Official Report: Monday 09 December 2024

Mr Speaker: The Assembly is due to debate a motion on a democratic consent resolution tomorrow. I want to draw to Members' attention a challenge to the democratic consent process, which is to be heard at the High Court this afternoon. Therefore, questions about that process and the vote are sub judice, and I ask Members not to raise the matter before the hearing. Any attempts to do so will be ruled out of order.

Ms Ní Chuilín: I will make a short statement in relation to some of the comments that Mr Phillip Brett made last week about boxing. On the back of that, I took it upon myself to meet some of the boxing clubs from right across the community, and then I received the statement on Friday morning. It is clear that a resolution was reached. It was clear last week when his comments were made, and rather than having verbal fisticuffs in this place, I have invited a delegation of boxing clubs, which are cross-community — they go from Bangor right up to our constituency and into south Antrim and other areas — to come up here, probably in the second week of January.

I put on the record that a resolution was reached, and, since then, some people have spoken outside that agreed resolution, which is a matter of regret. However, it is well known and well accepted that any lessons that need to be learned will be learned from this. I am quite confident about that. I am also quite confident that, when it comes to competitions, we are all very inclusive about getting behind our boxers, and rightly so, given the medals that they have yielded for whatever jurisdiction they choose to represent. Our boxers are no different, and any political commentary around that should be done and dusted and then left, because it has caused a lot of concern in a lot of the boxing clubs. They have all said that it is not in keeping with the spirit that they have operated in for decades. They ask us all to get together to give them our support. They are more than willing to talk to us all, and they are happy to hear any challenges, feedback or concerns.

I put on record my support for all the boxing clubs and all the boxers. Hopefully, we can learn lessons from them that, once agreements have been made or matches have happened in rings, once you get out of it, that is it done. I invite every party to meet that delegation, hopefully on Monday 16 January, all being well.

Ms Bunting: I rise to commend and congratulate the governor and prison officers of Hydebank Wood, following an unannounced inspection by the Criminal Justice Inspection in June, the reports on which have just been released. The great news is that Hydebank Wood has attained the highest achievable level for prisoner outcomes against the healthy prison tests, and that is a first for any prison in Northern Ireland. It is a tremendous result, given how the prison has transformed itself in a mere 10 years. Such success should be lauded far and wide, and it is right that we in the House should recognise and praise such a significant achievement after such considerable efforts and work.

Indeed, the Criminal Justice Inspection, in its inspection reports into both the secure college and the women's prison, stated that Hydebank:

that His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons has "inspected in England and Wales."

It is immensely difficult for prisons to achieve that standard, especially given the extent of issues that they face, including the high levels of remand prisoners, for whom there is little incentive to engage in rehabilitation, not to mention the extent of the complex needs of the prisoners with whom they work. Those outstanding reports are therefore a testament to the dedication and commitment of officers as well as to their ethos and attitude of getting to know the prisoners whom they are looking after and encouraging them to engage and change, including through offering a wide range of activities and learning opportunities. That approach is crucial if we are to reduce reoffending rates and ensure a justice system that is effective in delivering positive outcomes for prisoners and for the good of wider society when they are released.

I have no doubt that the officers will not rest on their laurels but will build upon those excellent foundations. In the interim, all that remains is to wish them hearty congratulations and continued success.

Mr Dickson: Today, I celebrate a very personal milestone: I am five years cancer free.

Some Members: Hear, hear.

Mr Dickson: I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on 11 July 2019, and five years ago today, at 7.30 am on Monday 9 December 2019, the day after my birthday, I was in an operating theatre in Belfast City Hospital. Nine hours later, I was recovering in intensive care, following an oesophagectomy, one of the longest and most complex elective surgeries, and I returned to the theatre 24 hours later due to complications and had a 12-week stay in hospital.

Oesophageal cancer is one of the six least survivable cancers in the world, one for which there is currently no widespread screening for early detection. Approximately 220 cases are diagnosed in Northern Ireland each year, from which only 17·3% of people are alive five years after diagnosis. The poorly developed cancer strategy coupled with the worst waiting times anywhere in the United Kingdom make for bleak reading in Northern Ireland. As chair of the all-party group on cancer, I call on the Department of Health and the Minister of Health to redouble their efforts to deliver a strategy and improve outcomes for all cancer patients. We need to support the work of the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre and the wider network of clinicians, researchers and others, including the internationally acclaimed research work done at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research. Cancer patients cannot wait. Cancer cannot wait.

I am a trustee of the cancer charity, OGCancerNI. We support, communicate with and advocate for patients, families and health professionals. We fundraise for research, and we support families and carers. Our volunteers work tirelessly not only to fundraise but to get our message out: catch it early. We provide emotional and practical support to patients and a weekly information point at Belfast City Hospital.

On a personal note, I want to place on record my thanks to all those who supported me in my cancer journey, including my GP, Dr Ian Kernohan; the team at Antrim Area Hospital that did my diagnostic scope and gave me the devastating news that I had oesophageal cancer; the Macmillan nurse specialists who took time to talk to me in Antrim; the team in the Cancer Centre, who gave me hope and support; my oncologist, Dr Richard Turkington; the cancer nurse specialists who guided me through gruelling chemotherapy; my surgeon, Mr Andrew Kennedy, who, a number of days after surgery, gave me the good news that my surgery had cured the cancer; the theatre staff and intensive care staff; the staff in ward 2 north; and the family and friends who journeyed with me through all of that. Thank you. The radical re-plumbing of my body brings me daily challenges, but I am a survivor and grateful to all who have helped me.

Oesophageal cancer, like many other cancers, does not differentiate between age or sex, and knowing and recognising the signs and symptoms are crucial to early diagnosis. If anyone suffers from any of the following symptoms for longer than three weeks, consult your doctor: persistent indigestion; difficulty swallowing food or food sticking; heartburn and acid reflux; hiccups that will not go away; and unexplained weight loss.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to share my personal story today and to encourage others.

Some Members: Hear, hear.

Mr Butler: I commend the Member. His ears would have been burning last week as Kellie Armstrong and I talked about him. I say, "Well done" in his battle against cancer. We are much better off for having him in the Chamber.

Before I move on to my statement, I pay tribute to Seán Fitzsimons, as, I know, the leader of the Opposition will do. Sadly, Seán, who was known to all of us, passed away at the end of last week. I put on record my appreciation to Seán and his family. He was an amazing disability advocate. We will miss him greatly, and I look forward to the Member for South Belfast's tribute.

It is a real honour to be able to stand up in the Chamber during Members' statements and talk about a wide range of issues, and we will get a lot of that today. I welcome the change wrought in the last 24 hours in Syria with the end of the Assad regime. Bashar al-Assad has held an iron grip since 2000, as did his father before him. It was a regime that thought that gassing its citizens was fit for purpose. They used chemical weapons and imprisoned women and children in horrendous conditions. From 2011 to 2023, over 600,000 lives were lost — people murdered — and 6·7 million Syrians were displaced across the globe. Lagan Valley is better off for some of those Syrians who share our space. If you were listening to the radio and the stories from Syrians, you will have heard and sensed the sense of relief, jubilation and excitement that they now have.

Regrettably, that moment comes with some caution, and some Syrians have been talking about that caution, because we have been there before. When we celebrated the end of the fighting in Afghanistan a number of years ago, sadly, the Taliban then took control in 2021. Just seven months after taking control, the nefarious gender-controlling hand of the Taliban started its systemic gender oppression. The first thing that they did was to ban post-primary education. Then there was the full covering of bodies and faces with a ban on intercity travelling for unaccompanied females of any age. They banned women and girls from parks and gyms and deployed armed guards to stop girls entering universities. Meryl Streep, the famous actress and singer, stated — she meant no humour in this — that:

Squirrels can sit in a park in the sun and travel without restriction in relative peace, which is not something that girls and women can do in Afghanistan.

As we rightly celebrate the moment of liberation with our Syrian friends, we need to be vigilant about what comes next and not to be slow in supporting open and democratic government and demanding human rights for all, so that Syria becomes the place that it once was — a wonderful, thriving place in the Middle East — and somewhere that can set an example.

Mr Speaker: The Member's time is up.

Mr Butler: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr O'Toole: As Mr Butler said, I want to pay tribute on the passing of our friend, a disability rights activist known to many Members across the Chamber, who passed away suddenly and tragically a couple of days ago: Seán Fitzsimons. To say that Seán was an extraordinary human being would be the most remarkable understatement. Like others, when I found out about Seán's passing, I was not just shocked but heartbroken and genuinely devastated.

I first knew Seán at school. He was a year or two behind me at St Patrick's Grammar School in Downpatrick many decades ago. He made an enormous contribution not just to the lives of people with disabilities in Northern Ireland and further afield but to campaigning and activism in this place. His passing is an immense tragedy for all of us — for people in the disability rights sector and for people who care about positive campaigning and public discourse in this place — but, particularly, for his wife, Nicole, and their baby, Ollie, who just recently turned one, his parents Seán and Sally and his wider family circle.

Seán was an extraordinary human being. In a career focused on disability rights, he made his mark in the Civil Service. Most recently, he led the project that delivered the Harkin International Disability Employment Summit, which was an extraordinary success.

It showcased not just disability employment issues but the city of Belfast around the world, and it held events here at Stormont. Seán was one of the leaders of that and was, rightly, given an award for his extraordinary work. Before that, he worked in several campaign groups and sector bodies, including Disability Action.

Much more than that, however, Seán was a person of immense courage, resilience and generosity of spirit. Seán was a member of our party, and he chaired our disabled group for a number of years. He was one of those people who was so generous in what he gave to others. He was not just a campaigner on issues that he cared about: he endowed others with his kindness and his passion for the world and for doing things better. Many a time, Seán dropped me a message to be encouraging. He would, perhaps, critique something that I had said but offer his ideas and gentle words of kindness and encouragement. That kind of person is not commonplace.

Seán Fitzsimons was not commonplace. He was an extraordinary human being. We are all reduced by his tragic passing, but, although his life was tragically short, his legacy will be long. His impact was immense, and his memory will be treasured by his family and all who knew him.

Mr Sheehan: Inniu, tugann na Náisiúin Aontaithe chun ár gcuimhne an cinedhíothú agus na daoine uilig go léir a maraíodh dá dheasca. I mí Aibreán na bliana seo, bhí sé 30 bliain ó bhí an cinedhíothú ann i Ruanda. I mí Iúil na bliana seo chugainn, beidh sé 30 bliain ó bhí an cinedhíothú ann in Srebrenica. Agus inniu, beidh sé ocht mí ó d’fhógair Francesca Albanese, rapporteur speisialta de chuid na Náisiún Aontaithe, go bhfuil cinedhíothú á imirt ag Iosrael ar mhuintir na Palaistíne. Go díreach an tseachtain seo caite, dúirt Amnesty International an rud céanna: go bhfuil cinedhíothú ar bun sa Phalaistín agus gurb é Iosrael atá ina bhun. Cá mhéad foras idirnáisiúnta, cá mhéad eagraíocht um chearta an duine agus cá mhéad cúirt a chaithfidh a rá gur cinedhíothú é sula gcreide lucht tacaíochta Iosrael é agus sula n-éirí siad as dul ar leithscéal Iosrael?

In áit dearcadh orthu féin agus ar an choir atá Iosrael a dhéanamh sa Mheánoirthear, is é rud atá tacadóirí Iosrael ag ionsaí na Náisiún Aontaithe, ag ionsaí na Cúirte Coiriúla Idirnáisiúnta agus ag ionsaí Francesca Albanese ag iarraidh a clú a bhriseadh. Más iontach le rá é, tá tíortha atá ina mballstáit de na Náisiúin Aontaithe agus a shínigh an Coinbhinsiún ar Chosc agus Pionósú Choir an Chinedhíothaithe, tá sin páirteach sna hionsaithe sin. Ach, le linn do na Stáit Aontaithe agus don Ghearmáin a bheith ag tabhairt na cluaise bodhaire do na heagraíochtaí idirnáisiúnta cionn is nach binn leo a mbriathra, agus le linn daofa páirt a ghlacadh sa bholscaireacht in éadan na Náisiún Aontaithe nó na Cúirte Coiriúla Idirnáisiúnta, ní hamhlaidh do chuid mhór grúpaí Giúdach ar fud an domhain. Shínigh 30 grúpa Giúdach ón Eoraip, ó Mheiriceá Thuaidh agus ó Iosrael, shínigh sin ráiteas ar na mallaibh ina dtugtar tacaíocht do Francesca Albanese agus don dlí idirnáisiúnta.

Inniu, táimid ag machnamh ar an chinedhíothú agus ar na daoine uile go léir a fuair bás dá dheasca. Tá fir, mná agus páistí ag fáil bháis dá dheasca anois láithreach. Ná bímis caoch ar an chinedhíothú sin toisc gur Arabaigh atá á marú.

Mr Robinson: Yesterday afternoon, I joined the families and friends of the deceased and injured to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Droppin' Well terrorist massacre. On the evening of 6 December 1982, a neighbour arrived at our house, three miles from Ballykelly. I was 10 years old. Our neighbour said that there were reports of a bomb explosion in Ballykelly at the Droppin' Well bar. In the background, we began to hear the wail of sirens. My father went into panic mode, as his brother worked in the bar as a DJ. He frantically made calls, only to learn that his brother, my uncle, had been taken unwell and was in bed, sick.

Luck was on our family's side that night, but, for many others, a horror was unfolding that would change their lives forever.

That night, cowards had walked into the Ballykelly bar and left a deadly device that brought the ceiling down on young people out having a dance and a drink at Christmastime. As a result, 17 were killed, and many more were injured, some with terrible, lifelong injuries. The bombing was a pointless act of evil republican terrorist violence that served no purpose other than to rob families of loved ones and to remove good and decent human beings from this world. It traumatised multiple families and left an indelible mark on the brave members of the emergency services who had to attend to the dead and the injured. Rather than divide the Ballykelly people, however, it brought them together, and today the community lives cheek by jowl, united in condemnation of terrorism.

I express my sincere thanks to the Cheshire Regiment Association, which facilitates that solemn annual event at Tamlaghtfinlagan in Ballykelly. Every year, we stand shoulder to shoulder with families and those brave former soldiers to comfort them, thank them and show them that we still care after the passing of all those years.

I say this to young people who romanticise terrorism: they were no defenders who carried out that atrocity; they were no heroes; and they were no soldiers of war. They were and are evil cowards who achieved nothing but to dish up hurt, pain and death. Terrorism cannot win. It has not won, and it must not win.

Ms Sheerin: I congratulate the Workspace Group in my constituency after its amazing accomplishment of winning the social enterprise of the year award. It received the award in Belfast a few weeks ago. The award is a marker of its success locally and of the amount of work that the group does, to which I can attest, given that it is based in Ballinascreen. I see the fantastic work that it does at a local level and how invaluable that work is to our community, to the groups that it funds and to all of us who benefit from it.

I will mention Patsy McShane especially. He won a lifetime achievement award a number of weeks ago. He is a founding member of the Workspace Group board and is known locally for his work with the credit union and various community groups. A lot of talent has come from Carnamoney, and Patsy's recognition is a testament to that.

Mr Brett: "Amateur hour", "Mickey Mouse", "a disgrace" and "unacceptable" are just some examples of the more acceptable parliamentary language that was used to describe the handling of the cancellation of Irish Premiership fixtures at the weekend. This must be pantomime season, because, when fans enquired, as they began travelling to matches, whether the games were going ahead, they were told, "Oh, yes, they are", but, when they arrived at the stadiums, they were told, "Oh, no, they aren't".

Across Northern Ireland, our football clubs have a devoted base of loyal and dedicated followers who, every Saturday, spend their hard-earned money booking buses and making transport arrangements to follow their Irish Premiership club. At the weekend, in my constituency and across Northern Ireland, those hard-working families once again spent hundreds of pounds to purchase tickets and make travel arrangements only to arrive at stadiums and have the matches cancelled at the very last minute.

It did not take Mystic Meg or, indeed, Barra Best to look out the window and see the gale-force winds. It was clear that those football matches would never be able to be played. Between 10.45 am and 3.45 pm, however, one by one, each game was cancelled. No decision was taken by the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) to prewarn fans in any way that the games would not be taking place. Clubs made travel arrangements, because, if they had not done so, they would have been liable to have points deducted or, indeed, be fined. The situation put players and fans in major danger. The authorities were clear that travel should be undertaken at the weekend only in the most exceptional and necessary circumstances. Had an early decision been made on Saturday that all games were to be cancelled, we could have avoided the disruption and, indeed, avoided people putting themselves in harm's way.

The debacle at the weekend should never be repeated. I call on the Northern Ireland Football League to reflect on how it handled the situation.

Ms Ferguson: I rise to welcome the announcement by the Minister for Communities that he has secured Executive agreement to extend welfare mitigations until March 2028. As Members know, the welfare mitigations were initially secured in 2016 to protect the most vulnerable in our society against Tory austerity. The welfare supplementary payments were automatically paid to anyone who would otherwise have been impacted by cruel welfare changes such as the bedroom tax, the benefit cap and the roll-out of the personal independence payment (PIP).

The Welfare Supplementary Payments (Amendment) Act 2022, which was brought forward by previous Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, extended most of the mitigations until March 2025. It also extended the bedroom tax mitigation indefinitely, which ensured that over 37,000 social housing tenants were permanently protected. Those mitigations are vital for so many people. In many cases, they are the difference between having enough food to eat and going to bed hungry. In many cases, they are the difference between being able to afford the rent and falling into housing stress or homelessness. The cost-of-living crisis has had a devastating impact on households across the North, with many people being plunged into poverty by rising costs.

Letting the mitigations collapse at a time when so many people are struggling to make ends meet would be unconscionable. The Communities Committee discussed the issue at length, and there was broad agreement that the mitigations should be extended and a creeping concern that time was running out to have the extension in place before the 31 March deadline. It was in that context that the Committee for Communities agreed to table a motion calling on the Minister to extend the mitigations. The announcement last Thursday that the Executive had agreed to extend the mitigations at their current levels will have come as a huge relief to the individuals and families who rely on them. I call on the Minister to work at pace to ensure that all the required steps are completed as quickly as possible and the 31 March cliff edge is averted.

In addition to extending the existing mitigations, the Minister must outline the long-term plans for the existing welfare mitigations and consider what new mitigations might be needed. It is simply unsustainable to continue moving the deadline into the future without any plan on how to protect people permanently. That way, we will all be back here in 2028, trying to avert the next scheduled cliff edge.

Last week, the Committee received a briefing from the Cliff Edge Coalition, which presented its three key asks: removal of the five-week wait for universal credit; removal of the two-child limit; and support for private renters affected by the local housing allowance. The Scottish Government recently took a positive step by announcing their intention to remove the two-child limit. That is the sort of radical action that we need here. The British Government need to follow suit and abolish the two-child limit.

