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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“This year, the Civil Service will complete a gender review to assess the gender composition of its workforce and applicant pools to inform a programme of outreach activity and strengthen existing links with the education sector to promote professions that are gender-dominated, such as science, engineering and technology, with a view to attracting more female applicants; expand entry routes to the Civil Service by developing pre-employability and employability schemes; and support the career development of current female colleagues through mentoring programmes and new processes for employee mobility and job-sharing.”
“As I have previously stated, the Civil Service is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Females made up 50·2% of the Civil Service workforce in 2024, closely matching the economically active population of 49·5%. The Civil Service has made progress on increasing its gender diversity, with the trend of historical under-representation of women in leadership roles being reversed. As of 1 January 2024, 43·8% of senior civil servants are female, in comparison with 34·9% in 2014 and just 11·3% in 2000.”
“I have been in post for only a few weeks. I have had no cross-departmental engagement on the high street task force in that time, but I am more than happy to write to the Member about any engagement that happened prior to my coming into office. As I said, I will meet the business sectors tomorrow, including representatives of retail. The tangible actions that we have taken over the past number of days in the House are about supporting business and the high street in particular.”
“As I said, I will meet the business sector tomorrow, including representatives of the retail sector, to continue discussions about how we will support high streets. The rate relief schemes that we have in place are vital in that regard. The continuing business programme, Back in Business, the extension of which I announced in the Assembly yesterday and which the Assembly supported in order to bring vacant properties back into business, opening them up and increasing footfall in areas, is vital to that as well.”
“Those are matters for the financial providers. The community and voluntary sector has done good work in spreading information, particularly to older people, about being aware of the potential for scams either online or by phone. As I said, we will continue to engage with the financial sector to ensure that it does everything that it can to support the vulnerable in society.”
“My predecessor engaged with the banking sector on a number of occasions, and I will do likewise. In fact, I think that we have set in place an annual meeting to discuss financial inclusion with the banking services to ensure that, to use your example, older people are not left behind.”
“One hundred and forty-one registered childcare providers receive rate relief through the small business rate relief scheme. That support has been extended by my Department for this rating year.”
“That is an area in which the Executive have made huge strides. In the 2024-25 Budget, from a standstill, we invested £25 million in early learning and childcare. The draft Budget that is out for consultation is looking to invest £50 million and add another £5 million as part of the June monitoring round. We have made huge strides. There is a lot more to be done, but significant progress has been made.”
“The "nonsense" that Mr Gaston talks about also refers to support for people with disabilities, deaf people and people with sight impairments. It is nonsense only if you do not agree with it. Is that what we are going to base it on? I am not going to base the equality work in my Department on whether I agree with it. It is about whether it is right for protecting minorities and those who are disadvantaged in our society. That is what equality and diversity legislation is about. You, as a member of a minority, should cherish equality legislation. You should protect it and insist that it be enhanced.”
“I think that that spend is over six years. I am proud that my Department is leading the way on equality and diversity. There should be more of it across society so that we learn to live with and respect one another. Our differences are many, and they cover many topics, but let us be different, and let us respect our differences. Let us have more equality and diversity and more training to understand how treating one another with respect and dignity benefits our entire society. Mr Gaston, as a member of a minority — a unionist — you should cherish equality legislation: it is there to protect everyone.”
“It is my understanding that the issues identified by the NI Audit Office through its disclaimer opinion are not about value-for-money propriety or how the Department manages its budget but relate to the complexity of the consolidation process. I will follow it up with my officials, but, at this time, I have no concerns about value-for-money propriety in that regard. However, I am more than happy to ask my officials to follow that up.”
“I do not have those details in front of me. I am aware of the media reports in that regard, but I have no further details in front of me.”
“You do not have to direct it towards very expensive waste water treatment works. They should be used only to treat waste water. There are different ways of doing things, and there is a challenge for the Executive and NI Water to look at how we do things differently.”
“The alternative funding measures, which some in the Chamber may support, such as privatisation or mutualisation, have led to increased debt among the water companies, increased pollution, less service to the public and less investment in the infrastructure that was promised under privatisation. That is not the model for the way forward. We want to ensure that public money is being used effectively and efficiently in delivering the services that are required. <BR /> <BR />I refer to the point that I have made several times. In the January monitoring round, we offered NI Water £19 million, and 2,500 homes were connected. Let us see whether more schemes like that can be achieved. As part of the transformation fund, there was £15 million to deal with storm water and rainwater in a different way.”
“I cannot hop from being Finance Minister to Infrastructure Minister and go back and forth, but I am more than happy to answer your question as Finance Minister. <BR /> <BR />We will continue to support NI Water in the way that we have been doing over the last number of years. This year, NI Water is receiving half a billion pounds' worth of public funding — half a billion pounds' worth — and that, in itself, is a testament to how the Executive are supporting NI Water moving forward. You have only to cast your eye to England to see what the alternatives deliver for you.”
