Pivotal has responded to the Northern Ireland Executive’s consultation on the draft Programme for Government for 2024–27.

The main points in Pivotal’s response are:

• Publishing the draft Programme for Government (PfG) is a welcome and significant step by the Executive.
• The nine priorities chosen are important and appropriate, but poverty and wastewater infrastructure should also be considered.
• Future allocations of funding should follow the priorities set out in the PfG.
• The PfG should include targets which are clear, focused and achievable, so that progress can be measured.
• Reform and transformation of public services are essential. More detail is needed about plans in this area.
• A clearer explanation of the roles of the nine priorities and the Missions is needed, as well as the connection between them.
• The Wellbeing Dashboard is impressive, and it needs to be used effectively to monitor progress and improve decision–making.
• The UK Budget provided significant new funding in England for public services and investment. Pivotal urges the Executive to be similarly ambitious, ensuring that its additional funding is used to transform public services.
• The most important thing for the Executive and civil service now is to ensure the PfG is used to help deliver real change for people in their day–to–day lives.