Mr Dunne: I rise to celebrate a special anniversary in Northern Ireland's sporting history, as this season marks 25 years of the Belfast Giants ice hockey team. In their debut season in 2000, the Giants became the first professional ice hockey team in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Since then, the team has steadily grown its average attendance and its trophy cabinet as well interest in it across our country. The Giants have amassed an impressive array of titles, including multiple league championships, cup victories and prestigious play-off titles; indeed, they won the treble in 2023. Those triumphs have been a source of immense pride for Northern Ireland and have elevated the profile of ice hockey across the UK and, indeed, our world.

Based at their home in the SSE Arena, the Giants have introduced people from every corner of Northern Ireland and beyond to this exciting and entertaining sport. The Giants' influence extends far beyond their victories on the ice. They have been a pillar of community spirit and engagement, and they regularly give back through charitable initiatives and youth development and educational outreach programmes; indeed, they take great pride in dealing with and supporting families who have been affected by cancer. I know from personal experience just how valuable that outreach work by the Belfast Giants has been to constituents who have benefited from it.

I also acknowledge the role that the Belfast Giants have played in putting Belfast and Northern Ireland on the global map. Their presence in international tournaments has showcased our city and our country, while their success has attracted visitors, players, media attention and opportunities that have benefited our economy and shown the very best of Northern Ireland. That is something of which we can all be proud. The Giants' contribution to the cultural and sporting fabric of Belfast and Northern Ireland cannot be overstated.

It is also worth recognising and celebrating the role that the Giants have played in developing the rich historical and cultural links between Northern Ireland and the United States and, indeed, Canada. Since 2015, the Friendship Four tournament has brought players and fans from the University of Notre Dame, Boston University, Harvard University and Merrimack College to our shores. I firmly believe that there is an exciting future ahead for the Giants. We look forward to the redevelopment of Dundonald International Ice Bowl, which will improve the club's training facilities and give many aspiring young players an opportunity to have a career in the sport — something that was not on the agenda over 25 years ago.

This is an opportunity to reflect on the hard work of everybody who has been part of the journey. I commend and pay tribute to the management team, including current coach, Adam Keefe, and head of hockey, Steve Thornton, and all those who had the vision to bring ice hockey to our shores. I wish the Belfast Giants every continued success —

Mr Speaker: The Member's time is up.

Mr Dunne: — for the next 25 years, and more.

Mr Gaston: I pay tribute to the many food banks across Northern Ireland and highlight the vital work that those organisations do to ensure that those in need do not go hungry. Over the past number of years, I have worked closely with my local food bank to support multiple families in the Ballymena area who have found themselves in difficulty. During this season of goodwill, there can be an increased focus on such causes, but the reality is that this is a matter that needs to be supported 12 months of the year. I have witnessed first-hand the incredible work that the food bank volunteers do all year round to ensure that those who find themselves struggling have somewhere to reach out to for support and advice.

My constituency office, as well as being registered to issue food bank vouchers, is now a registered food bank drop-off point, which not only promotes the charity but enables people who can donate to do so during opening hours. With the current cost-of-living pressures, many people find themselves choosing between heating their home and eating. I urge anyone who has the resources to support those struggling to do so through buying an extra item when out shopping or by donating directly to the food bank to allow it to source the critical items on which it is running low. As the author of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' observed:

There will be many this season with nothing under the Christmas tree and little in the cupboards. I trust that those who are blessed with extra provision will support their local food bank to ensure that no one goes hungry this Christmas.

Mr Speaker, while I am on my feet, I pay tribute to those who braved the elements of Storm Darragh over the weekend to keep the country moving. I pay particular tribute and give particular thanks to the staff of Northern Ireland Electricity who worked hard day and night to restore power to thousands of households throughout the weekend and to keep people such as me updated when we sought updates for those placed on the critical connection list. I also highlight the work of the farming community and pay tribute to it. The farming community has also braved the elements to clear the roads of fallen trees and debris. Many roads would still be blocked were it not for those people and their help. At a time when the Labour Government have treated farmers so badly and when, once again, the local community was in need, farmers answered the call.

Mr Speaker: That brings Members' statements to a conclusion.

Mr Speaker: Connie Egan has sought leave to present a public petition in accordance with Standing Order 22. You have up to three minutes, Ms Egan.

Ms Egan: Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is an honour to be here today to present this petition on the diagnosis and management of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) in Northern Ireland on behalf of members of Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, particularly its campaigners in Northern Ireland. Currently, the number of signatures on the petition exceeds 1,600. It is extremely heartening to see representatives of the Ehlers-Danlos Support UK community, some of whom have travelled from other nations in the UK for this moment, in the Public Gallery. I had the opportunity to meet them earlier.

The material ask of the petition is to end the neglect of the diagnosis and management of people with most types of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in Northern Ireland, which cause the utmost anxiety, distress and unnecessary pain. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are genetic connective tissue disorders with body-wide symptoms that can be disabling, affecting all aspects of life. The most common type — hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome — is difficult to diagnose because there is no single test. That often leads to those who have EDS feeling ignored and unrecognised. I hope that this petition's being presented today in the Chamber gives you the recognition that you deserve.

Mr Speaker, I ask that the petition be passed to the Minister of Health to draw his attention to the substantial gaps in knowledge on this condition in Northern Ireland that lead to common misdiagnosis and harmful consequences for those seeking medical care. We ask him to create a new care pathway, which falls within his remit and is happening elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Work has begun in England, for example, to create a primary care pathway for those presenting with symptoms. Early diagnosis is essential to give someone with EDS the best chance of having a good quality of life. The petition is part of the #EnoughIsEnough campaign. It aims to give a voice to those who have, for so long, been ignored. Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, which initiated the petition, has the vision of ensuring that, across the UK, people with EDS or HSD are connected, heard and supported and have equitable access to care. That is the core of the petition.

Finally, I thank and pay tribute to my constituent Mandy McCreight. Mandy is a tireless advocate for those with EDS and disabilities. She volunteers her time to ensure that those living with the condition have support and access to the services that they need and know that they are not alone. There is little awareness or understanding in our society of EDS. I would have included myself in that until Mandy brought the issue to my attention. I thank her, the team at Ehlers-Danlos Support UK and everyone living with the condition for their advocacy and campaigning and for enabling me to bring the petition to the Assembly today.

Mr Speaker: I now invite you to approach the Table to present your petition.

Mr Speaker: Thank you. I will ensure that the petition is presented to the Minister of Health, and I will send a copy to the Health Committee.

Ms Ennis: I beg to move

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: The Business Committee has agreed to allocate one hour for the debate. The proposer will have up to 10 minutes to move the motion and 10 minutes to make a winding-up speech. All other Members will have five minutes. Please open the debate on the motion.

Ms Ennis: Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. The Assembly Commission has a duty under section 40 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to provide the Assembly, or ensure that the Assembly is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Assembly's purposes. Before I go into the detail of the budget, I take this opportunity to formally record, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, my sincere thanks to Assembly Commission staff, who continue to professionally support the work of the Assembly with enduring energy, commitment, resilience and dedication.

The Assembly Commission develops a draft budget for each year to ensure that it can deliver all the services that are required by the Assembly. The draft budget is scrutinised by the Audit Committee, with input from the Department of Finance to help inform the Committee's scrutiny. The 2025-26 draft budget was presented to the Audit Committee on 13 November. Following its scrutiny of the budget, the Committee wrote to the Finance Minister on 15 November, and the draft budget 2025-26 document was subsequently presented to the Assembly on 20 November 2024. Those documents inform today's debate. This motion, and the subsequent vote, enable the Assembly to determine the resources that the Commission will be given to enable the Assembly to carry out its legislative functions. Once agreed, the budget will be notified to the Department of Finance for inclusion in any Budget presented by the Minister of Finance. For many years, the Commission's investment in areas such as staffing, ICT and building maintenance has been limited due to the stop/start nature of Assembly business and the associated reputational risk of investing in that context. As a result, this budget reflects the need for investment in those key areas.

I will now give an overview of the main figures in the Assembly Commission's draft budget for 2025-26. The total budget for 2025-26 is £64·2 million for resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL), which is an increase of £5·7 million on the 2024-25 budget position, and £3·1 million for capital DEL, which is an increase of £0·1 million on the 2024-25 budget position. The budget excludes costs that are associated with the operation of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee, as those are separately funded directly by HM Treasury and are therefore ring-fenced.

The first category that is included in the Assembly Commission's budget is income. Next year, the Commission expects to receive income of £0·6 million, all of which relates to the recovery of the costs of ministerial salaries from Departments. The second category is salaries and expenses that are paid to Members. That covers a range of areas, including Members' salaries, constituency office running costs, support staff costs, travel, and all other costs that are associated with Members.

The total budget for Member-related costs for 2025-26 is £20·9 million. Member-associated expenditure is currently payable under the provisions of the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses Determination (Northern Ireland) 2026, as amended by the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) (Amendment) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2020, which is referred to as "the determination". An updated determination was approved by the Assembly Commission on 1 October 2024. The Assembly Commission intends to decide the publication date in January 2025. The 2025-26 draft budget is based on the provisions of the 2024 determination.

The budget for salaries that are payable to Members and Assembly officeholders is £7·2 million. The Assembly Commission is considering the introduction of legislation to form a new remuneration board to independently determine Members' salaries and pensions. Therefore, the Commission has not made any attempt to predict how Members' salaries or pensions may be impacted on by any such legislation. The budget is therefore based on the rates that are set out in the current determination, assuming the prescribed inflationary increase.

The amount that Members may recover in order to meet the costs of running a constituency office, including rents, rates and the cost of support staff, is expected to be £13·1 million. The budget provides for an increase in the maximum recoverable allowance for constituency office operating costs, as that allowance has not increased since 2020, and to enable Members to procure printers that were previously provided centrally by the Assembly Commission. The budget also provides for an increase in the maximum recoverable rental for constituency offices, as that allowance has not increased since 2016. Provision has also been made for increases in Members' and staff travel allowances, as those have not increased since 2016. Payments to Members in respect of travel costs are budgeted at £0·3 million.

Other costs for Members include winding-up, resettlement and any ill-health retirement expenses that may occur, and those have been budgeted at £0·1 million. The 2024 determination introduces additional funding that is specifically for security-related costs for the provision of security measures at constituency offices and/or at a Member's private dwelling. It also introduces additional support to Members who take a period of maternity, adoptive or shared parental leave. A further new provision will enable additional funding to be provided for making reasonable adjustments to constituency offices that are not covered under the terms of their lease in order to accommodate a disabled member of staff or to facilitate access for disabled members of the public. Together, those have been budgeted at £0·2 million.

The third major category in the Assembly Commission's budget covers salary payments for Commission staff and the administrative costs that are incurred in delivering the full range of services that are needed by the Assembly. Commission staff salary costs are budgeted at £26·2 million, which includes a net increase of 16 staff. The additional staff will perform increased support and scrutiny from a legal and parliamentary services perspective, as a proportionate response to recommendations from the renewable heat incentive (RHI) inquiry; to address issues that were identified in the Mediahuis judgement; to ensure better organisational resilience in the Bill Office and Business Office and Committee teams; to expand in-house communications and broadcast-production capabilities; and to provide additional administrative support. An increase in employers' National Insurance contributions for Assembly Commission staff, Members and Members' support staff, as was notified in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Westminster Budget on 30 October 2024, has been incorporated in the Assembly Commission's budget at a cost of £0·6 million.

Administration costs are budgeted at £12·1 million. Administration costs cover a wide range of expenditure items including supporting Committees, costs of drafting private Members' Bills, building rates, utility costs, repairs and maintenance costs, and third-party support for the business-critical IT systems such as broadcasting, catering and research. Historically, there has been a significant underinvestment in IT infrastructure in the Assembly Commission. Projects are therefore ongoing to modernise the Commission's IT infrastructure to make it fit for purpose and to ensure that the Assembly is supported appropriately and that the network is secure from the increasing risk of cyberthreat.

As Members will be aware, there are a number of issues with water ingress in Parliament Buildings, related to the roof replacement project, which was completed in 2015. The Assembly Commission issued legal proceedings against those contracted to undertake that work and is seeking recovery of the full cost of repairs. Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), which is managing the works on the Commission's behalf, has informed the Commission that only limited, remedial works will be undertaken in the current financial year. Those will initially seek to address any remaining health and safety concerns. In addition to that work, there are a number of other planned maintenance projects.

The next category is payments to parties under the financial assistance for political parties (FAPP) scheme 2024. The 2025-26 budget for the FAPP scheme is £1·1 million, which incorporates an inflationary increase.

The penultimate category relates to depreciation charges, which are budgeted at £4·6 million. That is mostly due to the estimated depreciation charge on the value of Parliament Buildings.

Turning to capital expenditure, the Assembly Commission has identified the need for capital investment of £3·1 million. Some of the expenditure relates to projects that were originally budgeted for in earlier years but, for a number of business reasons, have been deferred. The capital plan includes a project to deliver partial electronic access control, which will enhance security controls within Parliament Buildings, and a project to replace the existing legislative Bill-drafting software, which is coming to the end of its useful life. That software is critical to supporting and delivering the legislative programme of the Assembly. Also included is expenditure to update the IT network and IT applications, the creation of a new Assembly website, the upgrading of a lift to accommodate larger wheelchairs and the replacement of the automatic fire detection system within Parliament Buildings.

Members, I am sure that you will be glad to know that that is the end of my speech. I commend the Assembly Commission's budget proposals for 2025-26 to the House.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Sinéad. I call Diane Forsythe, Deputy Chair of the Audit Committee.

Ms Forsythe (The Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee): Normally, the Audit Committee would produce a full report outlining its deliberations on the draft budgets for the Assembly Commission, the Audit Office and the Public Services Ombudsman. However, because of the tight time frame for the 2025-26 Budget process, the Committee reported by way of a letter that was sent to the Minister of Finance. That is the letter that is referenced in the motion.

Before I give some detail on the Committee's scrutiny of the Commission's budget, I will outline the background to the Committee's approach. The Committee followed the approach set out in its arrangement with the Assembly Commission, which reflects the approach used by previous Audit Committees. To reflect the constitutional independence of the Assembly from the Executive, a methodology was introduced in 2016 similar to that adopted by the Audit Committee in agreeing the Main Estimates for the Audit Office and the Public Services Ombudsman. Incidentally, the Committee has recently started a piece of work in which it will re-examine its more formal arrangements for agreeing the Commission's budget. The intention is that that review will be concluded and an updated agreement between the Committee and the Commission will be codified before the end of the current mandate.

The Committee commenced its scrutiny of the Commission's indicative budget at its meeting on 18 November 2024. As Members will be aware, the Commission has a legal requirement to meet all costs associated with Members, including salaries, allowances, expenses, Members' staffing costs and pension contributions.

Those budget elements are determination-driven and are not under the control of the Commission. Officials advised the Committee that the Commission intends to bring forward new legislation to establish an independent remuneration board to determine Members' salaries and replace the former independent financial review panel (IFRP). Members should note that the budget for 2025-26 does not estimate the impact of future determinations once the board is established. However, the Commission recently agreed an updated determination for 2024, and officials confirmed that that will be published sooner rather than later. The Committee welcomes that update.

During the recent evidence session with Commission officials, members covered all aspects of the indicative budget for 2025-26. However, certain issues were explored in more detail.

They included the cost of enhanced scrutiny, including a significant strengthening of the secretariat; members' personal security and that of their constituency offices; the Commission information systems (IS) strategy; and the ongoing potential financial impact of roof repairs to Parliament Buildings. The increase in resource DEL is primarily due to the planned recruitment of 16 new members of secretariat staff. That is a necessary and welcome increase in resource to assist us all in our scrutiny of the Executive. Other cost increases included MLA constituency costs and party allowances and a modest increase for secretariat staff salaries to reflect pay progression.

The amount of capital DEL has been reduced since last year's Budget. Members heard that other planned capital works are needed to address underinvestment in the fabric of the Building in previous years and viewed them as necessary to face the challenge of a fully functioning Assembly. The works included the continuing enhancements to the Long Gallery, the Blue Flax and the visitors' restaurant. The Commission also intends to commence a project to make the non-public areas of the Building more secure via a partial secure access project. The Committee welcomes those projects and looks forward to seeing the works being progressed as quickly as possible.

The Committee was given further information from the Commission on the ongoing issues in relation to the remedial work that was required for Parliament Buildings' roof. Members will be aware that the issue remains in litigation, and the Committee will seek updates on the potential impacts on future budgets in due course.

Before closing, I again record the Committee's appreciation of all the Assembly staff who work in the Building, often behind the scenes but, at times, very much in the public glare. They make a significant contribution to the democratic process, and I am sure that all Members will agree that we value their commitment and support.

The Committee, in coming to its conclusion, was mindful not only of the wider public expenditure position but of the need for a well-resourced and fully functioning Assembly, now more than ever. As the Committee set out in its letter to the Minister of Finance, it agreed that the Executive's draft Budget document for 2025-26 should make provision for the Assembly Commission to have a resource DEL budget of £64·197 million —

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Time is up.

Ms Forsythe: — and a capital DEL budget of £3·061 million. The Committee looks —

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Sorry, Diane. Your time is up.

Ms Forsythe: Sorry. Thank you.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: You are OK. That is much appreciated.

Mr Gaston: When I read the Commission's briefing to assist the Audit Committee in its scrutiny of the Commission's budget, I noticed that the first paragraph quoted section 40(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998:

I also draw Members' attention to paragraph 75 of the briefing paper, which says that, "The 2025-26 budget for FAPP" now sits at £1·048 million and:

I remind the House that the 3% uplift did not apply equally to all parties. No, the Commission decided that, when it came to the Assembly, apparently, some staff were more equal than others. Sinn Féin got an additional £90,000 in public money; the DUP got an additional £45,000; and the Alliance Party, too, obtained additional moneys. It seemed that other parties, like mine, could just do with what they have had for the past eight years.

It is worse than that, however. Since the 3% uplift in the budget for the FAPP scheme was agreed, we have had the Michael McMonagle scandal. He was universally acknowledged inside and outside the House to have been a Sinn Féin press officer. He was employed as a constituency officer worker by a succession of MLAs, including our First Minister and the Sinn Féin Member for North Antrim, Philip McGuigan. On 23 October, when the First Minister was before the Executive Office Committee, I asked her how many days a week Michael McMonagle was in her constituency office. After all —

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Mr Gaston, I ask you to return to the substance of the motion.

Mr Gaston: I am coming back to it, Principal Deputy Speaker.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: No. You need to return to the substance of the motion, please.

Mr Gaston: After all, it is expenditure associated with the scheme that we are talking about. Mr McMonagle was employed by the First Minister from March to May 2020. As detailed in paragraph 18 of the report, the money is for "expenditure associated with Members", not political parties or press offices. At the Committee, the First Minister would not say how many days a week. It is pertinent that we talk about that today. Sadly, on that day, the Chair of the Committee, true to form, was anxious to make sure that she avoided that question.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Mr Gaston, this is not about TEO Committee.

Mr Gaston: No, but we are talking about FAPP.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Excuse me. Will you take your seat, please?