“The law concerning shared property management is complex. While it is based on land law, it also potentially touches on or concerns areas of law that are the responsibility of other Departments, such as Communities, in respect of housing policy, and Economy, in respect of consumer protection and company law. That said, scoping work by the civil law reform team in my Department is under way to review the regulation of property management companies, service charges and other issues related to shared property management. As part of the project, meetings are being held with concerned parties and stakeholders to gain insight into the issue of shared property management. If the Member wishes to engage with that team, I am more than happy to facilitate that meeting.”
“Supporting and working with our staff is vital. Ensuring that there is an environment in which they feel cherished and valued is also important. The Department works closely with the trade union side on how we can continue to broaden that support and offer it to our civil servants. Across society and some businesses there appears to be an increase in sickness levels. That may be due to a range of issues. We have to understand the trends within that to ensure that we offer the proper remedies to it. I and my Department continue to work alongside the trade union side to ensure that we have the right policies in place to support our staff.”
“Absence management processes in the Civil Service are designed to consider and take account of the specific circumstances of each individual case. As part of the absence management procedure, all stress-related absences, including PTSD, are immediately referred to welfare support services. Alongside that, stress questionnaires are issued to establish whether the cause of the stress is personal, domestic or work related, and whether additional assistance, such as the employee assistance programme or a temporary injury allowance application, is required.”
“The Civil Service handbook protects all civil servants, including prison officers. It is there to ensure that there is equity and fair play for all. Every policy can and will be reviewed through time and to learn lessons, but the Civil Service handbook is the best way to support our prison officers and the rest of the Civil Service.”
“The Department for Infrastructure has advised me that two instances of violence and aggression towards its staff were formally reported in the past 12 months.”
“Of course, not every assault will result in a sickness absence, but any assault at work should be recorded for the health and safety of staff. <BR /> <BR />Health and safety at work is the responsibility of the individual Departments. There has been one recorded case of assault on a member of my Department in the past 12 months. The Department of Justice has advised that, during that period, there were 96 assaults on prison officers while they were on duty and eight incidents at Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre in which staff were injured on duty. The Department of Education and the Department for the Economy have advised me that there were no reported assaults on their staff during the period.”
“Assaults on those who are serving the public are an affront to us all. There is no place for violence in the workplace or anywhere in society. Where an assault results in sickness absence, the data that the Department of Finance holds for all civil servants does not always make explicit the cause of the absence. In the case of stress-related absences, a questionnaire is issued to establish whether the cause of the stress is work-related. However, sickness absence data does not specify whether a physical injury was caused by an assault or by an accident or whether it took place in the working environment. Where an injury takes place at work, it should, however, be recorded under the Department's health and safety policy.”
“I believe that the more tax-varying powers that the Assembly and Executive have, the better that it will be for our economy. They would also be good for political stability and responsibility. The Member is aware of how we are working our way through the interim report of the Fiscal Commission and of our engagement with the Treasury. We will continue that. We also have to do the day-to-day, mundane work. A lot of the Departments have done that work and have managed to secure significant revenue from it.”
“It is only right and proper that Departments continually review the cost of their doing business and that, where they provide services, they satisfy themselves that what they charge covers the cost of those services and does not further burden the public purse. That sometimes requires decisions to be made on canteens, which you referred to, or on other matters, whatever they may be. In some instances, Departments have not increased charges for 10 or 15 years. That is unsustainable. We have to start by looking at those things. I suspect that, if I were to introduce new revenue-raising measures without having Departments look at them, you would, quite rightly, challenge me. <BR /> <BR />I am ambitious about fiscal devolution.”
“Sustainable Budgets are not just about revenue raising; they are about doing things better, which means, of course, being as efficient as possible and ensuring that we are doing the right things by focusing on the desired outcomes. As part of the Budget sustainability plan forward work programme, my Department is taking forward a number of key steps to improve the sustainability of our Budgets, including working with all Departments on the development of longer-term fiscal sustainability plans. That will help us to understand the trajectory of spend that is associated with the strategic direction and planned changes.”
“The Executive have an agreed position on NI Water, which is that it will remain a government-owned company and will be funded through the general grant, as it is now.”
“However, it is also incumbent on every Minister to consider the appropriate income-generation measures for their Department, and that does not require Department of Finance-led discussions.”
“The Executive’s focus must be on wider Budget sustainability. We must also look at how we can do things better by improving efficiency and focusing on desired outcomes. While income generation will be part of that, decisions must be based on the economic and social context and on the need to deliver the public services that our citizens expect. The Executive's Budget sustainability plan outlined the additional income that will be generated in 2024-25 and the possible additional income for 2025-26. The plan also committed the Executive to the completion of a strategic review of income-generation measures, and that work will commence following the finalisation of the 2025-26 Budget.”
