£400 million reserve claim allocation agreed
Date published:
£400 million reserve claim funding to support departments and public services has been secured.
Minister John O’Dowd said: “Following intense negotiations and recognition of the significant financial challenges faced by the Executive, the Treasury has agreed to provide a reserve claim of £400 million for 2025/26 which will be repaid over three years.
“The Executive remains committed to safeguarding public services, and this approach will allow us to spread costs over a longer period, reducing pressure on those services.
“While this flexibility is welcome, it does not cover the full forecast overspend. We must therefore continue to reduce the overspend, and I remain committed to working with Ministerial colleagues to manage the remaining pressures.”
The £400 million secured through the reserve claim will be allocated to these departments on a pro-rata basis, reflecting their remaining forecast overspends.
- Department of Education - £214.6 million
- Department of Health - £185.4 million
The Minister added: “The Executive is committed to meaningful reform of how public services are designed and delivered.
“I am keen to ensure that the level of funding provided to the Executive meets the growing demand for public services here.
“I will continue to engage with the Treasury on the 3-year budget and a proper funding model for the Executive.”
Notes to editors:
- The Written Ministerial statement is available at https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/publications/written-ministerial-statement-public-expenditure-2025-26-reserve-claim
- The Reserve Claim will be repayable over three years: £80 million in 2026-27, £160 million in 2027-28 and £160 million in 2028-29.
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