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New Priorities

The world has changed dramatically since the Northern Ireland Executive finalized its 3-year Programme for Government and Budget, just over a year ago. Not only has there been a severe economic downturn and credit squeeze, but also the capital receipts upon which much of the Budget was based have not materialised.

In short the Executive’s Budget has been completely undermined - the assumptions underpinning it are no longer realistic, and the priority targets it has set will not be met unless there is considerable change.

The SDLP believes that it is essential the Executive revisits its spending priorities.

However the DUP and Sinn Féin have refused to change anything.

It is not credible for them to argue that to divert extra resources into priority areas would mean cutbacks in health and education and therefore change cannot be considered. If the Executive is serious about achieving its economic and social objectives then the Programme for Government and Budget need to be recast.

Doing nothing is not an option. More jobs, more houses, more nurses mean a stronger economy.

The SDLP has been challenged to say not only where it would like to direct more resources - but also where it would find the money.

The Executive has a fairly straightforward role as a Government: It has no powers of taxation, no currency to manage and no leverage over interest rates. Therefore it is all the more vital that it manages its one economic lever, public expenditure, optimally.

In managing public expenditure in the economic downturn…

  1. We must stimulate economic activity protecting businesses and jobs from the impacts of the recession.
  2. We must prepare business and employees for the recovery phase of the recession.
  3. We must protect vulnerable households and individuals from the worst impacts of the global recession.

Policy Document: New Priorities

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