Mr Gaston, I remind you that the debate is about the Assembly Commission's budget; it is not about TEO Committee, the Committee Chair or anyone else. If you have any questions about those issues, please ask them through the normal channels. I ask you to resume and address the substance of the debate. If you do not, I will move on to the next Member to speak. Thank you.

Mr Gaston: Principal Deputy Speaker, it seems to me that, any time I try to raise issues in relation to this, I am shot down, whether at the Committee or in the Chamber. We are talking about the FAPP scheme, which is about financial assistance for political parties. We are talking about Members and what they can spend their money on. It seems that we do not want to talk about the thorny issues. I am mightily disappointed in that, mightily disappointed. We have an opportunity to air some of the issues, but it seems that, perhaps because you are a Member of Sinn Féin, you do not want to listen to what I have to say.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Mr Gaston, take your seat. You are challenging the Chair.

Mr Gaston: I will bring my remarks to a close.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: I will move on. I remind you again that, on at least three occasions, you had an opportunity to address the motion, which is on the Commission's budget, but you went outside that on at least three occasions.

Mr Carroll: Some aspects of the budget are fine and are even required, but I want to raise other aspects. The first is MLAs' pay. That is a bone of contention among some in the House who believe that the £500 increase included in the budget is probably not enough and want to go further. I note that Scotland has been mentioned in some of the papers on the budget. I have consistently made the point that MLAs should be on a wage that reflects the people whom they represent: their constituents. With the increase in the budget, an MLA's wage will increase to £53,000, not to mention, of course, the scale for a Minister's salary, which goes through the roof. That adds insult to injury, when teaching unions are balloting their members on a pay deal and potential strike action; when Health and Social Care workers, who were promised pay parity and promised that money would be restored to them when Stormont was up and running, are still waiting; and when NI Water workers are still waiting for their money to be processed. It is completely unacceptable that politicians' pay is once again prioritised over that of public-sector and other workers.

There is a small improvement — 3%, to be precise — in pay for Assembly Commission staff. It is worth mentioning that, earlier this year, some senior staff in the Building received a 12%-15% pay increase. Compare that with 3%: it is totally unfair, when we are talking about workers on lower salaries further down the pay scale.

We have to ask questions about the organisations with which the Assembly Commission pays to do business. I have raised the issue before with Information Services. We should not do business with Hewlett-Packard (HP), which services the offices of Netanyahu and the Israeli war-makers. That company also provides technology for Israel's Population and Immigration Authority, which really enforces the apartheid system. There is a worldwide call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) action towards HP, and the Assembly should heed it.

We should also point out the Assembly's involvement with other dodgy companies. [Inaudible.]

Mr Carroll: Sorry?

It does not end with HP. I have raised the point about Aramark before. It has hired workers on zero-hours contracts. It is also involved in the prison industrial complex in America and the direct provision system in the South of Ireland.

Dr Aiken: That is not germane to the debate.

Mr Carroll: Sorry, do you want to make a point?

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Excuse me. Gerry, do you mind taking your seat?

Mr Gaston: On a point of order.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: I will deal with this first. I will deal with you later.

I ask Members, when others are on their feet, to give them respect and not to speak from a sedentary position [Interruption.]

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Excuse me, I am not finished yet.

Dr Aiken: All right.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: I will take Mr Gaston's point, and then I will take your point of order.

Mr Gaston: You did not want me to talk about McMonagle, but you are happy to let the Member for West Belfast go unchallenged for a long time. That is unfair and calls into question how you, as Principal Deputy Speaker, treat me. It is utterly unfair. You do not want to talk about McMonagle, but you let other Members talk without intervention.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: OK. In response to your point, I asked for advice as to whether Gerry Carroll's comments were in keeping with the debate — [Interruption.]

Excuse me. I was informed that they were.

Mr Gaston, I will explain this to you: you may not like me — I do not really care — but, when I am in this position, you will respect the Chair.

Mr Gaston: I do respect the Chair.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: You do not. You are speaking from a sedentary position, and I am asking you to stop.

Dr Aiken: On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, and a point of contention. I have been in the Assembly long enough to realise when people may be pushing boundaries. It is your prerogative, as Chair, to address that, particularly in relation to Mr Gaston. We need to apply that equally, however, and I do not see how Mr Carroll's comments about Israel and Hewlett-Packard are germane to the debate. Bearing in mind your previous comments about Mr Gaston's views, on which I support you fully, how can that be equitable?

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: As a Deputy Speaker, you should know better. I point out again that I asked for advice as to whether Mr Carroll's comments were in keeping with the debate, because I am trying to be fair to everyone, and I was informed that they were. In the interests of transparency and fairness, I will make sure to get advice from the Speaker, and I will make sure that you, in particular, get a copy of that advice, since you are a Deputy Speaker.

Mr Carroll, I ask that you return to the substance of the debate.

Mr Carroll: Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I was bringing my remarks to a close. During the debate, somebody mentioned that my comments were not challenged, but I heard noises from my right and left when I was speaking. I am happy to hear comments, but people were offered a chance to intervene and they did not want to. That is their prerogative.

I was making the point that this is about the Commission's budget: what the Assembly spends its money on. The final point that I was making, before I was shouted at and noise was made in my direction, was that staff in the building who work for Aramark should be brought in-house. They should be employees of the Assembly.

Those were my points on the Commission budget.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Thank you. I call Trevor Clarke to wind on the motion. Trevor, you have up to 10 minutes.

Mr Clarke: Thank you very much, Principal Deputy Speaker. I note the Members who have contributed to the debate.

The Assembly Commission recognises the context of wider financial pressures in the public sector and has given careful consideration to those when presenting its budget requirements. However, the Commission must balance that with its responsibilities of ensuring that the required resources are available to the Commission in order for it to provide the necessary services to the Assembly and all its Members. The Assembly Commission considers that the budget for the year is a reasonable estimate of the financial requirements needed to fully support the Assembly and deliver the required services to Members. The budget proposals presented today embody the Commission's continuing commitment to ensuring that the Assembly is effectively and efficiently supported by and provided with robust, innovative and modern secure systems in a modern working environment. The budget not only meets the costs that will arise in relation to the provision of staff, running and maintaining Parliament Buildings and delivering effective constituency services for our community but seeks to invest in systems, infrastructure and support for the Assembly's scrutiny functions in order to equip the Assembly for the future.

I will respond to a few comments made by Members.

First, Diane Forsythe spoke on behalf of the Audit Committee, and I welcome her comments. The Committee plays a helpful role in scrutinising the work of the Commission, and she added further detail to the proposer of the motion's statement for the Members who were present.

The Member for North Antrim talked about proper staffing, the FAPP and the uplift for some political parties. I remind Members, through the Speaker, that the idea behind the FAPP rearrangement was to bring fairness and equity. The Member singled out the increase given to my party and Sinn Féin. I remind the House that a single-Member party — his and one other single-Member party— still receives £26,000 to support one Member and the larger parties receive £10,000 per Member. It is fair and equitable, and we were trying to bring fairness to the system.

Ms Sugden: Will the Member give way?

Mr Clarke: I will indeed.

Ms Sugden: As the only Member who does not receive financial assistance for political parties, my question is this: does the Member have a view on how we better support independents? I am the longest-serving independent Member — 10 years — and would gratefully receive that support.

Mr Clarke: I thank the Member for her intervention, which differs from that when she last intervened on the subject. All that I can say to the Member is that the current system allows support only for political parties. As the Member recognised on the previous occasion, if she were to designate as a party, she would be entitled to the financial assistance. I suggest that the Member redesignate as a political party, not an independent. That is the only option open to her at the moment.

I am not questioning your authority, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. However, a degree of latitude that was not afforded to other Members was afforded to Mr Carroll when he made heinous comments about contracts provided by the Assembly. I am sure that the staff do due diligence, and I commend them for their work on the contracts that have been awarded. Members should not get into the minutiae of which contractors are preferable to others.

Mr Carroll talked about MLAs' pay and the £500 increase. Of course, today is not the day to debate that either. That was part of the original IFRP decision in 2016. It is outwith the decision of the Assembly to set the budget. It was linked to inflation, and some Members will agree that, while the £500 every year since 2016 is welcome, it is not much compared with the salaries of some of our counterparts in other places. He went on to single out the senior staff of the Assembly, and I want to distance myself from those comments. The senior staff in the Building do a tremendous job of keeping us right, as do the staff who got the 3% increase. There was a clear rationale for the senior staff's pay increase at the time: they could go somewhere else and receive much more remuneration than they do in this Building. I distance myself from those remarks.

Members of the Assembly Commission have considered its requirements for 2025-26, recognising that a significant element of the budget is non-discretionary and relates to payments to Members. Constituency office and staffing costs are set out in the determination. The Commission is grateful to the Audit Committee for its scrutiny of the Commission's budget for 2025-26.

I will end the debate as my colleague began it, with a "Thank you" to all the staff who support every aspect of our work. Significant work has been done this year to ensure the smooth return of Assembly business, and, as we look ahead to another busy year, it is appropriate, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, to wish all our staff a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

The Commission seeks the Assembly's agreement to the budget amounts for resource DEL and capital DEL as set out in the motion. I commend the motion to the House.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: I have received notice that the Minister for Communities wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise in asking their questions. This is not an opportunity for debate or long-winded introductions.

Mr Lyons (The Minister for Communities): I wish to make a statement to the Assembly about housing supply in Northern Ireland.

We are all aware of the crisis that we face in housing: a large and growing waiting list for social homes; inflation-busting rent increases in the private rented sector; low-quality and poor energy efficiency; and record numbers in temporary accommodation. There are too many barriers in matters like planning and infrastructure, and there is an increasing sense of despair for many who simply want a home to call their own. Fixing that is at the top of my agenda, because those issues impact on our ability to deal with some of the most pressing challenges that we face: poverty, education, deprivation, health and giving people the opportunity and ability to progress in life.

We need to tackle the housing crisis head-on. We need to take action that will deal with the root causes of the problem. We need a new approach. For too long, there has been no joined-up, cross-departmental approach to housing, but that changes now. I am pleased to announce that the Executive have agreed to approve a housing supply strategy for Northern Ireland. The strategy is a 15-year framework for the whole-system change that is needed. It will deliver a housing system that can provide 100,000 homes over that period. It will deliver more social homes; it will deliver better homes; and it will deliver better outcomes for our people.

The strategy is the culmination of considerable hard work, collaboration and co-design. I thank all those who have worked with my Department to develop it. Over the past few months, I have met ministerial colleagues with key remits relating to housing supply. I also thank them for their support. There is a real commitment to look at how we can address the key challenges, such as waste water capacity, skills, finance and planning. As it is an Executive strategy, all Departments now have a role to play, and I expect to see that reflected in Budget allocations and in the investment strategy.

Our vision is ambitious and rightly so. We now have a 15-year framework in place that aims to deliver at least 100,000 homes and more, if necessary. It is grounded in the principle of taking a whole-system approach to housing supply. All Ministers have agreed the strategy, and the necessary actions fall across a range of Departments. I know that they are committed to making the changes needed, and I look forward to working with them further over the next years. As an Executive, we must not let the opportunity pass us by.

As housing Minister, I have not been waiting for the document to be agreed before the work starts. I am already taking forward a range of actions and will shortly start many others. I take the opportunity today to set out some of those actions in line with each of the five supporting objectives of the strategy framework.

The first objective is about ensuring that we increase supply and affordable options across all housing tenures. I have spoken on numerous occasions about my commitment to the delivery of more social homes. In the past five years, my Department has invested over £750 million, which has started 8,341 new social homes. I will continue to press for the capital budget necessary to bring our social new build programme back to where it should be. However, I am not standing still on the issue. I will make sure that we do everything possible to innovate and maximise delivery with what we have. Housing associations, the Housing Executive, developers, the construction industry, local councils and beyond all have their part in this too.

I will continue to prioritise capital spending on delivering much-needed social homes, but I also want to deliver for people and hard-working families who cannot get or do not want a social home by offering them safe, secure and affordable alternatives. One of those alternatives is intermediate rent. That is a new housing product for Northern Ireland that I was pleased to announce a few months ago. It aims to provide good, secure and affordable rented housing to lower-income households who cannot afford to buy or rent a home. I look forward to making rapid progress on that over the next few months. That housing is badly needed, so I want to start building those affordable, high-quality homes as quickly as possible.

In recent years, we have seen rising house prices and mortgage costs, and I am committed to helping those who need a bit of extra support to own their own home. That is why my Department continues to provide significant funding to co-ownership, allocating £158 million in financial transactions capital (FTC) to assist over 4,400 people into home ownership over five years.

I have also increased the property value limit for properties that are eligible to be purchased through co-ownership to £195,000.

The second objective of the strategy is focused on preventing homelessness and ensuring that we prioritise housing options for those most in need. I have common cause with the Health Minister on this, and what we do is a vital support for our health service.

During Homelessness Awareness Week, I set out my ambition to prioritise the prevention of homelessness, working closely with the Housing Executive and the wider sector to ensure that it is rare, brief and non-recurrent. I have been able to provide another £6·7 million for the Housing Executive to prevent the risk of homelessness service closures and to ensure that its statutory obligations can continue to be met. From next year, the Housing Executive will have a specific allocation for homelessness prevention, and, last week, I announced a goodwill grant of £150,000 to homelessness charities to ensure that they can support homeless households at Christmas.

I also continue to look at innovative ways of using financial transactions capital. In line with this, I am pleased to announce the launch of the loan to acquire move-on accommodation scheme. That will make loans available to homeless organisations such as the Simon Community to buy houses for people who are currently homeless and living in hostels. Some of those people are incredibly vulnerable, and providing this wrap-around service is critical to their needs.

Helping people to sustain their tenancies is another crucial aspect of housing need. The Supporting People programme plays a key role in helping our most vulnerable people live independently in their homes, and so I provided an additional £4·8 million of funding to sustain that programme this year.

The third objective of the strategy is about ensuring that we do not focus just on the numbers of homes but that they are good-quality, safe and secure. I am taking action to protect and revitalise the Housing Executive and find a solution to place it on a sustainable financial footing so that it can continue to provide decent homes for our households and families for years to come. Doing that requires access to borrowing for the Housing Executive to enable the investment that is needed in its stock. I am actively pressing for a solution that will enable the Housing Executive to invest in its homes through a programme of retrofit to improve energy efficiency, increase routine and planned investment, and deal with maintenance backlogs. Those are all key issues that we know many of our constituents face daily.

Our private rented sector has been one of the fastest-growing tenures over the past few years and is a vital part of our housing supply. The strategy sets out actions focused on putting tenants' needs at the heart of the sector and that ensure that it is suitable for a wider range of households. Earlier this year, I introduced regulations requiring smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms, and, just a few weeks ago, I brought more regulations requiring electrical safety checks. Over the next few months, to help tenants plan for the future and sustain their tenancy, I will restrict the frequency of rent increases to once in each 12-month period, with a three-month notice period. I will also introduce much longer notice-to-quit periods, as mandated by the Assembly, to greatly improve the security of tenure for individuals and families who privately rent.

Our vision for the strategy takes a step beyond houses themselves and recognises the importance of creating thriving and inclusive communities. One key aspect of this work will be how we engage with local councils as they produce their new local development plans, which play a vital role in how places are shaped. My Department and the Housing Executive are working closely with local council planners to deliver the vision in this strategy and the new affordable housing policies through the new local development plans.

The final objectives set out how I want to make sure that people can live in warm, safe homes without worrying about the cost of their fuel bills. Cold homes can lead to poor mental and physical health, and it is vital that we resolve this issue as we transition to a lower-carbon future. A key action that I am taking forward to address this is the delivery of a fuel poverty strategy, which I will begin consultation on later this week. It will set out proposals to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy well-being in the medium to long term. It proposes a series of measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes, including an ambitious new scheme for low-income and vulnerable households, and raising energy-efficiency standards. The draft fuel poverty strategy also proposes building capacity and collaborating to ensure that people can access advice and support, as well as protecting consumers.

The publication of the housing supply strategy is a significant step forward in how the Executive act on housing. However, we do not stop here. All Departments must move to implementation, with commitment and a focus on delivery. That will be achieved through a series of detailed shorter-term action plans to set out what we need to do, who needs to do it and by when. Those will build upon the actions already outlined in the strategy, but they will not and cannot be developed in isolation by my Department. This is an important step forward, but I do not for one minute suggest that this is a silver bullet. Rather, it is a way forward; a commitment to work together to deal with this issue in a determined and collective way. We now have a strategy in place. We have a plan for the way ahead. I am focused on delivering on housing, and I hope that others will join me in that endeavour and ensure that we make a difference in the lives of the people whom we represent. I commend the statement to the House.

Mr Durkan: I thank the Minister for the statement, and I look forward to studying the strategy. The strategy must be ambitious, but it must be achievable. Without detail and certainty on the funding of social housing new builds; sustained investment in our water and waste water infrastructure, which is currently stifling development; the revitalisation of empty homes; the empowerment of the Housing Executive to build again; and more resources for planning, this might as well be a letter to Santa. What decisions and commitments have the Executive made on how those vital components will be funded into the future?

Mr Lyons: Santa delivers every year, and so do I. I am looking forward to making sure that we get things done. If you look at what I have said in the statement, you will see that we are getting things done. We have brought in those plans and policies, which will start to make a difference. As I said, this is a way forward. This is our pathway. The Member has rightly outlined all the things that we need to do. That is why we brought them all together in this plan and have got cross-departmental and cross-ministerial support for this. He is right to identify all of those issues, and we are making progress on each of those so that we can make that real difference, because that is what we are here to do. We have been waiting for change for too long.

Ms Ferguson: Minister, I very much welcome the statement on the approval of the much-anticipated housing supply strategy, and I thank you and your predecessor for all the work that went into its development. I look forward to seeing its publication.

Minister, can you confirm whether you will allocate additional moneys next year to give the ambitious targets teeth, to make up the gap in annual housebuilding, which we have missed this year, and to ensure that we meet the regional needs of population growth?

Mr Lyons: I welcome the fact that the Member has welcome the strategy, and it is, of course, right that we need to make sure that we have the funding in place so that we can deliver on our ambition in the strategy. We have made good progress in year to get some of the funding that we need so that we have been able to increase our social housing target. This will be and is a cross-departmental plan. I will certainly be bidding for that resource, and I hope that other Ministers will give me that support so that we can meet our targets and really deal with the waiting lists that have been there for too long and have been growing.

Ms Bunting: The Minister will be well aware that there is a dearth of social housing in East Belfast and that, indeed, we are lagging considerably behind other areas in Belfast on social housing supply. Therefore, what does this strategy mean for East Belfast and will it result in more and new social housing in my constituency?

