Northern Ireland's Public Services Face Major Crisis Amid Funding Shortfalls
A government committee highlights severe challenges in healthcare, education, and policing due to a lack of financial support.
Public services in Northern Ireland, encompassing healthcare, education, and law enforcement, are experiencing significant strain attributed to inadequate funding, a recent report by a government committee has disclosed.
According to the Northern Ireland select committee, patients are facing considerable wait times in accident and emergency departments, with some waiting over 12 hours for treatment.
The committee has also pointed out that mental health needs in Northern Ireland are 40% greater than those in any other region of the UK, alongside hospital waiting lists, which rank among the worst in the nation.
The report noted alarming statistics regarding mental health, stating that Northern Ireland recently achieved the highest rate of antidepressant prescriptions per capita globally.
Furthermore, children with special educational needs are reportedly waiting over a year to receive necessary support services.
In terms of policing, the budget for the Northern Ireland Police Service has remained unchanged since 2010, despite ongoing challenges including cross-community recruitment and initiatives aimed at addressing paramilitarism, a lingering issue from the Troubles.
Testimonies from various stakeholders, including the Law Society of Northern Ireland, suggested that public services stand on the brink of collapse.
Former MP Stephen Farry, who co-directs Ulster University’s strategic policy unit, emphasized the urgent need for awareness among London’s political leadership regarding the severity of Northern Ireland's public service crisis compared to Great Britain, stating that the extent of the crisis is significantly worse.
Committee chair Tonia Antoniazzi remarked on the prolonged nature of the crisis affecting Northern Ireland’s public services, pointing out that chronic underfunding is severely impacting the daily lives of individuals across various communities.
The committee has urged the government to align funding for the fiscal year 2026-2027 with the actual needs of Northern Ireland.
The report indicated that Northern Ireland has the highest public spending per capita in the UK but generates the least revenue per capita.
This disparity highlights the region's reliance on a “block grant,” which is allocated to the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The funding mechanism is based on the Barnett formula, which guarantees that each devolved nation receives a proportional increase in funding equivalent to any increase in national funding provided in England.
To address the dire condition of Northern Ireland's public services, the previous government had increased funding, providing an additional £124 per person for the public sector.
The committee acknowledged ongoing research aimed at assessing whether this funding should be increased further.
During the previous committee's inquiry in 2023-24, it was reported that the funding and delivery of public services in the region were under immense pressure.
The committee observed that, one year later, little progress appears to have been made.
Following the resumption of power-sharing in 2024 after a two-year standstill, the government introduced a £3.3 billion financial package.
However, as part of this agreement, the Stormont government was encouraged to seek additional revenue sources for public services, a move that has been perceived as politically challenging with limited options available to the devolved administration.
According to the Northern Ireland select committee, patients are facing considerable wait times in accident and emergency departments, with some waiting over 12 hours for treatment.
The committee has also pointed out that mental health needs in Northern Ireland are 40% greater than those in any other region of the UK, alongside hospital waiting lists, which rank among the worst in the nation.
The report noted alarming statistics regarding mental health, stating that Northern Ireland recently achieved the highest rate of antidepressant prescriptions per capita globally.
Furthermore, children with special educational needs are reportedly waiting over a year to receive necessary support services.
In terms of policing, the budget for the Northern Ireland Police Service has remained unchanged since 2010, despite ongoing challenges including cross-community recruitment and initiatives aimed at addressing paramilitarism, a lingering issue from the Troubles.
Testimonies from various stakeholders, including the Law Society of Northern Ireland, suggested that public services stand on the brink of collapse.
Former MP Stephen Farry, who co-directs Ulster University’s strategic policy unit, emphasized the urgent need for awareness among London’s political leadership regarding the severity of Northern Ireland's public service crisis compared to Great Britain, stating that the extent of the crisis is significantly worse.
Committee chair Tonia Antoniazzi remarked on the prolonged nature of the crisis affecting Northern Ireland’s public services, pointing out that chronic underfunding is severely impacting the daily lives of individuals across various communities.
The committee has urged the government to align funding for the fiscal year 2026-2027 with the actual needs of Northern Ireland.
The report indicated that Northern Ireland has the highest public spending per capita in the UK but generates the least revenue per capita.
This disparity highlights the region's reliance on a “block grant,” which is allocated to the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The funding mechanism is based on the Barnett formula, which guarantees that each devolved nation receives a proportional increase in funding equivalent to any increase in national funding provided in England.
To address the dire condition of Northern Ireland's public services, the previous government had increased funding, providing an additional £124 per person for the public sector.
The committee acknowledged ongoing research aimed at assessing whether this funding should be increased further.
During the previous committee's inquiry in 2023-24, it was reported that the funding and delivery of public services in the region were under immense pressure.
The committee observed that, one year later, little progress appears to have been made.
Following the resumption of power-sharing in 2024 after a two-year standstill, the government introduced a £3.3 billion financial package.
However, as part of this agreement, the Stormont government was encouraged to seek additional revenue sources for public services, a move that has been perceived as politically challenging with limited options available to the devolved administration.
