Think tank urges Stormont Executive to speed up efforts on a range of fronts

The Stormont Executive has been urged to “accelerate efforts to tackle a swathe of problems” one year on from devolution’s restoration.

Think tank Pivotal’s assessment of the first 12 months since the DUP lifted its boycott concludes that “too often the executive makes aspirational announcements that lack detail”.

While it welcomes the stability last February’s restoration of the institutions brought, Pivotal’s report says that alone is “not enough in itself to improve people’s day-to-day lives”.

The think tank calls for “urgent and focussed action” on multiple fronts to address mounting pressures on public services, alongside solutions for longer-term societal and economic challenges.

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Its says that despite progress in a number of areas, the restored executive needs to place greater emphasis on tackling problems like a weak economy, collapsing health and social care services, the crisis in wastewater infrastructure, and affordable housing.

The report highlights four key areas where progress is needed this year:

:: Delivery of meaningful improvements on the issues that matter to people’s lives day to day, in a way that can be felt by individuals and families;

:: Agreement and action on plans to address Northern Ireland’s long-standing structural problems;

:: Transformation plans for public services so they are fit for purpose now and in the future;

:: Effective management of public finances to get the best for everyone in Northern Ireland.

The positives welcomed by Pivotal include the publication of a draft programme for government, agreement on a draft budget for 2025-26, the publication of an environmental improvement plan, and a £25m pot for childcare.

However, it argues that the executive needs to do much more in 2025, including moving from “vague aspirations to agreeing actions plans”, including a commitment to measurable improvements in key public services and proper consideration of revenue raising.

Pivotal director Ann Watt said 2025 was a “crucial time for Northern Ireland”.

“While some good progress has been made since the re-establishment of the institutions, the executive needs to go further and faster,” she said.

“There is no easy path for policymakers, but this year they need to demonstrate real improvements that people will notice day to day.”

Ms Watt described the draft programme for government as an “important milestone” but said it came with “significant caveats”.

She said a lack of targets and plans for delivery was concerning.

“That chimes with a lot of what the executive says and does – there is a plenty of aspiration, but few concrete plans,” she said.

“The scale of the challenge facing the executive is enormous. The best approach may be to jointly agree a small number of priority areas where it can realistically make a difference in the rest of this mandate.”