Mr Lyons: In short, yes, it will. We are taking a coordinated and joined-up approach to make sure that we build more social homes and also more affordable homes in the Member's constituency. We need to ensure that we get the borrowing change when it comes to the Housing Executive so that it can also build more homes. It is a joined-up approach involving planning, infrastructure, land and all those issues. Delivery of the strategy will make a real difference in the lives of the people that the Member represents, because housing is one of the most pressing issues in her constituency. There has not been as much investment in east Belfast compared with other parts of the city. There is a considerable need in her constituency: I want to make sure that we deal with that, and this strategy is a way to do it.

Ms D Armstrong: I will start by saying woo-hoo. We have actually got good news today in the Chamber: we have a housing supply strategy. Minister, I am delighted that you have brought this to the House. We have been waiting for it for a long time, given our housing crisis. Now that we have the draft Programme for Government, which outlines housing as one of the key priorities, and your housing supply strategy, have you done any work with the other Departments to ensure that they include a line for housing in their finances so that we can make sure that your strategy is a success?

Mr Lyons: I thank the Member for her welcome and for the "woo-hoo"; I think that that was the first time I have heard that in the Chamber. She is absolutely right to be excited, because this is a good news announcement and has the potential to make a significant difference. She is also right to highlight the fact that it is cross-departmental. I do not know whether there will be a line in each of the Department's plans, but, given that we have agreed that it is one of the most pressing issues, we need input from all the Departments. Justice, for example, has people moving from prisons into homes. Health has people in care who need more stable accommodation. We need the Department for the Economy to provide the skills to build more homes. Housing also has an impact on people's educational outcomes. That is why it is important that there is a joined-up approach. I hope that all Ministers will stand by the commitment that they have made and take the steps necessary to improve the situation. It is not of benefit just to the people who will, hopefully, live in the additional homes that we build; it will be of benefit to all Departments, because, if we can get housing right, we can give people a good start in life, and that impacts on everything that we do as we provide public services.

Dr Aiken: Thank you very much, Minister, for your remarks so far. I will not give you a woo-hoo. Minister, it is good to see that you can utilise financial transactions capital. What sort of quantum of FTC is the Minister looking at applying for? Are the charities and associations suitably resourced to match it, within the FTC requirements?

Mr Lyons: Yes, I believe that they will be. Obviously, that will go out and go through the proper process and due diligence. The Member has rightly highlighted the use of financial transactions capital, which is special government borrowing that, every year, we seem to send back. I believe that next year will be the first year that we will not be in that position because we are using it up. We are using it for the purposes for which it was intended. We are going to make a difference here, whether it is with the loan to acquire move-on accommodation scheme, which will save us money in the long term as well as help people's lives, or the intermediate rent, which is a product that has been absent from the market in Northern Ireland for far too long and that I am delighted that we have been able to bring in.

It goes back to the point that we need to take a whole-system approach. It is not just about building more homes in the private rental sector and not just about more social homes; it is about using all the levers at our disposal, limited as some of those might be, and getting all of them to work together to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

Mr Delargy: I thank the Minister for his statement. I very much welcome it. Minister, we all know the importance of moving away from temporary accommodation and towards ensuring that there is more sustainable housing. Will you provide more specific detail on how your Department will deliver that element?

Mr Lyons: The first thing that we need to do is to make sure we have more housing supply in Northern Ireland full stop. Everything in the strategy is moving us towards a position where we have more homes, which will help everybody.

The loan to acquire move-on accommodation scheme that I have announced today will also help, because it will allow charities to purchase properties and, by doing so, put people in them who might otherwise be dependent on temporary accommodation. We spend far too much money on temporary accommodation. That money could be better spent on homelessness prevention and on other public services. I am determined that we do something about that. We are looking at all the options. We have come up with innovative solutions that will make a difference, and I look forward to getting Executive colleagues' support so that we can implement them.

Mr Kingston: As a member of the Committee for Communities, I join other Members in very much welcoming the publication of the housing supply strategy. I commend the Minister for publishing the strategy and welcome the fact that he has touched on various matters that are relevant to it. He will be aware of our manifesto commitment to help working families: will he outline some of the ways in which his strategy will provide support for them?

Mr Lyons: Absolutely. The Member is right to mention the manifesto commitments that each of us makes when seeking election to this place. It was certainly my desire to make sure that we helped those who are struggling and those who are sometimes caught out and feel that they do not get the necessary help. Ultimately, increasing housing supply and making sure that we have more affordable housing options and more social homes will help families. We are all aware that one of the biggest outgoings that people have is their housing costs, so it is absolutely right that we do everything that we can to drive those costs down. The strategy can do that by making sure that we have a greater supply of such homes. That takes me back to the point about intermediate rent. There are those who may not be eligible for social housing and find it exceptionally difficult to get into the private rented sector. Intermediate rent uses financial transactions capital to allow a discounted rate for private rentals that can be built using that resource. All those things together, including increasing supply, help working families, and I am determined to deliver that help.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: A lot of Members, some of whom were not in the Chamber when the statement began, have put their names down to speak. If there is time, I will call those Members at the end.

Mr Dickson: Thank you, Minister for your statement. Will you confirm that you have included a place-based approach to retrofitting in the strategy? You will be aware that a place-based approach concentrates retrofitting in geographical areas one at a time to effectively deliver changes that are needed to meet climate change targets. Such an approach would save money through investment in public and private housing and enable coordinated construction. Do you agree that a move to ensuring that all housing meets high energy-efficiency standards needs to be a long-term objective?

Mr Lyons: First, we want to make sure that we spend every pound that we have in the most cost-effective way possible. Although the details are to be ironed out, we have our fuel poverty strategy and the additional elements that I have mentioned today, from which action plans will flow. We need to use public resource in the best possible way. I am keen that we ensure not only that we have homes for people to live in but that we have the most energy-efficient homes possible. When it comes to housing need, housing costs may be a huge outgoing, but there is also the cost of heating homes, so it absolutely makes sense to invest as much as we can in improving their energy efficiency. I am committed to doing that.

Mr McHugh: Cuirim fearadh na fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire.

The success of the strategy relies partly on our largest social housing provider being able to build again at scale. How soon do you envisage that we will have an update from Westminster about decisions on the revitalisation of the Housing Executive?

Mr Lyons: The Member is right to raise that issue. Since I came into office, I have probably spoken to UK Government Ministers about it more than about anything else, and I have done so at all levels, because doing that could be truly transformational. We have the stock against which we can borrow, so we need to get on and do that. I will continue to lobby and continue to push. I have been working with the Finance Minister on doing so. However, if our Government want to do something that will make a significant change for people in Northern Ireland at little to no cost to the Treasury, there should be confirmation of the borrowing power for the Housing Executive so that it can get on and build again. The Member can be assured that, for as long as I am in post, I will continue to press and press for those changes because I want more social homes in Northern Ireland, and I want the Housing Executive to have the ability to build them.

Mrs Erskine: I welcome the Minister's statement. I notice that the Minister got Executive approval for collaboration on the strategy. The critical issues are the delivery of planning and waste-water capacity improvements. Therefore, does the Minister recognise that there is huge frustration among housing associations that cannot get water connections for developments, including one in my constituency in Dungannon? Will the Minister continue to push for timely delivery from the Infrastructure Minister on planning and waste water capacity issues, especially given that the Infrastructure Minister does not recognise the figure of 19,000 developments that cannot be connected to the waste water infrastructure?

Mr Lyons: The Member is absolutely right to raise that in relation to social homes and to the private sector. We see significant numbers, including in my constituency, of homes being unable to be progressed because of waste-water constraints. That is, absolutely, mentioned in the strategy. There is a determination to do something about that. I will continue to press Executive colleagues on that, and, as the Member rightly says, on the issue of planning because, even where we have capacity in our waste water system — there are still many areas in Northern Ireland that do — planning can be a huge drag. We need to do everything that we can to make it as simple and straightforward as possible to build more homes in Northern Ireland. Waste water is part of that, as is planning.

Mr McGrath: Santa-like or not regarding the delivery of those houses, the proof of the Christmas pudding will be in the eating. At a meeting last week of the all-party group on youth participation, the issue of young people not being included in the design of homes and social housing projects was raised. Houses are built, and people are shooed into them. If houses are going to be built through this project, will the Minister undertake to earmark some of them for young people and to include those young people in the design process so that the houses will be appropriate for their needs?

Mr Lyons: It is important that all due diligence is done and that homes are appropriate for those who live in them. When it comes to social homes, considerable work will be carried out by the housing associations on that. We need to have proper analysis of the need in Northern Ireland, and that will change over the course of the strategy. The figures may well also change as we look at what is appropriate, what we need more of and where extra resource is needed. It is important that we have that flexibility in the strategy.

Mr Brooks: I welcome the Minister's statement and his vision for housing supply through the strategy. I share the hope of my colleague Joanne Bunting that it will deliver for East Belfast. Does the Minister believe that renewed effort from the housing associations will be key to delivering the outcomes of the strategy?

Mr Lyons: Yes, housing associations will be a key partner in making sure that we deliver on the objectives in the strategy. I thank the housing associations that have been involved in the production of today's plan. There is no doubt that they are a valuable partner. They play a significant role in delivering social housing. I want to ensure that they have the right support to do that and that they look for ways in which they can innovate and drive efficiency in housebuilding. As I said in response to an earlier question, we need to do everything that we can to make sure that it is as simple, easy and straightforward as possible to build more homes. Housing associations and, hopefully soon, the Housing Executive, as well as the private rental sector, all need to be up for that challenge.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: Timothy, I was unsure if you were standing. Did you stand to ask a question?

Mr Gaston: Yes.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: OK, go ahead. Thank you.

Mr Gaston: Thank you very much. Minister, I welcome your statement. The plan to deliver 100,000 new homes by 2040 is ambitious. There are plenty of buzzwords and phrases in your announcement. I am concerned about this: you are setting out to build 7,000 new homes a year, but are you confident that Northern Ireland Water will receive the necessary funding to ensure that you can deliver on that housing supply strategy? Have you any interim targets for builds in your strategy to ensure that we are on course to deliver 100,000 homes in 15 years?

Mr Lyons: First, I hope that the Member recognises that, when it comes to my record on housing, this is not just about nice words or platitudes. If you look at what has been achieved over the last number of months, you will see that there has been significant progress in what we have been able to do in that area. Look at the loan to acquire move-on accommodation, intermediate rent, more support for social housing and increased funding for homelessness. In all of those issues, I have demonstrated my commitment.

The Member is right to acknowledge that there are ambitious targets in here. He is also right to acknowledge that there are barriers. Waste water is a barrier to achieving some of the targets that we have set for ourselves. However, the important thing is that we have identified them, we recognise them and there is a collective will to deal with those issues. There is no point ignoring it. It is in there for a reason. We recognise that it is a problem, and we need to deal with it. We need to make use of the area in which there is still capacity in the system and, at the same time, make sure that we take action to do it. We have to do it. We need homes for people in Northern Ireland. You have rightly highlighted one of the barriers, and I want us to work together to break down those barriers.

Mr Carroll: Minister, you mentioned the Private Tenancies Act and the limiting of rent increases. Are you taking any further action on private rent freeze and rent caps? What wrap-around services will be provided for the loan-to-acquire scheme? How secure are those tenancies, and how long will people be allowed to stay in that accommodation? Is it, presumably, until they receive an offer of a permanent social home?

Mr Lyons: Those details are yet to be worked out. However, in developing the policy, we wanted to make sure that there was security, because six months, a year or two years is not always enough time for people to get back on their feet. We do not want to throw somebody back into another part of the system. This is about helping people to move on and to be able to get themselves to a better place. I have taken action on some of the private rented sector issues that the Member has raised. We will continue to do that. Ultimately, however, to really tackle the issues that we face, we need to increase housing supply. That is what the statement is all about.

Ms Sugden: Minister, I have consistently raised with you the impact of second home ownership, particularly in areas such as the north coast. Ultimately, the solution is to build more houses, particularly social and affordable homes, and your statement goes into that. However, as part of the strategy, will the Minister commit to looking at that particular issue to see whether there are ways in which we need to do more in those areas?

Mr Lyons: Yes. I have raised that directly with the Minister for the Economy in the conversations that we have had about that. I recognise that it is an issue. I know the area that the Member represents well. I know the concerns about and the challenges in the cost of housing. Where specific interventions may be needed in particular areas, we will always be happy to look at those. This is a broad framework of where we need to go when the action plans are developed. After that, the Member will have the ability to have her say and give her views to make sure that we address some of the issues that may be constituency-specific.

Ms Forsythe: I thank the Minister for his statement today. Does the Minister agree that, when it comes to climate change and net zero, people should come first, before targets, and we should not limit the ability to build warm homes for people in Northern Ireland?

Mr Lyons: Absolutely, I do. In the House, we should put people first, above everything else. We have, in the Chamber, some very difficult targets that, in many cases, will be next to impossible to meet, and those targets should not be met on the backs of people who are already struggling. There are things that we can do. There are initiatives that we can put in place that can not only save people money and make them better off but contribute to our climate change goals.

However, that should never be done at the expense of people, and people should never be made poorer and colder because of the decisions that we make on the issue.

Ms Hunter: Months ago, in the House, I brought an Adjournment debate on second home ownership and the challenges that are faced in the Causeway coast and glens area. I asked whether it would be possible for the Department to increase monitoring of the issue. Has that been done? How can the strategy help those struggling with access to the housing market in my constituency?

Mr Lyons: The Member raised that during the debate. As I said in my answer to Claire Sugden, I have raised it with the Minister for the Economy. Ultimately, however, while we can take action on that issue, what we need to see overall is more housing supply in Northern Ireland full stop. Of course, we will need the data to back up the decisions that we make and where we put our resources. Again, if there are specific areas regarding social housing that, she thinks, we need to be aware of, I will be more than happy to discuss them with her.

Ms Mulholland: I thank the Minister. I am not quite on the "woo-hoo" level of the spectrum, but I welcome the statement.

What learning will be taken from the 10 years of shared housing delivery? Will the Minister mainstream the Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) shared housing community support model across all new public housing developments in order to achieve his objectives?

Mr Lyons: I am slightly disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm from the Member compared with that of her Alliance Party colleague, but I am glad that she has welcomed the strategy nonetheless. She will be aware of the significant sums of money that have been invested so far on the issue that she refers to. Again, we want to see housing supply increased across all tenures. We want to ensure that we have more affordable options full stop, and we will continue to make sure that we fund the commitments and the promises that have been made.

Mr O'Toole: Not to sound like the ghost of Christmas past, but, in December 2021, a predecessor of the Minister's stood in the Chamber and also promised a housing supply strategy that would deliver 100,000 homes. We do not seem to be on that trajectory yet. May I ask what, specifically, is different about the Minister's strategy versus that one that will enable him to deliver 100,000 homes? Please be specific.

Mr Lyons: The first thing to say is that I have brought the strategy forward, and we have it here in front of us. We have a clear plan — a clear way forward on how we aim to tackle the issue. I do not pretend for a second that we have got everything in the document: we do not, That will come from the action plans that will be put in place. I look forward to the first one being in there in early 2025.

Considerable work has gone on already to ensure that we have increased housing supply in Northern Ireland. I have outlined and am happy to outline again the things that I am doing: loan-to-acquire move-on accommodation, intermediate rent, additional funding, making sure that we have homes going where they need to go, as well as reviewing allocations. Those are all things that we are doing to help people get by and to have the homes that they need. There are specific programmes and specific things already in place. More will be coming, but, overall, this is about putting us on a trajectory to make sure that we take a whole-system approach to tackling the issue and to make sure that everybody is joined up. Some of this will be on other Departments. I certainly have my views on what I would like to see in respect of the planning system, statutory consultees, waste water and all of those issues. However, today we have a plan, we have people joined up and we have people committed to this, and, when it comes to the time for budgets to be allocated and for those other issues to be addressed, I will have no problem in going back to the Executive and reminding people of what we have signed up to and of how pressing an issue it is. I will be more than happy to do that. I am determined to get on with it.

Mr McNulty: I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome any endeavours to provide more homes.

The Minister said that, in the past five years, his Department had invested £750 million, which has started 8,341 new social homes. How many of those homes have been built? How many have been occupied? Why, despite his lofty ambitions and targets, is the housing waiting list growing rather than declining?

Mr Lyons: The housing waiting list is growing because we do not have enough homes. That is why we have a strategy and a plan in place to do something about it. There have not been enough social homes built. There are restrictions and constraints elsewhere in the private sector as well. The plan aims to do something about that.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: That concludes questions on the statement.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: The Speaker has received notice from the Minister of Finance that she wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise in asking their questions and be present for the full statement, and long introductions will not be permitted.

Dr Archibald (The Minister of Finance): I wish to provide Members with a statement on my strategic approach to rating policy over the remainder of the mandate.

I am determined to build a progressive rates system based on the principles of fairness and equity and to ensure that it aligns with the Executive's policy objectives, stimulates our economy and supports the growth of our tax base by creating the conditions for businesses to thrive. The proposals that I set out today are the first step in that journey. The measures that I will outline are built on analysis of the most recent consultation findings, along with supplementary engagement undertaken by my Department.

The first short-term measure that I propose to consult on is elevating the current level of the maximum capital value on domestic properties from £400,000 to £485,000. I do not propose to take forward the policy consulted on by the then Secretary of State to simply remove the cap. That would have seen annually recurring bills to some ratepayers of over £25,000, which could be considered excessive. Altering the current maximum capital value will generate additional revenue at the top end of the tax base, a more progressive step than increasing the poundage element for the whole tax base to realise the same amount of revenue. I believe that that is a proportionate and measured approach.

It is important to highlight the fact that means-tested and other forms of support are in place for those on low incomes, regardless of a property's capital value. That measure and others in the rating system, such as lone pensioner allowance, would be adjusted in proportion to any change in liability.

The second short-term measure that I wish to consult on is reducing the early payment discount from 4% to 2%. An increasing number of customers now pay their bills by direct debit, which is the most efficient way for my Department to collect rates. The proposed reduction in the early payment discount serves to take account of the shift in customer preference.

I will launch a supplementary public consultation process in January seeking views on both measures. The consultation will last 10 weeks and will help determine the final shape of any policy change, with the results of the process coming back to the Executive for final decisions in that area.

I turn to my approach to rating policy for the medium and long term. The rating system is the Executive's main lever to generate revenue and is therefore critical for the funding of our public services, raising in the region of £1·5 billion annually. It is therefore important to ensure that supports are targeted towards those who need it most or who are vulnerable and that any rate reliefs meet their policy objective. The more revenue spent on rate support, the less there is for vital public services. We have committed to budget sustainability, and that remains a key deliverable that we cannot lose sight of. As the Minister responsible for rating, I am clear that I must play a leading role in generating income for the purposes of providing much-needed public services. I must be clear, however, that it is not always possible to meet the expectations and demands put on our rating system. With that in mind, the principles of fairness and equity will guide my approach to policy development, operational implementation and decision-making. Three key levers will support my approach to income generation. First, I will broaden the overall distribution of rate collection by extending the tax base. Secondly, I will ensure that rating policy aligns with and underpins Executive priorities. Finally, I will ensure that the administration of the rates system is delivered efficiently and effectively.

