Pivotal has submitted written evidence to the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee inquiry into the funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland. Summary of main points:

• Stability in government is essential for the proper use of public finances and the effective delivery of public services. The restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive in February 2024 is therefore very welcome.
• It is important that the UK Government provides financial settlements for Northern Ireland that are fair and sustainable. Recent years have been characterised by overstretched budgets, uncertainty and short–term rescue packages.
• The upcoming UK Spending Review provides the opportunity to put NI’s finances on a more stable, multi–year platform.
• The Executive must also take steps to ensure it gets the best from its own budgets, through appropriate short–term efficiencies, together with longer term transformation. 
• Increased revenue raising should be fully considered as an option for generating more funding for services.
• A specific issue that the UK Government must address is the ‘cliff–edge’ in funding that NI is facing in 2026–27, when the additions in the 2024 financial package no longer apply.
• The UK Budget in autumn 2024 provided significant additional funding for Northern Ireland. It will be important for the Executive to use this funding strategically to bring about improved outcomes and longer term reform