's aims. It is to ground in permanent legislation the remote registration practices for deaths and stillbirths that have become the normal way of operating. It also removes my need to present myself in front of Mr Frew for an extension to the Coronavirus Act 2020, which, we can say, is a blessing for us all. If there is one thing that you do not want to start Mr Frew on, it is the Coronavirus Act, and I have now removed my need to do that. The Bill removes inequalities in registration procedures for some couples, and that is an important step forward in the legislation.”
“I thank again all the Members of the House who have contributed to the heartfelt debates on the matter, who have corresponded with my office about the Bill or who have otherwise engaged meaningfully in helping to push this important Bill forward. I again record my thanks for the work of the Committee and the Committee staff, who have also been crucial in relation to the Bill. I also thank my staff in the Department, who have worked on the Bill, driven it forward and engaged with many Members of the House, not only in Committee but outside it, in a bid to get the Bill to where it needs to be. In relation to the elements of the Bill to establish a legal footing for a baby loss certificate scheme, I am grateful for the support received from across the House.”
“Today is a powerful reminder of the good that we can achieve when we unite and work in partnership. I therefore commend the Bill to the Assembly.”
“Once the Bill receives Royal Assent, I intend to introduce regulations through the draft affirmative resolution process that will set down the detail of the baby loss certificate scheme. It is my intention that the scheme will become operational by the end of the financial year. <BR /> <BR />As Members of the Legislative Assembly, our role is to shape legislation that makes a real difference in people's lives. The Bill covers three important issues that will impact on a large number of the people whom we are here to represent, often at some of the most challenging moments that they face. By working together, we have come together to agree and deliver changes that will have a real, lasting and positive impact on the lives of our constituents.”
“<BR /> <BR />Under the existing law, the registration service can only recognise losses during pregnancy that occur after 24 weeks. Losses after that point are treated as stillbirths. The Bill will change that and make provisions to recognise losses that occur earlier in pregnancy. The baby loss certificate scheme will offer the opportunity for those who have experienced a baby loss prior to the end of the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy to have their loss formally recognised. While no certificate can undo their pain and grief, the new scheme will help to support families at the most difficult and challenging times of their lives, providing a voluntary way of acknowledging and recognising their loss. It will confirm that their baby existed and can be used to start a conversation with siblings or other family members.”
“Thirdly, the Bill will provide a statutory footing for a baby loss certificate scheme. As Members on all sides will testify, losses in early pregnancy have a real and lasting effect. The trauma of the loss is significant, heartfelt and, too often, borne in silence. Throughout the scrutiny of the Bill in Committee and in the Chamber, we have heard personal accounts of the impact that such losses have had on families. I commend the bravery of all those who have spoken out, either in this debate, through our recent consultation, in the course of their charity work or in correspondence. I also pay tribute to all the baby loss support organisations that have campaigned tirelessly for the baby loss certificate scheme. Today, we have a chance to act on the powerful testimonies that those families have given.”
“That change will remedy our legislation to ensure equality in the registration process.”
“The Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill will end the use of the Coronavirus Act 2020 powers in the context of the registration service, something that, I know, Members on all sides are keen to see. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, the Bill will rectify differences in the registration process for some couples. Under the current law, different birth and stillbirth registration options exist for same-sex and heterosexual couples who are neither married nor in a civil partnership. Same-sex female couples in that position cannot jointly register a birth or a stillbirth in the way that heterosexual couples can. The provisions in the Bill will fix those disparities, ensuring that unmarried, non-civil-partnered couples have the same choices about how to register a birth or a stillbirth, regardless of whether they are same-sex or heterosexual couples.”
“They have helped the registration process be more efficient and more productive, and they carry the support of stakeholders, ensuring the smooth passing of important documents and enabling registration staff to handle any errors or omissions in advance. In short, although the powers were introduced as the pandemic took hold, they have become the established means by which deaths and stillbirths are registered, and they have helped the registration service become more empathetic, modern and efficient. Given the positive effect of the provisions, it is right that we put those temporary provisions on a solid statutory footing, providing permanent powers with sustained remote registration and electronic transfer of documents.”
“It is clear to the Assembly why the provisions were important in the context of the pandemic: they reduced the need for face-to-face contact for grieving and, sometimes, vulnerable members of the public and for registration staff; and they enabled the registration system to continue to operate even when its services were, sadly, under significant pressure. <BR /> <BR />In the five years that have passed since the start of the pandemic, those arrangements have become the normal means by which the vast majority of death registrations take place. Importantly, the provisions have eased the burden on grieving members of the public.”
“It was then rightly expanded to include provisions for a baby loss certificate scheme that would recognise the suffering of families who endure the pain of baby loss before the end of the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy. Although the Bill has widened from its original intent, I know that Members on all sides agree that the extensions have enabled us to address important registration issues and make new provisions for baby loss certificates that are required to take the scheme forward. <BR /> <BR />The initial purpose of the Bill was to make permanent the temporary provisions made under the Coronavirus Act 2020. As Members will be aware, those temporary provisions were introduced at the beginning of the pandemic and have been in place for more than five years.”