The focus of today's statement will be on the second lever: work to ensure that rates support aligns with Executive priorities. That will be undertaken through a comprehensive, 10-year strategic review cycle of all rates support provided by the Executive. That work will look at six key questions in the context of every rates support measure, namely who gets support; what support is provided; how the support is distributed through our councils; why the support is provided; how it is provided; and what the support's impact or intended impact is.

Every rating support measure will be reviewed over the remainder of a 10-year cycle in clusters of policies selected and grouped for each year by either theme or urgency. Critically, the review cycle schedule will be published well in advance to allow councils and stakeholders time to prepare and gather evidence to inform the process. I stress in that context that "review" does not mean "removal". After each review point, strategic decisions can be taken by the Executive to see whether the support is working well in its current form; whether any changes are necessary to the support; whether support should be redirected within the system; whether support should be adjusted and the savings used to lower or moderate the rate poundage; or whether any resource saving could be deployed elsewhere in the Executive’s spending requirements.

My Department has already commenced the strategic review cycle. Year 1 of the process, 2024-25, was focused on the tax base analysis and policy proposals underpinning the supplementary consultation on options for the maximum capital value and early payment discount. That consultation process is aimed at refining the progressivity of the tax, a key element of preparing the groundwork for a future domestic revaluation, which I will cover in more detail later.

Year 2 of the process, in 2025-26, will see a comprehensive review of small business rate relief and the scope for enhanced sectoral targeting and application. The second measure to be looked at is the policy of non-domestic vacant rating (NDVR). Both of those policy areas have an urgent strategic importance, and the results of the review will allow decisions to be brought to the Executive in time for the commencement of Reval 2026.

I have listened to the business community about the challenges posed by the autumn Budget in recent weeks. In that regard, I plan to commission research into the cost of doing business in the North, with a particular focus on the impacts on our sectors of the announcements such as the planned additional employer National Insurance contributions. The sectors most impacted will be engaged in that work, and the findings will help to inform Executive decision-making.

Although the rating system might not be the ideal vehicle for the immediate and emergency intervention being requested by some in the business sector, it is clear that there is a need to prioritise a review of the support provided through the small business rate relief scheme and to see whether that support could be adjusted to react to the challenges of the current economy, post COVID, after the cost of doing business pressures and in light of the challenges facing businesses at present. That work can also look at the plans announced in England at the end of October but will have to take account of two key matters: the fact that our tax base is distinct and our economy is heavily weighted towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and the fact that we collect two taxes within one poundage multiplier here. Initial preparation for that work will start now, and I met the business community this morning to outline to it that this will be one of the priority areas of focus in the strategic review cycle for 2025-26.

The other area will be to address the second main issue raised by the business sector in my engagement with it to date. Vacant commercial units are a bigger issue than they have ever been, and that trend is unlikely to reverse any time soon. One of my key aims is to align rating policy to help tackle the blight of vacant properties in our towns and cities. Increasing liability for non-domestic vacant rating properties from 50% of the occupied liability to a higher level of liability was consulted on as part of the revenue-raising process. Some consultees expressed concerns about their ability to let older retail and office properties that have had ongoing issues due to general economic factors, including demand for high-grade energy-efficient stock.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker: May I stop you there, Minister, please? I have taken a note of where we have stopped. As Question Time begins at 2.00 pm, I ask Members to take their ease. The statement and questions on it will continue after the question for urgent oral answer. The Minister can conclude her statement then.

Mr Speaker: Questions 1, 4, 6 and 9 have been withdrawn.

Mrs O'Neill (The First Minister): With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle

junior Minister Reilly will answer.

Ms Reilly (Junior Minister, The Executive Office): With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 2 and 15 together.

We are pleased to confirm that funding of £1·6 million has been allocated for Westland Community Centre in North Belfast. That new facility will provide services that will allow the community to access adult counselling, health and well-being events, after-school clubs and special needs support, and provide a focal point for local groups and programmes. Some 58 Urban Villages capital projects are now complete, including 13 in North Belfast, which include a range of shared community facilities, parks and public realm improvements. As the project develops, TEO officials, together with Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities, will continue to work collaboratively with Westland Community Group to help develop the capacity required to operate the new facility.

Mr Brett: I thank the junior Minister for her update. The £1·6 million for the rebuild of Westland Community Centre will be very welcome. I pay tribute to my colleagues who have been to the fore in that campaign. Can the junior Minister confirm that the Executive Office will work closely with the group to ensure that the scheme is delivered as soon as possible?

Ms Reilly: Yes, absolutely. Our team will work with Westland Community Group to ensure that collaborative approach, because that is really important. We engage with community groups on the ground, because they are best placed and know exactly what that community needs.

I also want to mention that the Urban Villages team will operate in North Belfast until 2030. That will allow all the capital projects to be completed. The aim of Urban Villages was to provide additionality to existing provision within the areas, and we have come some way in that regard. We continue to work with our colleagues in other Departments to understand how support can best be delivered to communities in a way that will be impactful and sustainable.

Mr Kingston: This is wonderful news that has been long awaited by the Westland community. Along with my colleague Mr Brett, I pay tribute to Westland Community Group and all who have supported it. I want to mention, in particular, councillors Fred Cobain and Jordan Doran. It is an active community group that is worthy of support. I hope that the junior Minister and colleagues will ensure that the letter of offer goes out as soon as possible. I checked with the chairman: he has not yet received it, but, hopefully, it is virtually on its way and will soon arrive; I would appreciate it if that could be chased up. I wish to highlight, as the junior Minister did, the importance of ongoing inter-agency support for the community group.

Ms Reilly: Absolutely. I also commend everyone whom you mentioned, because, as I said, working collaboratively and collectively with all the people on the ground is most important. We are happy to chase up for you where the letter of offer is.

Ms Ní Chuilín: I am delighted, as a North Belfast representative, that, at long last, the Westland community has received the resources that it is entitled to and deserves. Will the junior Minister outline what other projects have been added to update the Urban Villages capital programme, please?

Ms Reilly: I thank the Member for her question and acknowledge her interest in the work of the Urban Villages programme and the promotion of good relations that she does more generally. As the Member knows, work on the ground continues, with local communities playing a vital role in shaping the projects and benefiting from their delivery. Since taking office, I, alongside junior Minister Cameron, have visited numerous sites, met organisations and witnessed the positive changes that have taken place as a result of the programme, both in Belfast and in Derry. Those projects are the building blocks for a shared, inclusive and welcoming society. I am delighted to say that four projects have been added to the Urban Villages capital plan: the School of Music in Donegall Pass; the market arches in the Markets; Westland Community Centre in North Belfast; and the Realm Project in Derry. Those projects will be great assets and great additions to those communities. They will enable the Urban Villages initiative to meet the needs that were identified in the strategic framework for Urban Villages areas.

Mrs O'Neill: Our public services are under severe pressure. Demand for services continues to rise, alongside growing complexity of need. Funding is constrained, and expectations for faster, digitally enabled, citizen-focused services are higher than ever. If we are to meet the needs of all people in our society, we cannot keep doing things in the same way. We must prioritise our available resources and transform how we deliver our services. The Executive's draft Programme for Government sets an ambitious change agenda and includes a specific reform and transformation priority. The Executive have recognised that we must take immediate action to stabilise and transform our services in order to meet the needs of our citizens, grow our economy and protect our environment for future generations.

A reform and transformation unit was established in the Executive Office in October 2024. The unit is in its infancy, and its work programme is being developed, but staff are already engaged in work to deliver the draft Programme for Government's reform and transformation objective and to support the work of the interim public-sector transformation board. The unit will work across Departments and with partners in other sectors to ensure that the Executive's priorities get the focus and resources that are needed. It will also play a key role in challenging the status quo, drawing in expert advice, and driving and supporting the delivery of much-needed reform. The unit is expected to be fully operational from 1 April 2025.

Mr Dunne: I thank the First Minister for her answer. Will she outline whether the Executive have engaged with any other jurisdictions that have such a delivery unit in place to ensure that ours can deliver efficiently and effectively?

Mrs O'Neill: Yes. That topic comes up frequently. It even came up just last week when we were at the British-Irish Council (BIC) meeting. All jurisdictions talked about it, because everyone is grappling with the same challenges and problems. It is important that we learn lessons from examples of good practice, where they exist. The deputy First Minister and I are keen to ensure that we work with partners, because it is important to draw in expertise from outside, particularly from the private sector, and build a network of local contacts that can help us deliver and transform our public services. I therefore assure the Member that the issue is high on the agenda and that we are very open to learning from good practice elsewhere, if we think it appropriate.

Mr O'Toole: First Minister, in the Chamber in February, you said that the place in which to discuss Stormont reform, the removal of the veto and stopping collapse was at the Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC). Your counterpart, the deputy First Minister, said exactly the same thing. Why, then, did your parties join together last week to block any progress being made on those issues at said Committee?

Mrs O'Neill: That is not really linked to the substantive question, a Cheann Comhairle, but I will answer it, seeing as it has been put to me, if that is OK with you.

Mr Speaker: It is up to you.

Mrs O'Neill: The Committee did not reject any proposal. I am sure that the Member did not set out to be disingenuous. The Committee discussed the forward work programme, which did not have the complete information. All that members of the Committee did was to ask for a bit more time to put the programme together. Let us therefore be factual about what was discussed and decided.

Ms Bradshaw: The Alliance Party is very supportive of reform and transformation. First Minister, how can you ensure that the reform and transformation unit will have meaningful impact, given the fact that the different Departments are legally independent of one another?

Mrs O'Neill: Therein lies the challenge with which we have to grapple. We have to come to terms with that, but when we collectively come at the new approach of having nine identified priority areas in the draft Programme for Government and monitor our progress as we go, we will have to correct how we will do the transformation work in the delivery unit. At the moment, our officials are working their way through what that work might look like. I hope that the unit will be fully functioning, and that we all understand its function, by April next year, and we will engage with the Committee in particular on that. I know that the Committee will play its role in trying to shape that work.

Ms Kimmins: On the topic of public service, First Minister, one of the hardest-working public servants whom we have is currently working very hard, because there are only 16 more sleeps until Christmas Day. On behalf of all the boys and girls who are very excitedly waiting for Santa and his reindeer to arrive on 25 December, I ask whether everything is on track.

Mrs O'Neill: Thank you for your question. I have no doubt that, at home, Sé and Daíthí are very keen to know whether Santa is on track. How exciting that it is only 16 days until Christmas. I want you to tell Sé and Daíthí and all the other children out there that things are on track. The deputy First Minister and I have spoken to the North Pole, and we have been assured that the elves are getting ready; the toys are being packed up; Rudolf and the other reindeer are eating their carrots; and Santa wants us to tell all the children to be good for their parents and to be ready for the run-up to Christmas.

Mr Speaker: Quite a few MLAs are double-jobbing to assist Santa. [Laughter.]

I think that that is allowed on this occasion.

Question 4 has been withdrawn.

Mrs O'Neill: With your permission, Mr Speaker, junior Minister Reilly will answer that question.

Ms Reilly: We welcome the fact that those seeking refuge are no longer being left waiting for lengthy periods for a decision on their asylum cases. The increasingly high number of people moving on as the Home Office deals with the backlog has, unfortunately, necessitated the Housing Executive to place some people in temporary accommodation. We understand that, although that addresses the immediate need for shelter, other needs, such as education, can also be disrupted. The unsuitability of housing and frequent house moves are difficult for people and interrupt their integration journeys. We are considering a revised draft refugee integration strategy and associated delivery framework that recognises those concerns. In parallel with that, our officials chair a move-on coordination group, through which the impact on school placement of moving to temporary accommodation has been highlighted. As a result, a data-sharing agreement is now in place between the Housing Executive and the Education Authority (EA) to help share information in order to, where possible, mitigate and manage concerns on access to education.

Ms Mulholland: Thank you, junior Minister. Will you clarify what work is being undertaken to assist schools that have to manage pupils who travel significant distances or change school at short notice?

Ms Reilly: Our Department does not have statutory responsibility for providing education to refugee and asylum-seeking children, but we are aware that the Education Authority will not start school enrolment for an initial four-week period for children who are living in contingency asylum accommodation or Housing Executive temporary, non-standard accommodation. The Education Authority has advised us that that change was made because families are often in those types of accommodation for short periods and it causes unnecessary disruption for the children and their families if they secure a school place and then move to another school after a few weeks. The Education Authority has assessed that such upheaval is unnecessarily unsettling for the child and is not in their best interests.

The Department of Education and the Education Authority completed a mid-term review of the arrangement in early November and concluded that no change was required. However, the Housing Executive recently advised that the length of stay for those in temporary and non-standard accommodation has increased. The Housing Executive, along with our officials, is following up with the Department of Education and the Education Authority on the implications of that for the current arrangements.

Miss Hargey: Given that Ministers are still considering the draft refugee integration strategy, will you outline what other work the Department is doing until it comes through?

Ms Reilly: Yes. I recognise and commend the work that you have done, with other Members, over the past few months. You stood on the streets with residents to reject the hate and racism that we witnessed and to support our minority ethnic communities, as you always have done and, I am sure, will continue to do. I had the great opportunity to meet various organisations that are on the ground, day and daily, supporting those who seek refuge here. I also recognise the vital work that they do to support those who are in need. Whilst we consider the draft refugee integration strategy, officials are progressing work that is designed to strengthen support for those who seek international protection here. That work includes creating structures that ensure a more coordinated and collaborative approach across government and Departments to facilitate the allocation of funding, put in place advice services for those who require them and develop an orientation package.

Mr Speaker: Question 6 has been withdrawn.

Mrs O'Neill: 'Our Plan' is an ambitious agenda for change for everyone who lives here. In order to make that happen, we know that we need to work in partnership. As an Executive, we are committed to working in collaboration across government, the private sector, the wider public sector and the community and voluntary sector. That was discussed with Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) members during the consultation process, and we look forward to building on that work when we finalise the Programme for Government and the Assembly approves it.

Mr Harvey: I thank the First Minister very much for her answer. Minister, did you say that there had been direct engagement with SOLACE on the Programme for Government and on its future implementation in particular?

Mrs O'Neill: Yes, we had direct engagement with SOLACE as we consulted on the Programme for Government. As the Member will know, that has concluded.

We had significant engagement throughout the consultation process, for which we are grateful. We are working in earnest to agree the final Programme for Government and bring it back to the House. It is important that we recognise in the Programme for Government that, if we are to be successful in delivering the priorities that we have identified, we must have partnership working that includes our colleagues in local government.

Ms K Armstrong: What role does the Executive Office have in linking with local government to implement the report of the high street task force?

Mrs O'Neill: I can provide more detail to the Member. I think that the last action that we took was to write to every Department, each of which has different areas of work falling within its remit. We asked the Departments to correspond with us to let us know how they intend to take forward those actions. Perhaps there will be a raft of areas of work across the Departments.

Mrs Dillon: First Minister, I welcome your answer in response to the question about the collaboration approach. I do not wish to be parochial, but no council is better at that than Mid Ulster District Council. Does the First Minister agree that addressing regional imbalance is a really important part of moving our economy forward?

Mrs O'Neill: Thanks for the question. I agree. The draft Programme for Government recognises the whole area of growing our economy as a priority and recognises regional balance as a key component of that and of growing a globally competitive and sustainable economy. Everybody needs to benefit from that. The prize is that everybody is lifted up and feels that they benefit fairly and equitably from economic growth. If we are going to be serious about that, addressing regional imbalance is crucial. I welcome the fact that the Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, has brought forward a plan for that. That will lead to a tangible difference, particularly when you add it to delivery on issues such as the A5, the commitment to the Strule campus, the Derry and Strabane city deal, the Mid Ulster growth deal and all the other growth deals that we have been able to progress. My firm commitment, which is, I know, shared by many in the House, is that, whether you live in Omagh or Enniskillen, Belfast or Belleek, there needs to be fairness across the board so that everybody gets to share in the prosperity agenda. That is what I am committed to.

Ms McLaughlin: In relation to regional balance, £45 million has been put aside to support local economic partnerships. How much of that will fund administration in the councils, and how much will go towards capital projects or other projects?

Mrs O'Neill: I do not have that detail. That is in the gift of the Department for the Economy; it makes those allocations. The breakdown of that funding does not come directly under our office.

Mrs O'Neill: The appointment of the commissioners and members of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression is essential to the implementation of the provisions of the Identity and Language Act 2022 for which TEO is responsible. We are pleased to announce that panels have been established and that all three competition initiation meetings took place recently. That is a significant step in the process. The officials are working to provide us with further advice, which will include the necessary documentation to enable the competitions to be launched. The process will be run in line with the Commissioner for Public Appointment's (CPANI) guidelines.

Mr McGuigan: Go raibh maith agat, a Aire.

I thank the First Minister for that statement. It is positive to hear that progress is being made. Further to her answer, can she give a timeline for the recruitment process for the three bodies and indicate when commissioners will be appointed?

Mrs O'Neill: It is positive that we are making progress. I look forward to receiving the updated documentation, which will allow us to move to the next step. The Member knows that we have committed to adhering to CPANI's code of practice for the appointments. With that commitment, additional factors have to be taken into consideration in the governance and accountability surrounding the competition.

On the timeline, public appointment processes normally take a year to complete from when the initial decisions are taken. In this competition, those decisions were taken in May. In this case, three processes are happening concurrently, which is why a bit more time has been required. Our priority, however, is to make sure that the process is done properly, that due process is followed and that we get to the competition for the commissioners as quickly as possible and get them in place as quickly as possible.

Mr Dickson: First Minister, what discussions have been held with the Communities Minister about how the commissioners' work will interact with the relevant strategies?

Mrs O'Neill: They are two separate strands of work, but of course they will have to speak to each other. That will naturally happen over time, but I hope that we can see the publication of the Irish language strategy and the other strategies as quickly as possible. When that process is aligned, next year, we will start to see a real difference in the strategies being put in place, the commissioners, their responsibilities, their roles and the areas they will cover, and then we will all be clear about how that proceeds. The two things will absolutely have to talk to each other.

Mr Gaston: First Minister, it is claimed that the changes on Irish will do nothing to impact on the status of English in Northern Ireland. On Wednesday, at the Executive Office Committee, I pressed your officials on the legal status of the English language in Northern Ireland: they could not answer me. Is it not the truth, First Minister, that, once your office has completed the process of setting up the bodies associated with Irish, the only language with official status in Northern Ireland will be Irish?

Mrs O'Neill: The language belongs to us all. Nobody has anything to fear from any language. We should all embrace it and create a better and inclusive society. Let us create fairness across our society, and let us not look over our shoulders at the other. Let us build a better society; that is what I am here for. I encourage you to do likewise.

Mr Speaker: Question 9 has been withdrawn.

Mrs O'Neill: The Executive Office is committed to effective consultation and engagement with everyone across society, including children and young people. Officials use a variety of consultation methods and documents that can be made available in a range of formats to ensure that they are accessible. Recently, the Department took additional steps to engage with children and young people in its consultation on the ending of violence against women and girls strategy and its review of the Race Relations Order 1997.