“I cannot comment on individual cases, and I can assure the Member that, as I have said repeatedly during my answers to these questions, we are willing to work with ratepayers who face hardships and challenges. If the Member wishes to write to me about the individual case, I will raise the matter with LPS.”
“Each individual case tells its own story, and people, whether they pay domestic or business rates, face hardship at times. Many, many people work with us. Where we cannot come to an arrangement or where people have not worked with us, we will have to end up in court.”
“There will be historical debt that has been pursued and that, for a number of reasons, may not be collectable. For instance, I referred to businesses that have gone bankrupt and gone beyond the statutory period for return, which is, I think, six years plus one. There may be other reasons why people cannot repay their debt. At some stage, every business will have to come to a conclusion on whether it represents value for money to pursue a debt or to write the debt off. That is where you have to be. That is the position that was taken on the £65 million. Last year, around 92·5% of all rates were paid within the period specified. This year, we are setting a target of around 93%, and we will continue to pursue that. As I said, we will work with ratepayers.”
“Wide-ranging support is available to ratepayers to assist them in fulfilling their payment of rates. Starting with domestic ratepayers, I will give some examples: there is housing benefit, rate rebate, low-income rate relief, disabled person's allowance and lone pensioner's allowance. For non-domestic rates, there is industrial derating, charitable exemptions, sport and recreation relief, freight transport relief and non-domestic vacant rate relief. Therefore, there is a range of in-place assistance across the breadth of our ratepayers, and, as I said to Mr Frew, we will work with ratepayers who are facing challenges to work out a repayment plan to allow them to pay their rates. Where we have to go to court, we will go to court.”
“There is a variety of reasons why businesses and domestic ratepayers are not paying their bills in the timely manner that we would like, and we have to understand those reasons as we deal with each case individually. When, after working with the ratepayer, it comes to light that they are not working with us, court action will be taken. I have engagement with LPS on the matter, and we will pursue outstanding debts where there is a value on that return. We may also be dealing with businesses that have gone bankrupt with no opportunity for return. I can assure the Member that we will work with ratepayers to collect our rates. Everyone has to pay their fair share. When necessary, we will bring people to court to recover rates.”
“<BR /> <BR />Payment arrangements are measures offered by Land and Property Services (LPS) to alleviate the financial distress to the ratepayer while maintaining rate collection, albeit at a slower pace. Throughout the year, LPS staff have been contacting ratepayers directly to remind them about the rates that they owe, highlighting the help as well as the consequences of non-payment. There are 8,434 domestic ratepayers and 908 non-domestic ratepayers with agreed payment arrangements, which are worth over £12 million.”
“The question for written answer to which the Member refers relates specifically to a prior rating year debt, as of 31 December 2024. A balance owing at a point in time serves only to reflect the position at that time. It is important that the Member recognise that the collection of rates is not static and that the numbers will have changed since 31 December. <BR /> <BR />It is appropriate that I provide the current position on rate collection and on the number of ratepayers with an agreed payment plan. As of 2 March 2025, almost £1·59 billion had been collected, which is the highest amount ever. Approximately £247 million is still being collected: £142 million relates to bills after 1 April 2024, and £105 million relates to rates billed in previous years, a reduction of £75 million on the March 2024 position.”
“It is worth noting that the Executive already have in place £275 million of rate relief for businesses. That figure is not often quoted or used, but it is important to be aware of it when we work out the equation about what we want to do next. My Department is offering significant rate relief to a range of businesses. We are working our way through the rates portfolio to review each rate, and I will bid to come back to the Assembly with decisions on how we move forward. It is also worth remembering that the money that we reinvest in our public services benefits business as well. The money that we put back into public-sector wages benefits businesses as well. In many ways, it is a circular economy, and we are playing our part in it.”
“Of course it will inform my Department's thinking, and it will inform my thinking. I hope that it will also inform Members' thinking. It is vital that the decision-making process move forward on the basis of evidence and data, and the analysis that we are doing will allow us to do that. As I said in the Chamber yesterday, every financial decision has positive and negative consequences. We must then decide which element is the most important to drive forward, but no decision can be taken in isolation.”
“Rates are the only local taxation available to the Executive and the Assembly. While I can understand the focus on rates, any changes will require legislation, which is possible. If we are to reduce the hospitality sector's rates base, however, we must ask whether we will reduce public services or add the burden elsewhere. That is the question that has be asked, because it will be the outcome of such a decision. There are ongoing reviews of a number of matters, and some reviews are about to start, but what is the impact of each decision that we make? There will be positives and negatives, but any decision must be made in the round. We cannot simply call for a reduction in the rates base for the hospitality sector without following through on the equation.”