“I am pleased that we have reached the Final Stage of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill. I am grateful to Members for the support that they have shown for the Bill to date and, in particular, for the positive comments from all sides in respect of the proposed baby loss certificate scheme. I also thank the Finance Committee for its detailed scrutiny of the Bill and the report that it provided. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that the Bill started as legislation with a narrow focus. It was designed to place the temporary powers in the Coronavirus Act 2020 that enabled the remote registration of deaths and stillbirths and the electronic transfer of registration documents on a permanent footing. It was first expanded to remove differences in registration processes for same-sex couples.”
“The monthly out-turn from each Department will give us the latest figure, but the most recent returns gave a figure of around £440 million for the estimated overspend.”
“Ultimately, it is the responsibility of each Minister, but all Ministers must work with their Executive colleagues. If one Department overspends, that will impact on all Departments, because it will come off next year's Budget.”
“My Department is not projecting an overspend. I lead by example in that regard. As I have said to a number of the Members who have asked me questions today, I will work with all Ministers to assist them in delivering their budget, and I recognise the challenges that they face.”
“How education is delivered is a matter for the Minister of Education. In relation to his budget, I have met him, had significant correspondence with him and engaged with him at the Executive table. I remain open to further engagement with any Minister. As I said, the greater the cooperation between Ministers and me and at official level, the more effective the delivery of the Budget will be. I have always said that it is a hugely challenging task for all Ministers, but we have to work in partnership to achieve common goals.”
“I have raised that matter directly and in correspondence with the appropriate Ministries and made my views clear. I gave an update to my Executive colleagues as recently as last week in the Executive meeting. As I said to a Member who asked me a question previously, one of my first actions following the Budget was to write to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the NIO and the Treasury raising my concerns that changes have been made to the budget for a number of local authorities in England but have not been replicated here.”
“It will be for the Department for Communities to bring forward a report to the Executive and, I assume, to the Assembly in regard to that. I can confirm to the Member only that I and my party colleagues support the removal of the two-child cap here.”
“I am not sure that you can ever satisfy a Finance Minister in that regard, and perhaps you should never be able to do so. I am on record as saying that all our Executive colleagues face significant challenges in the delivery of their mandate, whichever Department they are in. I have commented on the ongoing cooperation and work between me and the Health Minister and my Department and the Health Minister, and I urge other Ministers to show the same level of cooperation.”
“I have now received all the returns from my Executive colleagues. We now have the autumn Budget figures in front of us. I will bring a paper shortly to my Executive colleagues on the December monitoring round.”
“There is always ongoing engagement between my Department and the Treasury at an official level. The most recent correspondence that I have had with the Treasury in relation to the Budget was immediately after it to discuss the local growth fund. I am concerned that there has been a change to the Budget breakdown given to a number of local authorities in England in relation to the capital/resource split, and I have written to the Minister for Housing and the NIO to ask why the same provision was not offered to our local growth fund.”
“First of all, we have to get it devolved, and then, at that moment in time, the Executive would collectively have to consider our economic position, understand the figures and decide what to do with it. There is no point in me standing here as Minister of Finance, perhaps a couple of years away from any of that being devolved, and saying, "We should do a, b and c", because that would be nonsensical. You would have to make decisions based on your economic position at that time, and that is when you would decide what to do with it.”
“I want to see the recommendations of the Fiscal Commission report as a starting base for discussions between the Executive and the Treasury on the matter. The Fiscal Commission recommended, as the most suitable for devolution, income tax partial, stamp duty land tax, air passenger duty, landfill tax and the apprenticeship levy, if income tax was devolved. That is a good starting base for the Executive and the devolved institutions here to work our way through. We have to approach this with our eyes wide open. There are challenges and opportunities with this. I am not saying for one second that it is a panacea for all our problems, but the Executive, the Assembly and this society will have to take the challenge on.”
“Yes, that is a previous Executive commitment that I intend to honour when presenting my next monitoring round paper to the Executive.”
“My understanding is that the Treasury has said that there will be a requirement for discussions with the Executive, primarily the Department for the Economy, though my Department is the conduit for discussions between the Executive and Treasury and vice versa. There has been a commitment to start those discussions.”
“As the Member is aware, we are responsible for our own rating policy. If the proposals that were announced recently as part of the Chancellor's Budget were to apply here, they would apply to only about 19 properties. However, I have a paper that sets out how we should increase the cap in relation to rating policy and bring more and more people into a higher level where they pay more rates, particularly for properties over around £485,000. There is merit in what has happened in England, but it would affect only around 19 properties here, and I think that my proposal is a fair way forward.”
“I will bring proposals to the Executive in the near future on a multi-year Budget, setting out, primarily, the spending amounts for each Department. After that, it will be up to each Department how it uses those moneys to support the sectors within its areas of responsibility. A number of weeks ago, I made a statement to the Assembly about how we could support businesses further, and I intend to launch a consultation on that pre-Christmas.”
“My understanding is that the Treasury has undertaken to work with the Executive, in particular the Department for the Economy, to see how it can support the Executive in relation to the scheme that was announced, which largely covers England and Wales. We have a different energy scheme here, so that is my understanding of it. There will be ongoing engagement between the Treasury and DFE on how we bring forward a support package, if one is available.”
“There is a business case with the Treasury with regard to Minister Lyons's proposal. The Treasury has not yet agreed that business case. My officials will continue to work with Mr Lyons's officials and the Treasury on that. When the Treasury responds to the business case, I will respond in due course to Mr Lyons.”