Our officials follow the guidance in the Department's equality scheme and advice from the Equality Commission when preparing any policy consultation and equality assessment. Where policies are likely to have a particular impact on children and young people, officials also consider whether a child rights impact assessment is appropriate. That assessment, endorsed by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, aims to embed children's rights considerations at the very beginning of developing legislation, strategies and policies.

Child rights impact assessments were recently undertaken on the 2024-25 Budget, the Programme for Government and, as I said, the ending violence against women and girls strategy. We will continue to use them as an appropriate consultation process where policies are likely to have a particular impact on children and young people, alongside our commitment to deliver and embed our section 75 duties.

Mr Crawford: I thank the First Minister for her answer. First Minister, have any specific youth advisory roles or positions been established in your Department?

Mrs O'Neill: To my knowledge, there is no specific role, but I have outlined some of the areas where we are engaging with young people on policy development. We thought it was particularly appropriate to have a child rights impact assessment for the Programme for Government and the Budget because those decisions will have an impact on young people. We hope that we have the right tools, as opposed to having people in post.

I will ask whether we have anybody in particular, but it is more of a general duty on everyone in the Department to ensure that our policies are fit to meet the needs of everybody.

Ms Sugden: First Minister, the engagement of older people is also important. Do you have an update on the appointment of the Older People's Commissioner, as the current commissioner is leaving his post today?

Mrs O'Neill: I do not have the update with me, but I am happy to write to the Member. I assure her that her voice and the voices of others who represent older people have been heard as part of the Programme for Government consultation. We look forward to advancing the draft consultation.

Mr McNulty: First Minister, do you agree that involving young people should include giving them the right to vote at the age of 16? What steps have you taken since coming into office to make that happen?

Mrs O'Neill: Unfortunately, electoral legislation is not under the remit of the Executive Office. As a party representative, I absolutely advocate voting at 16. There is no agreement across the House on the topic, but we have had a debate and a discussion. Individually, I always lobby and advocate for voting at 16, including legislative changes. Let us hope that we get there some day. Our young people should have a say and a stake in what we do here.

Mrs O'Neill: Seven Executive Bills have begun their passage through the Assembly, and it is our expectation that, subject to the consent of the Assembly, all the Bills included in the Executive's initial legislative programme for 2024-25, which was announced back on 23 May, will be introduced during the 2024-25 session of the Assembly. Some slippage is, however, likely in the introduction of certain Bills within the timescales that were originally estimated. Further Bills will be introduced in the first quarter of 2025, but we share the Assembly's disappointment that there has not been greater progress to date. However, it is important that the underlying policy issues be resolved and finalised so that a Bill can be presented to the Assembly in as complete a form as possible.

We intend to make a statement to the Assembly on the full 2024-25 programme in the new year. That will include an update on all the Bills that have already been announced. We will continue to work with Executive colleagues to ensure that outstanding Bills are introduced in a timely manner to meet the commitments set out in the Executive's legislative programme.

Mr O'Toole: Minister, you are keen to talk about Santa Claus's deliveries, but you have not been so keen to talk about delivery of the Executive's legislative programme. To be clear, you referred to it as the "programme for 2024-25": you did not call it that when it was published in a statement to the Assembly. It was the "Executive Legislation Programme 2024", which is the year that is about to end. To confirm, you set yourself a low bar of 18 or 19 Bills. You will fail to reach even half that number. Can you account for why the Executive have failed to reach even 50% of the modest legislative programme that they set themselves?

Mrs O'Neill: I am keen to answer any of the questions that are put to me, but it is not appropriate for me to get into the ins and outs of why individual Ministers have not brought forward legislation, some of which I am aware of and some of which will take a little longer because of policy development issues. It may be the other side of Christmas before some things are advanced compared with when they were initially intended.

I hope that we can get there, because I also still want us to get to that point. We all want to get into the nitty-gritty of the legislation that is coming forward. The deputy First Minister and I have written to all Ministers again to ask for an update on the legislative programme. We intend to bring that to the Assembly for a statement early in the new year so that we can set out exactly where we are with every piece of current legislation and what else will be coming in the next year.

Mrs O'Neill: Following a public appointment process, we have agreed the successful candidate for the post of chair and three successful candidates for board member posts. We are considering the paperwork before we make the formal appointments, and we will announce those when letters have issued to the candidates.

Ms Ennis: I thank the First Minister for her response. As the First Minister knows, the Victims and Survivors Service plays a key role in the provision of support services for victims and survivors. Does the First Minister agree that making sure that there are adequate support services for victims and survivors should be a crucial area of work for any incoming chair and board?

Mrs O'Neill: Yes, absolutely. The support services are vital in supporting victims and survivors across a range of areas. We want to ensure that everything that we have in place is appropriate. You will know that we have just launched our victims and survivors strategy, which sets out clearly the area of work that we are focused on as part of a holistic approach to supporting victims and survivors. I hope that we can get people into post as quickly as possible and get on with supporting victims and survivors.

Mrs O'Neill: On 18 November, along with the Agriculture and Finance Ministers, we wrote to the Chancellor, urging her to reconsider the decision and ensure that agriculture and business property reliefs are retained as they currently apply and the ability to pass a family farm down from one generation to the next is protected.

Taxation must be fair and proportionate, and placing a large tax burden on farm families to the extent that a significant number of farm businesses cannot continue on the death of the owner could not be described as "fair" or "proportionate". Farming and agri-food are key sectors in our local economy, ensuring vital food security, and family farms are the backbone of our local agriculture sector and rural communities. There is no doubt that the changes will have a disproportionate impact on family farms here compared with those in other jurisdictions, given that we have some of the highest agricultural land prices.

We also attended the rally arranged by the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) to show our strong support for the farming community. Unfortunately, the British Government have stated that they are not willing to change their position on this, but I assure you that we will continue to speak on behalf of our farming community across all areas that impact it and at all levels of government.

Indeed, we raised it at the British-Irish Council last week also.

Ms Á Murphy: I thank the First Minister for her answer. Does the First Minister agree that the decision made by the British Government totally fails to reflect the unique circumstances and challenges faced by many farm families in the North?

Mrs O'Neill: Yes, I agree. I do not think that it takes into account our local situation and the fact that we have the highest agricultural land prices. It disproportionately impacts on our farmers and farm families here. We have been very vocal about the issue, and we will continue to be very vocal about it. We need to have the flexibility built in around our local circumstances, and we will take every opportunity to raise that point. We know that the Finance Minister has done so. We have also done that collectively and will continue to do so.

Mr Speaker: We now move to topical questions.

Mr O'Toole: I will stick with the theme of the legislative programme for 2024, which will not be delivered or even half delivered. The Minister said a moment ago that she cannot get into the detail of why individual Bills have not yet been introduced to the Assembly, but she was the person who launched the legislative programme and listed every Bill that she said then would be introduced to the Assembly. I repeat my question.

Mrs O'Neill: As I said, seven Bills are under way, and we are working our way through those. There are others still to come. There are some that, I believe, are only weeks away from being introduced in the Chamber. We know that there are a number of policy decisions to be made, particularly around some consultations that were had, and there is a lot of detail to be digested and then turned into legislative provision. I am quite sure that Ministers will bring their legislation as quickly as they possibly can.

I can refer only to my Department, and, for example, we consulted on the issue of mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses. We received 269 comprehensive responses. I do not want to rush that. I want to do it in a timely manner, but I also want to get it right. We will keep working our way through that, and I know that that is similar for other Ministers.

I also said to you earlier that we have already started this work. We have reached out to all the Departments. We have asked them for the reasons for delays, and we have also asked for a time frame for when things will come forward. The deputy First Minister and I will make a statement in the new year on what exactly this picture looks like for the year ahead.

Mr O'Toole: I am afraid, First Minister, that whether it is on Assembly reform, the reform of the Stormont veto, the legislative programme, the failure to present a draft Budget before Christmas, as the Finance Minister promised, or assorted matters on the Irish language, Casement and a number of other things, too many people have heard warm words and platitudes but not seen delivery from the Executive. I ask that, as a New Year's resolution, you, as First Minister, perhaps think about fewer platitudes, fewer photo ops and more delivery.

Mrs O'Neill: It is a far cry from constructive opposition, Matthew, I will tell you that. I am very pleased. We are coming up to the one-year anniversary of this institution coming back, and, in this first year, the four parties in the Executive have made remarkable progress collectively. I am so glad that we have made progress on childcare. I am so glad that we have made progress on regional balance. I am so glad that we have been able to bring forward the Budget and that we are currently working through the next Budget. I am so glad that we have consulted on a Programme for Government. I am glad that we have made progress on the A5. I am glad that we continue to make progress that makes a real difference to people's lives daily. When we reflect on all of that, we see that we need to keep doing it. We need to keep doing more of it, and I want to do more of it. I will work constructively with everybody in the Chamber to ensure that we deliver for the people whom we collectively serve. We should reflect on what we have been able to achieve in this first year, and I look forward to the next two years of this mandate and to seeing whether we can deliver even more of what we have set out to achieve together.

Mrs O'Neill: I think that I might have received a question for written answer from you at some stage recently. Yes. The position is the same. We have received the SIB review, and we hope to be able to bring forward proposals in this area, particularly because we will be bringing forward the investment strategy. It is important that this is also aligned and is part of that.

Mr McReynolds: I thank the First Minister for her response. First Minister, Northern Ireland Water is facing monumental challenges, a question for urgent oral answer has been submitted today on congestion pressures in Belfast city centre, DFI officials were fielding questions on 'The Nolan Show' this morning and the York Street interchange remains in limbo. Will we see an options paper tabled for a decision by the Executive in January, or even in the first half of next year?

Mrs O'Neill: Sorry, I missed what you said. Did you mean an options paper in relation to waste water infrastructure? Yes. I know that there is a question for urgent oral answer to DFI today as well. This is one of the biggest issues that we have to grapple with as an Executive. Investing in waste water infrastructure will take huge investment after decades and decades of underinvestment in our infrastructure. We have to do this, otherwise we will not be able to build homes or support local businesses to deliver. We all have our minds fixed on this as an issue to which we need to find a solution. The Infrastructure Minister has already brought proposals for legislation on sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that will help us to drain some of the water. There is not one solution; there are probably three or four solutions on the table. Yes, we will continue to see progress in this area. We do not have a choice: we have to fix the waste water infrastructure, and I am determined to work with other Ministers to do so.

Mrs O'Neill: I can only make a general point on that, given that the remit for Civil Service employment falls under DOF. Where we have temporary positions, we should move to make them permanent. We should have proper workforce planning. We insist on that across the public service, and we should also have that in the Civil Service. Where there are issues, we need to find solutions to them, but, really, that comes under the remit of DOF.

Mr Bradley: I thank the First Minister for her answer. It is important to advertise Civil Service jobs and either make new appointments or make temporary appointments permanent. It has to be done sooner rather than later. Over 2,000 temporary appointments is too many.

Mrs O'Neill: As a general point, I can agree with that.

Mrs O'Neill: Not in relation to the Programme for Government consultation, obviously, but, previously, I, as deputy First Minister, met the religious institutions about their contribution. We need to continue to do that where appropriate. As you will be aware, negotiations are under way to try to ensure that all the institutions pay for the support that we need to be able to provide to victims and survivors. That is work in progress. It is work that is being led independently of us, but, where appropriate, we will be engaged. My door will always be open to make sure that we work with everybody. As you know, we will be looking at clerical abuse and the research that is being done by our universities. We need to bring that forward.

Miss McAllister: I thank the First Minister for her answer. You will be aware, of course, that the preservation of documents will be very important for many mothers and the babies who were adopted out of the mother-and-baby homes. There are other documents that need to be preserved and maintained, particularly those held by the Catholic Church, which I mentioned previously in the House. Can the First Minister confirm whether her Department has issued any correspondence to the relevant bodies to make them aware of the law that was passed in the previous mandate regarding the protection of those documents and whether there has been positive correspondence in response to that?

Mrs O'Neill: I will write to the Member so that I do not give her misinformation about who exactly we have contacted, but I have no doubt that that work was followed up, given that we had that protection. As we know, it is an issue across this island, and I can assure you that we raised it at the North/South Ministerial Council, because it is important that, across both jurisdictions, those records are protected and that there is no more diminution in them. I can assure the Member that we are still working on that, and I will write to her with more information.

Mrs O'Neill: I dealt with that in the Committee.

Mr T Buchanan: I do not think that I can thank the First Minister for her response. Does she agree that those actions were wrong and will be perceived as a bid to influence the Chair of the Committee to achieve her desired outcome of closing down the opportunity for Committee members to conduct their scrutiny role? Will she commit to refraining from such actions in the future and be open and transparent in all cases?

Mrs O'Neill: No, I do not agree.

Mrs O'Neill: Yes. The deputy First Minister and I, the Economy Minister and the Agriculture Minister all travelled to Edinburgh to be part of the BIC meeting. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Prime Minister and the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales were all there, and the conversation was about just transition financing. Achieving a just transition presents the same challenges for all of us, but it also provides us with opportunities that come from green growth. It was therefore a hugely important opportunity for us to discuss issues facing ordinary workers and families across these islands, and we were able to raise for discussion our approach to the climate agenda.

Equally, we were able to make the case for what we are trying to do by developing our Budget and our Programme for Government. We also made the case directly to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, for why our public services deserve proper funding, for which we need to have a proper funding model. We made the case for public-sector workers and said that we want to continue to transform our health service, to invest in making childcare more affordable and to improve our education system. We said that, in order to do so, we need to have a proper funding model. We therefore took the opportunity at the BIC meeting to make our case on all those matters.

Mr Sheehan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chéad-Aire as ucht a freagra.

Does she agree that the North/South and east-west bodies are important pillars in the architecture of the Good Friday Agreement?

Mrs O'Neill: Yes, absolutely. The North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and the British-Irish Council are among the bodies that were established under the Good Friday Agreement, and they remain key components of it. All the bodies that were established must work. We take the opportunities that are presented to us to learn from one another, to share good practice and to learn what things work and what things do not work. Those bodies, in their many forms, will always work to boost tourism, to attract investment, to encourage business development and to help people flourish across these islands. They are so beneficial to us, and we get so much from them. I hope that we can continue to learn from, grow and even enhance the work that we do across all the different pillars of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mrs O'Neill: We work right across Departments to try to share as much information as we can, because each Department holds different information. As part of the development of the Programme for Government, we now have a portal that we can access to look at different data. That is important, because we need to be able to measure our progress, learn about where we are doing things right and adjust when we are perhaps not doing things in the way in which we should. Ensuring that we have the most up-to-date data and that we digitally innovate will therefore be important for improving how we develop policy.

Mr McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chéad-Aire as a freagraí go dtí seo.

Will she detail areas of work in which data sharing has informed several strategic Executive Office policy areas?

Mrs O'Neill: One good example is our ending violence against women and girls strategic framework. That was based on data that was garnered from different sources and brought into one home, which then allowed us to develop our policy and strategy accordingly. We must be data-informed. We cannot just do things on a whim. We must have informed policy that is based on information that has been gathered. That way of developing policy, done by co-design and co-production with partners, is always going to lead to much better policy development and therefore much better policy for the people whom we represent.

Mrs O'Neill: I do not have the specific figures with me, but I can say that the offices that we have in Washington and Brussels represent value for money and that it is important that we have networks. Alongside that, remember that Invest NI also has premises all over, internationally, which gives us a global footprint for attracting trade and drumming up business. Since the Executive came back in February of this year, our message on that front has been that we are open for business; we are ready to trade; we have something good to offer; we have a highly skilled workforce; and we have an educated young population. Those are all unique selling points. Access to both markets is a huge selling point for us. All our bases help us to establish contacts. Unfortunately, you do not just go in and out of investment. It takes time to build relationships, and you have to invest in order to attract people. I very much value the work of our international desks.

Mr Speaker: Questions 1 and 5 have been withdrawn.

Mr Nesbitt (The Minister of Health): On 23 October this year, I was pleased to be able to approve additional regional funding for the children with disabilities service. That funding is intended to assist with increasing short-break capacity and with expanding family, therapeutic and behavioural supports. Following that announcement, the strategic planning and performance group (SPPG) met trust directors as a collective and individually to robustly assess their proposals and delivery time frames. On 7 November, there was a workshop to review the progress of the children with disabilities work stream. Representatives of the Children's Law Centre and Parent Action attended and participated in the children with disabilities work stream as part of the children's social care strategic reform programme.

My officials have established a monitoring framework for children's disability. It monitors capacity, workforce and need and supports accountability discussions with health and social care trusts. It will be expanded to ensure that the additional funds deliver their intended outcomes.

My Department recognises the importance of co-design and the value that it adds. The framework for children with disabilities has been developed with the views of families and providers to set the priorities for my Department and the trusts. However, it is recognised that further work will continue to be needed to ensure that those who use the services are better involved. Meaningful co-design requires capacity and relationship building with families. As that process takes time, it will be challenging to ensure that co-design is meaningfully built into the allocation of the recently announced additional funds this year, but I hope to see better as we move forward.

Ms Ferguson: I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, will you throw some light on how the health and social care trusts will continue to work collectively to maximise service delivery across the whole of the North?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for her supplementary question. It takes me to a point that I came to early in my tenure as Minister. We have five geographical trusts for what is a relatively small geographical area and, indeed, a relatively small population, at just under two million people. Rather than introduce what might be the distraction of a major reform to create one geographical trust for the whole of Northern Ireland, I have told the chairs and chief execs that, in my mind, I look at the five trusts as one, so I want an end to competition and to see more collaboration and cooperation. That is particularly important in this area, where resources and the very buildings where respite care may take place are in such short supply.

Mr Brett: I thank the Minister for announcing the funding increase. It is a vital service. One of the main providers of respite care in my constituency is the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice. I was delighted that the Minister recently visited it to hear of the funding difficulties that it has had. Will the Minister provide an update on his engagement and on what further funding he may be able to provide to that vital service?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question, and, indeed, I applaud his continued interest in and support for the Children's Hospice. As he said, I visited that facility, as well as the Northern Ireland Hospice, a few weeks ago. I was impressed with the facilities. I was impressed with the level of joy at the Children's Hospice in particular. That may seem an odd statement to make when there are children there who are suffering from life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. However, there was pure joy in the air, and I came away with a determination to do what I can in coming years to increase the funding for the hospice. That is before we look at the increase in costs that will develop for hospices, not least with the national living wage and the increases in National Insurance. Also, I was taken by the fact that there is a potential for some form of match funding, should I be able to find funds to increase what the Northern Ireland Executive put into the hospice through the Department of Health. While I can make no absolute promises to the Member, I will say to him that it is very much on my radar, and, if I can, I am determined to do so.

Mr Donnelly: Has the Minister had any engagement with disability organisations such as the Centre for Independent Living to determine how we can best support people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question. Directly, the answer is no, I have not personally been involved. I would be more than happy to meet, but the Member will be aware that my officials meet all sorts of groups every day, and, if there were proposals, I would expect them to come to me in the normal course of work.

