One year since devolution was restored, the Executive needs to do much more in 2025 to address the huge challenges facing Northern Ireland. The stability of Stormont over the last year, following significant periods of collapse, is welcome – but the pace of actual change has been too slow. Policy development and implementation must accelerate over the next 12 months.

Stormont showed stability in its first year back after collapse, which was welcome, but too often the Executive makes aspirational announcements that lack detail. Plans for change must be specific, affordable and lead to real improvements. Political stability is not enough in itself to improve people’s day–to–day lives.

Pivotal’s report Review of the first year of the restored Northern Ireland Executive says that, despite progress in a number of areas, the Executive needs to accelerate efforts to tackle a swathe of problems like a weak economy, collapsing health and social care services, the crisis in wastewater infrastructure, and affordable housing.