“Not directly, but there may be childcare businesses that are represented by the various organisations that I am meeting tomorrow, and their voices may be heard through that. It is worth pointing out, however, that, as a proposal in the draft Programme for Government, we have doubled the amount of money going into the childcare sector from £25 million to £50 million, and the Executive have committed to allocating £5 million from the June monitoring round to the sector. That will be a total of £55 million, having started from a zero base. To give credit where it is due, the Executive have stepped forward on the matter.”
“I am meeting the business sectors tomorrow for a round-table discussion. I look forward to listening to them about the challenges and opportunities facing their sector as we move forward. I am committed to working with them. I have already lobbied the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State quite strongly on those matters, and I will continue to engage in a way that allows the business sector's voice to be heard at all levels of government.”
“The report, when finalised, will put me in a position to provide as strong a case as possible to the Treasury ahead of the June monitoring round.”
“The research on the cost of doing business being undertaken by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC) is on track to be delivered by the end of the month. The study was commissioned following concerns raised in the aftermath of the Chancellor’s autumn Budget. Employers, understandably, have significant concerns regarding the impact of the changes in employers' National Insurance contributions coming into effect next month. That is in addition to other cost pressures that they already face, such as insurance and energy. To assess that, the research team has been undertaking its analysis and engaging widely with over 20 sectoral and business bodies to date in order to hear the voices of those potentially impacted.”
“Ring-fencing is an option for the Executive. I make recommendations to the Executive on the Budget, and ring-fencing allocations for specific cases in any Department will be an option for the Executive. If I were to make recommendations on that basis, I would do so in line with the Programme for Government commitments.”
“The only bids that we would receive are those made through monitoring rounds. The Department of Education has benefited from monitoring rounds whenever my Department has had funds available to match its needs, and it benefited from the recent transformation fund. I think that around £27 million was directed towards the Department of Education for special educational needs specifically. It has benefited from those sources. <BR /> <BR />The draft Budget is out for consultation. Once the consultation closes, the Executive will make decisions on what will be allocated to each Department.”
“It is often difficult to compare like for like in funding between this jurisdiction and other jurisdictions for education. As I said to Mr Brooks, the funding referred to in the independent review is at a point in time, and I think it is against the 2023-24 Budget. There has been a significant uplift in funding for the Department of Education since then, and I will continue to work with the Education Minister and other Ministers to do what I can, as Finance Minister, to support them financially. How they use the resources is a matter for each Minister.”
“I commend the independent review of education on its report. The findings and the implementation of that report are down to the Education Minister. The costings in the report are at a point in time; I think that they were based on the 2023-24 Budget. The position has significantly changed since then with regard to the Department of Education. I suggest that perhaps a review of those costings matched against the current provision to Education may prove worthwhile. <BR /> <BR />As I said in my original answer, the Department of Education has received a considerable uplift. I am not saying for one second that the Department of Education or any Department, for that matter, is receiving all the funds that it requires, but all Departments have received considerable uplifts since the Assembly returned.”
“That proposal will support a suite of pilot programmes focused on early intervention and building an appropriately skilled workforce. It is for the Education Minister to identify how his Department can deliver its priorities within its budget allocation.”
“We know that early years intervention provides the best long-term outcomes for our children, particularly those facing disadvantage. In addition to increases in the day-to-day budget for the Department of Education, the 2025-26 draft Budget provides £50 million for the early learning and childcare strategy, doubling the amount for 2024-25. The Executive have also committed to providing a further £5 million in the June monitoring round. That funding is aimed at delivering improved outcomes for children and parents. <BR /> <BR />I also announced last week £27·5 million for the Department of Education’s proposal to support children with special educational needs (SEN) to reform services and ensure better outcomes for children.”
“Tackling educational underachievement is key to improving the life chances for individuals in our society, particularly those experiencing the most disadvantage. It is also vital for developing a thriving economy that offers opportunity for all. It is the responsibility of the education bodies and, ultimately, the Education Minister to ensure that schools and teachers are supported in addressing the issue. The Department of Education has received significant increases in funding from the Executive in recent years. Its 2024-25 opening resource budget was almost £300 million or 11.6% higher than in 2023-24. That is before any in-year allocations are taken into account. <BR /> <BR />The draft Budget for 2025-26 sees the Education resource DEL budget increasing by another 9·4%, excluding earmarked funding.”
“I welcome the contributions from Members on the order, which relates to the rates exemption for ATMs in designated rural areas. As things stand, the scheme is worth continuing for those who live in isolated rural communities and still depend on the availability of cash from ATMs. It will help to ensure that eligible ATMs are preserved in rural areas, providing greater access and support to those communities. I have listened to Members' comments about whether we can extend the scheme to urban settings and, perhaps, to rural settings further afield. I will look at that when we look at the small business rate relief scheme.”