Ms D Armstrong: I welcome the additional funding, which has come as a lifeline for a system and a service that are under real strain. We must remember, of course, the families and young people at the heart of all of this. How important a partner is the community and voluntary sector in the delivery of the additional actions?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for her question. I believe very much in the power of the community and voluntary sector to deliver. That goes back to my time as a victims' commissioner, when dozens of community and voluntary groups were providing day-to-day assistance to victims and survivors of our long, 30-year conflict. Certainly, in the provision of health, if the community and voluntary sector were to collapse, it would have a profound impact on our ability to deliver healthcare in Northern Ireland.

The Member may be aware that I worked with the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) on a redesign of the core grant scheme. That is a scheme that had basically been closed to new organisations that had come on stream in the past 20 years. We now have a new scheme, and, in the next financial year, I hope to find a little more money to go into that. Currently, it sits at £1·8 million per annum. I would like to see that increased in the years ahead.

Mr McNulty: Minister, a welcome £13 million funding package has been identified for respite services for children with a learning disability. Will you provide more detail on how and when that money will be rolled out? Also, further to the previous question, will you outline whether those in the community and voluntary sector can avail themselves of that funding? You will know of organisations, such as the wonderful Newry Gateway Club, that are willing and able to step up to the plate in that regard.

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question. The additional funding of £13 million begins in the next financial year. This financial year, the quantum is more in the order of £2 million. As I have said, it is intended not just for short-break respite for families but for expanding family therapeutic and behavioural support across the community and all five geographical health and social care trusts. On the Member's specific interest, which is aligned with his geographical representation, he should ask the Southern Trust about supporting the likes of Gateway and about exactly where that money will be spent.

Mr Nesbitt: The impact of the pandemic was felt keenly right across Northern Ireland in every household and every sphere of life. As a result, work was paused in a number of areas across public health policy. Where possible, however, key issues were focused on, such as the development of the new substance use strategy and the introduction of legislation on smoking in cars where children or young people under the age of 18 were present.

In the Public Health Agency (PHA), around 80% of resources were directed to COVID-19, with the remaining resource focused on issues such as rebuilding public health programmes, including screening and other interventional work on smoking. The majority of ongoing PHA work relating to COVID-19 has now been absorbed into business-as-usual mode.

The COVID inquiry is ongoing. I expect that it will inform the priorities for the Department into the future. For now, significant efforts are under way across a range of areas to drive forward progress on a range of public health priorities. We continue to work across government to deliver Making Life Better, which is the overarching strategic framework for public health, through which the Executive committed to creating the conditions for individuals, families and communities to take greater control over their lives and be enabled and supported to lead healthy lives.

Existing health inequalities were exacerbated by the pandemic. Recently, I launched the Live Better initiative, which looks at how we better align our existing resources and services with the aim of improving access and outcomes for those most in need. The pandemic also led to a significant emphasis on preparedness and response planning for future health crises. We are learning from experience and focusing on building resilient health systems capable of responding to pandemics or public health emergencies. That includes investment in public health infrastructure and workforce training.

Mr Clarke: I thank the Minister for a fulsome answer. No one doubts the impact that COVID-19 has had on many and on the health service as well. However, many now expect that, after almost four years, many things should get back to business as usual, like an appointment with your GP. Many people complain that they cannot get a face-to-face appointment; indeed, hospital appointments have been affected by that. Minister, what work can be done to bring back some form of normality so that people can get back to the health service that they used to have?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his follow-up question. I am sympathetic to the point that he makes, because, on a constituency basis, ever since the pandemic hit its peak, I have constituents, as, I am sure, the Member has, who come in and talk about the number of times they have to phone before they can get through to their GP.

I certainly look at the productivity in the five geographic health trusts, particularly in terms of elective surgery. It is not back to pre-COVID-19 levels, and I have yet to get what I consider to be a logical and reasonable explanation why. While I cannot answer the Member's question in the detail that I would like to, I hope that I can assure him that it is on my radar. I am determined to get to pre-COVID levels as soon as possible and then to exceed them, because it is important that productivity is what it should be. I can say to the Member that we did put the trusts on notice about their productivity some time ago. For the first time — certainly the first time that I am aware of — we are now beginning to claw back money from the trusts for elective procedures that have not taken place but which were scheduled.

Miss McAllister: During the pandemic, a lot of the public health priorities were shifted from one body to another so that certain bodies, whether hospitals or the community and voluntary sector, could help those who were overwhelmed with the adults who were suffering from COVID. However, that balance has not been struck again as regards shifting the responsibilities back. Can the Minister commit himself to assessing that situation, particularly when it comes to the resources that were never shifted at any period? There are some organisations that still carry the burden. Despite reaching out a hand to help during COVID, they are still burdened with the responsibility and resources from the time.

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for the point, but I am not aware of the specifics. I encourage the Member to write to me. I am more than willing to take a look to see how we can achieve and maintain a better balance.

Mr Chambers: Whilst there is no doubt that the pandemic caused a major disruption to public health priorities, I am glad that the Minister has had such a clear and immediate focus on public health inequalities. Can the Minister give an assurance that, despite the pressures weighing down the system, progress will continue to be made with his Live Better initiative?

Mr Nesbitt: I can certainly give Mr Chambers that assurance; in fact, I will be having a meeting this week to look at the latest stage in the development of the Live Better initiative. It is worth putting it on record that that initiative is about tackling health inequalities. I always go to one particular statistic: two girls can be born on the same day in a maternity unit in Belfast and can grow up a mile apart, but, if one is in an area of the greatest deprivation and the other lives in an area of the least deprivation, their healthy life expectation will vary by 14·2 years.

In a First World country, a quarter of the way into the 21st century, that simply should not be countenanced.

I have asked officials to bring forward the Live Better initiative to begin to address the situation. It will be demonstrated in two areas: one in west Belfast and one in Derry/Londonderry. I hope that, from that, we get the empirical evidence that we can make a difference. Then I will bring it back to Executive colleagues, because tackling these things is an all-Executive challenge. We believe that it is 20% health, but 40% socio-economic,10% environment and 30% behaviours. Behaviours include such things as smoking, so the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that is going through Westminster will help. Behaviours also include the abuse of substances, including alcohol, and that is why I would like Executive colleagues to support the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol. I say this to the Member: yes, Live Better is very much on course for delivery in 2025.

Mr Nesbitt: In Northern Ireland, meals on wheels or cooked chilled meals are provided or arranged by trusts for vulnerable people where an individual needs assessment shows that a person is unable to obtain a nutritious cooked meal and would be at risk of malnutrition if such a meal service was not provided. The inability to prepare a meal may be assessed as a temporary or a long-term inability, and the meal can be provided directly by the trust or by the independent sector within the person’s own home, in the form of a cooked, frozen or chilled meal, or in a day care setting. There is a criterion for entitlement to meals on wheels and a small charge to the person in receipt of them.

The south Tyrone area sits within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. The Southern Trust does not commission the service, but there are other options available for those who are unable to make their own meals, such as shop-purchased ready meals or the order and delivery of cooked meals from other organisations. The Southern Trust will provide home care services to heat those meals if the service user is assessed as requiring that support.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust does provide meals on wheels to service users. Within the Fermanagh area, six people currently receive a meal delivered to their home. There are also four day centres in that area in which a person can receive a cooked meal from the meals on wheels service. Those day centres include Kesh, Killadeas, Drumahaw and Tir Navar, and the number of people who attend the day centres can vary between 20 and 80. The cost to the individual is £1·50 per meal. The Western Trust subsidises those meals. The cost per meal to the trust varies from £2·99 to £9·48 per meal, and that depends on location and delivery costs.

Ms Dolan: Go raibh maith agat, Minister. I know how busy Ministers are, so I appreciate that the Minister may not be aware that I submitted a priority question for written answer on 24 October and am yet to receive a response. I am therefore grateful for his answer today. It was comprehensive and informative. I have been in touch with the Western Trust, several times, on the issue. Unfortunately, it has not been able to provide me with a pathway through which my constituents should refer themselves for an assessment of need for meals on wheels.

Mr Speaker: Have you a question?

Ms Dolan: I know that the Minister is not across this, right now, but will he follow up in writing to me on how my constituents might refer themselves for meals on wheels?

Mr Nesbitt: On the first point, I can only sign what comes on to my desk. I am more than open to a direct approach, if things are not happening at the pace that they are supposed to happen. I can write to the Member to try to establish a pathway for her constituents within the Western Trust, because, if they are in need of meals on wheels, they should get it, and they should get it promptly to avoid malnutrition.

Mr Nesbitt: The children and young people's emotional health and well-being in education framework was launched in 2021. It is funded jointly by my Department and the Department of Education. A number of important projects and pilots have been taken forward through the framework, collectively providing help and support to children and young people in relation to their emotional and mental health. Those include the emotional well-being teams in schools project, the objective of which is to ensure that post-primary schools are aware of appropriate pathways for support. That project commenced in the financial year 2023-24. In the current academic year — 2024-25 — it will engage with no fewer than 50,000 children in 68 post-primary schools across the region. That is an increase from 46 schools in 2023-24.

The resilience in education, assisting change to happen (REACH) programme has engaged approximately 8,000 pupils across more than 100 schools. REACH is an Education Authority Youth Service programme for six- to 19-year-olds to develop positive emotional health, increase their readiness for learning and build their resilience. The Being Well Doing Well programme supports schools with their current policies and practice to embed emotional health and well-being in them. In 2023-24, a total of 132 schools participated, with 160 schools projected to participate in 2024-25. Furthermore, a regional integrated support for education (RISE), Health-led, multi-professional early intervention team has been established for primary pupils up to primary 7. It aims to support younger children with their emotional health and well-being needs. The project has supported small groups and provided whole-class support to 242 schools in the 2023-24 financial year.

Mr Boylan: I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he intend to use the THRIVE framework as a guide to developing a person-centred, needs-led approach?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question. I have not taken a position on that, but the THRIVE programme delivers very positive results. I am more than happy to take that recommendation back to the Department and contact the Member in due course with a response.

Mr Crawford: Will the Minister provide some examples of other practical initiatives that are in place to support mental health in schools?

Mr Nesbitt: The aim is to provide intervention at the earliest opportunity to ensure that schools are aware of the appropriate pathways for support in their local area and, indeed, in the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Additional initiatives include a school nursing pilot. The Public Health Agency-led pilot is currently operating in five post-primary schools across Northern Ireland with a school nurse located in those schools. There is also the Text-a-Nurse service, which is a secure and confidential text messaging service for young people between the ages of 11 and 19 that provides them with access to a school nurse for advice and support. Then there is the Attach project, which focuses on trauma-informed practice (TAP) and the importance of relationships for looked-after children and provides training and support for staff who, in turn, support the child.

Mr Durkan: In the Minister's answers, he outlined a range of initiatives and interventions by his Department and the Department of Education on this very important issue. In all my time here, I have rarely, if ever, come across a project as well received and well regarded as the Happy Healthy Minds project. Has the Minister been working, or will he be working, with his counterpart in the Department of Education to seek the reinstatement of that vital piece of work?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question. I am more than happy to engage with the Minister of Education on that specific. I have engaged with the Minister of Education on a number of specifics. Most recently, we met four principals of special schools to discuss the health — the physical and mental well-being — of pupils, and we are advancing well on the improvement of services in special schools. I, alongside the Chief Nursing Officer, intend to visit some special schools as part of the preparation for the next phase of meetings with the Minister and those principals. I can certainly incorporate the Member's recommendation in our discussions.

Mr Nesbitt: A total of around £130 million of funding is provided to the trusts through the mental health programme of care route for the provision of front-line services in mental health. That does not include the funding for the important role provided by the primary care sector. In addition, mental health strategy funding of £5·9 million has been allocated this year, most of which is being used for front-line service provision in CAMHS, crisis, specialist interventions and early intervention and prevention initiatives.
Each trust is required to submit to the strategic planning and performance group (SPPG) monthly performance figures on commissioned activity. Where additional funding is allocated, robust mechanisms are in place to monitor service delivery, including post-project evaluations. The mental health strategy for 2021-2031 recognises that effective delivery of mental health services is not possible without full integration of the community and voluntary sector, with that sector having an important role to play in supporting mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention and statutory mental health services.

To support delivery of action 17 of the mental health strategy, a review of the scope, scale and capacity of the community and voluntary sector will be undertaken in this financial year. Harnessing the skills and experience that exist in that sector is of utmost importance. The mental health strategy envisages the community and voluntary sector as true partners that are fully integrated in ensuring improved outcomes for the population, and the sector being fully included in the planning, development and delivery of mental health services.

Ms Bunting: I am grateful to the Minister for his answer on this important subject. However, I am advised by those in the community and voluntary sector who undertake a lot of the front-line work, particularly around mental health crisis, that additional moneys that are allocated seldom reach them. They are often absorbed further up the chain by bureaucracy, administration and strategy, rather than being spent on the people who need the help. What action will he undertake to review the systems and processes and strip away some of those additional layers, thus allowing the funding to reach the point of need and pay for vital services on the ground?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for her follow-up question. As I think I have already made clear, I have been working with the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) on the specific of the core-grant scheme in order to make sure that it is opened up for the first time in some 20 years and, therefore, is available to community and voluntary sector groups that have formed in that period. I would like to enhance the pot of money that is available to that fund.

On a more general point, I say to the Member that, in my six months in post, I have rapidly come to the conclusion that we have really over-complicated delivery of healthcare. I have not got to the bottom of why that is, and I am still grappling with the challenge of how to simplify it. Certainly, however, voluntary and community sector groups want to get themselves involved in a very simple regime where they can access government funds, support and resources to do the job that they are there to do. They are focused on helping people. They are not focused on being bureaucrats, human resource managers or accountants: their primary ambition is to help people in the community. I would like to simplify how we engage with them and enable them to do what they want to do.

Mr Butler: The Minister is well aware that mental health is a cross-departmental priority that is underpinned by New Decade, New Approach. Therefore, is he able to outline any specific bids that he has made to his Executive partners for investment in the mental health workforce?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question. He will know that I have campaigned on the issue of mental health and well-being since coming to the House in 2011. In October monitoring, there was no provision for nor any invitation to make specific bids. While I rejoice in the fact that we have a mental health champion in Professor Siobhán O'Neill, who does really good work in raising awareness, and while we have a mental health strategy for the 10 years from 2021 to 2031, we do not have the funds that I would like to see devoted to this very important area. As the Member will know, there are so many demands on the Department of Health's budget that it is very difficult to squeeze out a little bit of extra money here and there. However, I assure the Member that, as I said in the House in my first remarks in this role, my core priorities include mental health, and so it remains.

Mr McMurray: The Minister said that he is engaging with the community and voluntary sector. How is that engagement being carried forward in order to maximise use of the sector's expertise in delivering such an important service?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question. As he is aware, there are many, many charitable organisations and organisations in the community and voluntary sector involved in health delivery, whether for physical or mental health.

As I said, I have engaged through the umbrella body, NICVA. I could not tell you how many times I have met individual charities and groups from the community and voluntary sector. I applaud the many cancer charities that have come together as an umbrella organisation. That is a really sensible way forward, because, when there are limited funds and maybe 12 charities, such as cancer charities, all in the same area, it is sometimes difficult to decide how to allocate those funds. When those charities come together, have an internal conversation and then come to the Department and say, "This is how, we think, you can get the best bang for your buck", that is co-design in action. I would encourage that kind of collaborative working in the community and voluntary sector. I am always open to meeting them — indeed, I am eager to meet them — to discuss the way forward.

I emphasise that I sometimes feel that some people look on those charities as the cheap alternative: I do not. They have expertise and reach that we cannot replicate. I go back to my days as a victims' commissioner. Those charities know individuals, families and communities much better than a Department can ever hope to do.

Mr Speaker: We move on to topical questions.

Mr Nesbitt: I agree with the Member. A lot of work is being done to try to be more efficient. The Member is aware of that, because he rightly highlights the time that ambulance crews spend outside and in emergency departments waiting to discharge their patients. The same goes for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The Member will be aware that the Chief Constable is keen on introducing the Right Care, Right Person approach, which will recalibrate how the Police Service engages with mental health patients in emergency departments and deals with other questions in that area.

I agree with the Member that that is a shocking statistic to have in a First World country. It is not something that anyone is trying to ignore or brush away.

Mr McGrath: I acknowledge what the Minister has said. Does he believe that some of the 149 people were part of the 97,507 individuals who, while waiting for an ambulance to arrive, had to have the category of seriousness of their case upgraded because they had been waiting so long? What are we going to do to get our Ambulance Service up to the standard that it needs to be at in order to support its staff, who are worked to the bone? They are working day and night to provide a service for people in our community.

Mr Nesbitt: As the Member is aware, we have been recruiting, I think, 48 new paramedics to join the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). NIAS has reviewed the data, so the Member will know that, in his area, it has come to the conclusion that it can adjust their rotas. The number of crews on duty between, say, 2.00 am and 6.00 am was overcapacity to meet the demand, so NIAS has decided that it would be better to reallocate some of that resource to late afternoon, when demand is at its highest. It is not as though nothing is being done, but the statistics that the Member has cited are absolutely shocking. They are not acceptable, and we need to do more.

The Member will know that, in order to make a positive difference, not just funds but appropriately trained and committed staff and other resources are needed. Physical infrastructure is required. No one in the House would say that Health has been anything other than underfunded over a significant period. As a result, those things, sadly, will take time to fix.

Mr Nesbitt: I have no difficulty in saying that I agree. I know that Mr McGuigan has a particular interest in that area. There has been a tripartite approach from the Northern Ireland Executive, involving the Minister for Communities, the Minister of Education and me, to try to get more resource from the UK Government to tackle the problem in Northern Ireland. I hope that that will bear fruit in due course.

Mr McGuigan: I thank the Minister for his response. The Minister will know that gambling-related harm is not officially recognised as a public health issue. Does the Minister agree that it should be recognised officially as a public health issue in the North?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his follow-up question. It is always dangerous to make up policy on the hoof, but I am on record at an event in the Long Gallery as saying that it is public health issue. I am happy to concur with the Member.

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his question. As he is aware, there are no commissioned ADHD services in Northern Ireland, but services are being made available by the geographic trusts. Provision has grown across those trusts in response to population demand. That means that a level of provision is available, but that has also led to inconsistencies, which I want to see ended. As I said, in my mind, I look at the five geographic trusts as one trust, and I am saying to them, "In certain geographical areas, you will find pockets of best practice. Let's identify those areas of best practice and roll them out so that they become common practice across Northern Ireland". I include adult ADHD as part of that.

Any decision on the commissioning of adult services has to be based on an assessment of demand and made in the context of budgetary availability. Officials in my Department are well advanced in commissioning research to inform a future ADHD service by scoping out the level of demand. I am keen, as are the officials, that the research be completed before the end of the financial year.

Mr McReynolds: I thank the Minister for that update. In the absence of a commissioned service, what is your assessment of the situation where those with a private diagnosis of ADHD have their shared care arrangement reviewed, are given a deadline of 180 days before access to their life-changing medication is withdrawn and are then redirected back to their private provider without access to treatment in the meantime?

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for his follow-up question. That is an area of detail that I want to take away. I will make a general comment: moving from the National Health Service or Health and Social Care (HSC) to the private sector and coming back again poses problems across the board, as far as I can see. The Member mentioned specifics, and I invite him to write to me in order to allow me to take them away and give his question the detailed response that it deserves.

Mr Nesbitt: The Department of Health has no vires over what organisations place on their websites. In my experience, the Rainbow Project delivers valuable services to the LGBTQ+ community. I do not condone illegal activities in any way. The Member may wish to write to the Rainbow Project to highlight the issues that he has raised.

Mr Gaston: Health Minister, is it the case that you provide public funding to that body and permit it to do and say whatever it wants, even though that may go against health advice?

Mr Nesbitt: As I said to the Member, I do not condone anything that is considered illegal, but we have free speech in this country. We have no contractual arrangement with the organisation that he referenced on its communications, marketing, advertising or website.

Mr Nesbitt: I sympathise with the Member and his constituents. I am afraid that it is a question of resource. That is a technical medical procedure and is carried out at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. There is a validation: in other words, a consultant goes through the list to make sure that people are in the right order according to the priority of their clinical need. There is, I believe, a plan to introduce another list in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. We are also looking to the South Eastern Trust and specifically to the Ulster Hospital to see whether training can be introduced that may allow for those percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube insertions to be carried out outside the children's hospital.

Mr K Buchanan: Minister, I listened attentively to your response to Mr Clarke on output compared with pre-COVID levels. Is the example that I gave an outworking of that? Further to that, is the private medical sector operating at 100% pre-COVID levels?

Mr Nesbitt: On the first point, I am not aware that that is the case. I have a sense that demand for the service is growing, but I will take that away, check it out and get back to the Member.

On the second part of the question, I have no vires over the productivity of the private sector.

Mr Nesbitt: I thank the Member for her question. She has got me. I am not aware of that condition or of what we are doing, if anything, in that regard.

Mrs Dillon: It was not my intention to get you, to be fair. If you can come back to us with an update, it will be appreciated. Givinostat has not yet been approved for licensing in the UK, but there is an early access programme, and access to it would be gratefully appreciated by the parents here. Children with DMD have an extremely life-limiting condition, which means that those children will not live to reach a very old age or, in many cases, even a young age. They really need access to whatever treatments are out there. If you could give us a written update, we would appreciate it. I think that the Chair of the Health Committee has written to you about the matter.

Mr Nesbitt: I will more than happily take that away, and I ask the Member to write to me on it. As a matter of broad principle, we follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. If NICE has approved something, we will certainly check its applicability in Northern Ireland. If NICE has not approved it, we tend not to do that, although it can be done through an individual referral pathway.

Mr Nesbitt: I am not aware of its being advised not to take the handover. I think that there was a contractual board that advised the contractor and the Belfast Trust and that the advice was, figuratively speaking, to accept the keys. It was only afterwards, when the trust went into the solid state of water testing, which applies as if the hospital were fully operational, that the issue arose.

Mr Speaker: Matthew O'Toole has given notice of a question for urgent oral answer to the Minister for Infrastructure. I remind Members that, if they wish to ask a supplementary question, they should rise continually in their place.

Mr O'Dowd (The Minister for Infrastructure): I accept that there are delays and that journeys through the city centre by car are taking longer than normal while work is ongoing. That is why I previously made a statement to the Assembly to warn about and raise awareness of what was to come. The bigger, more general issue is that there are too many cars on the road and the network has limited resilience to cope with incidents such as those that occurred last Thursday evening, which coincided with peak traffic periods. Mitigating the congestion issue will take a huge collective approach, with everyone considering how they can play a part to help everyone to better share the limited road space available in a smarter way. I appeal to motorists to consider what other options they can take to avoid congestion, such as public transport, park-and-rides, active travel or, if possible, planning their journey so that they use an alternative route or avoid peak times.

I have established a strategic oversight group comprising the Department for Infrastructure, Belfast City Council, the PSNI and Translink to consider what more can be done to ease congestion at peak times while work is ongoing. Mitigating the congestion issue will take a huge collective approach, with everyone considering how they can play a part to help everyone share the limited road space available in a smarter way.

Mr O'Toole: No one disagrees with the assertion that Belfast is too car-centric, but the challenge that we face in the here and now is that, in the weeks before Christmas, the city has completely ground to a halt because of congestion. With respect, it simply is not good enough to tell people to look at alternative routes. What powers are you using, Minister, to see whether, for example, roadworks can be scheduled for times when they do not place huge pressure on the retail and hospitality businesses that rely on these weeks in order to survive? Our city is in crisis, Minister: what will you do to ease the pressure?

Mr O'Dowd: There were particular incidents on Thursday night that brought a significant delay to traffic in Belfast city centre. There was an accident on the M1, accidents on the M2, traffic light failures on the Ormeau Road and a major public event in the SSE Arena. Those incidents came together to cause significant traffic congestion in the city. There was also very poor weather. Yes, those incidents caused significant congestion, but I caution Members who represent Belfast against sending out the message that Belfast is in crisis or that it is closed for business. Belfast is not in crisis and it is not closed for business. One of the reasons that there is so much traffic on the road is that Belfast is a very successful and busy city. Long may it remain so. I have taken the actions that I can within the powers that I have to ease that congestion. All traffic works, apart from some that are going on around Belfast Grand Central station, have been stopped; they were stopped on 25 November. In fact, the work on the Sydenham bypass stopped a week before that because the weather conditions were not suitable for those works to go ahead. All major traffic works around the city have stopped, as they have in other towns, in order to allow for the Christmas shopping spree.

The fact remains that there are too many cars in too limited a space. Each of us has to make a decision as to how we deal with that. If you travel into Belfast city centre using a car, you should expect there to be congestion, and doing so leads to congestion for other people as well. I therefore appeal to people, where possible, to use public transport to come into the city to enjoy the thriving businesses and nightlife that Belfast city centre offers.

Mrs Erskine: The Minister will be glad to hear that I took the train into Belfast on Friday night, although I had to drive from Fermanagh in order to get the train. Will the Minister outline how many times the strategic oversight group on traffic issues has met? Is he minded to widen the group out beyond the PSNI, Translink and the councils to groups such as the night czar, Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI?

Mr O'Dowd: Up until last week, the group was meeting daily and is now probably meeting weekly, but I will provide the Member with details of how often the group is meeting. It is a strategic group. One of the important things to come from the strategic group is communication with others and the people whom the Member mentioned. I am not sure of the group's membership, but there are key strategic players that should be kept informed of developments when messages are sent out. Anyone who has avenues to engage with and message the public should send out the messages that we have heard not only from my Department but on the airwaves. Independent experts also say the same thing: Belfast is over-congested. There is nowhere else to build roads, and we should not build more roads in the city centre because it will only create more traffic. People should use public transport where they can.

The Member used a very good example; she came from Fermanagh, where there is no rail service, but she drove to the rail connection. Thousands of people are doing that daily. They are using park-and-rides. They drive a certain part of the journey, park up and get on a bus. Other people drive a certain part of the journey and get on a train. Where you can, use public transport and come in and enjoy Belfast city centre.

Ms Bradshaw: Like Deborah, I am feeling very smug because I got the train into Belfast yesterday, and it was nice that it was busy. Has the Minister considered lowering the cost of the fares from the park-and-rides into the city centre during this period?

Mr O'Dowd: We have considered a number of those options. Unfortunately, the resources available to my Department and Translink are extremely limited. However, the more people who use public transport, the more opportunity there is for us to lower the fares because more revenue will come into the public transport system. The park-and-ride services around the ring of Belfast have been increased to every 15 minutes.

I accept that the private car is a very handy way to travel. It is very comfortable, you are in your own space, and all of that. The private car has been successful for a reason, and it will form part of our transport system in the future, although it will be powered by a different fuel. If you are coming into Belfast city centre, at this stage of the year in particular, you are going to face congestion. If you can, use public transport.

Mr Stewart: Given the impact that the congestion is having on retail and services in the city, what consultation has the Minister had so far with traders? Is any consideration being given to additional temporary flexibility in the bus lanes to take pressure off the other lanes?

Mr O'Dowd: I have not directly engaged with the retail sector, but my officials are engaging with Belfast City Council. The promotion of the work that we do in cooperation with Belfast City Council is important. The Chair of the Committee has talked about using the retail sector as a voice for the city, and I have no difficulty with doing that. As I said earlier, Belfast city centre is experiencing so much traffic because Belfast city centre is doing very well, and long may it continue. I will do everything within my power to assist it in continuing to prosper going into the future.

The Member will recall that I am going through the legislative process to allow taxis to use certain bus lanes. I have to say that it is not a universally popular decision. I am facing criticism for that decision, but that is the nature of the game, and I will continue with that process. The continued use of bus lanes is vital.

One of the challenges that we faced in the city on Wednesday night, particularly around Shaftesbury Square, was caused by drivers blocking the yellow box junctions, which caused huge delays in the area and disrupted a significant number of Translink services. I appeal to drivers to not block the yellow box junctions. They are there for a reason, and while I can understand the frustration that builds up, once you block a box junction, you will have a negative impact on traffic in a significant part of the city and on public transport. We have asked the PSNI to specifically monitor yellow box junctions and to take appropriate action if they are being abused.

Mr Sheehan: Does the Minister agree that people who are thinking about doing their Christmas shopping, visiting family and friends or just heading out for an evening should consider using public transport and park-and-rides, thereby helping to ease congestion and, importantly, helping to improve road safety?

Mr O'Dowd: I do. It is not a case of trying to blame someone else or denying responsibility for the situation. I am aware of my responsibilities in ensuring that Belfast city centre has a traffic flow system that works, but I can do that only to a certain degree. As one of my officials said on the radio this morning, we cannot go round knocking down buildings and building new roads. Those are not options, so very limited engineering options are left to us in Belfast city centre. We are reviewing traffic lights and how they are used and timed. I mentioned the yellow box junctions and the appeal to drivers not to block them. We will look at the Grosvenor Road left-hand turn. That was put in place to protect pedestrians, particularly the thousands of people who are now coming out of Grand Central station and using public transport into the city. We are also returning to pre-COVID levels of traffic in the city centre. All those things have combined. If someone is waiting for a magical engineering solution to what is happening in Belfast, they will find that there will not be one, because it is not available.

What have we done? We have invested a significant amount of money in Belfast Grand Central station, which has a state-of-the-art rail and bus service. I appeal to people to use it. People should come into Belfast on public transport, enjoy their shopping or business trip, or whatever it may be, and leave again in comfort on our public transport systems. Why add to the stress and tension that are caused by the congestion that you will face if you are in a private vehicle? As I said, I think that people are sometimes waiting for the time that the Minister will be able to announce an answer. I do not have an engineering answer, because it does not exist. The answer is public transport.

Ms Bunting: On a more general point, the current messaging that says that if you are in traffic, you are traffic is rather dismissive of those for whom public transport is not an option due to the nature of their work. It does not take account of the fact that the park-and-ride at Dundonald, for example, is at capacity or of the fact that our public transport system is limited and not like those in other cities. It does not take account of the inordinate difficulties that there are with public transport or otherwise of crossing the city, such as getting from the east of the city to the north in normal rush hours never mind in the current situation. What will the Minister do to ensure that roadworks are carried out as quickly as they can be and, where possible, in months that have lighter traffic or during the night, particularly on major arterial routes into and out of the city? What will he do to ensure that no more than one arterial route in each area of the city will be worked on at a time to make sure that alternative routes are available?

Mr O'Dowd: Belfast city has quite a good public transport system, even in comparison with other cities. I am sure that Members will be able to jump up with examples of cities that are much better than Belfast. I have always said that, when it is available to you, you should use public transport. If you are driving into Belfast city centre to park your car up all day in a car park and then leave at around 5.00 pm to drive out of Belfast city centre again, you are part of the congestion problem. That is the reality of the situation. I perfectly understand why healthcare workers, domiciliary care workers and others who have to travel about the city to do their job would not use public transport. Each person has to ask themselves this question: why am I using my private car? As I said, if you are driving into the city in the morning and are parking up all day and then driving out at 5.00 pm, you are part of the congestion.

If you say to yourself, "I am going to use public transport on one day of the week", that will significantly decrease congestion in the city centre and will assist others who have to move about, as well as the public transport, which also has to move about. One day is all that we are asking from some people. Others may want to do it more often.

As I said to Mr O'Toole, all major roadworks are suspended and have been suspended — we have done that in other towns — since 25 November in order to assist with the Christmas traffic and the rush that happens at Christmas.

When we plan significant traffic works, we look at how they impact on other schemes in other areas. The Sydenham bypass work had been delayed for a number of years for that very reason: because we did not want to see further congestion in different areas. However, the Sydenham bypass had got into such a state of disrepair that we could wait no longer to carry out that work.

Mr Speaker: Minister, your time is up.

Mr O'Dowd: That is why the work is being carried out on the Sydenham bypass at this stage.

Mr McMurray: Thank you to the Minister for coming down. As referenced, our road network is over capacity, and our travel patterns are overwhelmingly car-orientated. You have referenced what we can do, but the question really is this: how can your Department encourage people to reduce their reliance on cars?

Mr O'Dowd: Efficient and effective public transport is one way of doing it, and providing the infrastructure for active travel is another way of doing it. We are doing both, and we are investing in both. The significant investment in Belfast Grand Central station is, in itself, a statement on what the future will look like. The future will be about using public transport more and more.

It is not about doing away with private cars completely. Private cars will still form part of our transport systems, albeit they will be fuelled differently from how they are currently fuelled. As people enter major towns and cities on this island and other islands, they will increasingly find that the closer they get to the city or the town, the more it will be to their benefit to park up and get on to public transport to complete their journey. That is how transport will be in the future. I am committed to investing in public transport as we move forward, and doing so will encourage more and more people to use it.

Mr Kingston: The Minister will recall that, at a previous Question Time, I asked him about the Grosvenor Road left-hand turn. At that stage, I was not sure whether that was a temporary or permanent measure, and I do not think that the Minister was sure either. As he is now aware, once people are on Great Victoria Street, they cannot turn left on to Hope Street to go down to Durham Street. They cannot now turn left at Grosvenor Road. They have to continue down Fisherwick Place past John Bell House or else go on to Divis Street if they are heading towards the Westlink or to the west or north of the city.

I detect a hint of light in what the Minister said about a potential review of that decision. Closing the left-hand turn on to Grosvenor Road at the same time as Durham Street is closed is a major cause of the congestion in Great Victoria Street. Is that being actively reviewed? Can that decision —

Mr Speaker: OK. We get the gist, Mr Kingston.

Mr Kingston: — be set to one side until Durham Street is finished?

Mr O'Dowd: I recall the Question Time when the Member asked me that question. It has been constantly under review, because one of our concerns is whether there is enough space on the footpaths at that junction for the number of pedestrians who gather there to cross the road. We were concerned that there could have been an accident. Even if a vehicle is turning slowly round that junction, if it hits a pedestrian, the pedestrian would come off worse. Yes, it is under review, and we will keep it under review to ensure that the right decision is in place at that time. At this moment in time, we are satisfied that the right decision is to keep that junction closed, but, as I say, we will keep that under review.

If we were planning a city centre for one group of users, it would be easy. If we were planning the city centre for cars or other vehicles, it would be very easy. If we were planning it for pedestrians only, it would be very easy. If we were planning if for cyclists or public transport only, it would be very easy. The fact of the matter is that we have a city centre that has multifunctional use by multiple groups of people. Pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and others use that shared space, and we have to plan for the safety of them all.

Mr McReynolds: Minister, the congestion that we saw on Sunday was on a day when the bus lanes were open. What consideration was given to whether having all works and closures at the same time was a viable proposition, and can you advise what others were proposed?

Mr O'Dowd: When you ask about closures, do you mean roadworks?

Mr McReynolds: Yes.

Mr O'Dowd: All major roadworks have been suspended since 25 November. There may have been issues as a result of Storm Darragh on Saturday that affected a number of the roads and routes. I have no information to suggest that, but we are three weeks away from Christmas. There is always significant traffic volume in and around Belfast in the run-up to Christmas, because people want to come into the city centre to do their Christmas shopping and so on.

I fully accept that the closure of Durham Street adds to the traffic congestion in the city centre and that that is a new element to the equation, but the message remains the same. Thousands upon thousands of people come into the city centre by public transport daily. People may have to start their journey in their car and then park at a park-and-ride or at a train station, but, if they complete their journey into the city centre by public transport and start their journey back out of the city centre by public transport, journeys will be much more comfortable for everyone.

Mr Durkan: The Minister said that we should all encourage people to use public transport, and I point out the improved services to Derry, where all shoppers' needs can be met. The Minister said that having taxis use bus lanes is not universally popular, and he is right. It could slow down buses as well as potentially compromise road safety. When will that come into effect? Will it be for life or just for Christmas? Will it even be for Christmas?

Mr O'Dowd: The Member will be aware that I have already ring-fenced significant investment in the Coleraine to Derry line as part of my commitment to addressing regional imbalance.

Will it be for Christmas? No. The consultation that I have do means that the legislation permitting taxis to use bus lanes will not be in place for Christmas. It will be after Christmas, and it will be a pilot scheme. We are putting in place a pilot scheme to learn the impact that taxis have in and out of bus lanes. As the Member reminded me, it is not a universally popular decision, but there are a number of factors involved. Taxis are a form of public transport, and the people who drive them rely on doing so for their employment. Taxi drivers in particular are having a difficult time at this time plying their trade around the city centre as a result of the traffic congestion. In Dublin, for instance, taxis use the bus routes, and buses and taxis appear to cohabit. As I said, we will run a pilot scheme, and we will see what comes out of it.

Mr Brett: Minister, the advice given by your departmental official this morning on the radio — that people should consider working from home — has caused considerable anger in the business community in Belfast. Our hard-pressed businesses in Belfast need as much support and custom as possible, and telling people to work from home is not the answer to the traffic congestion that they face. Can the Minister confirm that that is not his official position as Minister, as it was not included in his response to the question for urgent oral answer?

Mr O'Dowd: The BBC headline is unfair to that official, who conducted a 50-minute interview with Mr Nolan this morning and went through in great detail the work that he and my Department are doing regarding Belfast city centre. In fairness to the official, he has led on the issue and given it a lot of his time and dedication. The BBC took one sentence out of a 50-minute interview and made it the headline. There is a responsibility on the media to be fair in such matters and for them to use their organisations to spread an informed message.

The official said in broad terms that there are a number of elements to what we can do. He talked about using public transport, about varying the times at which people leave for home and, yes, about working from home. Working from home one day a week or three days a week — whatever suits the employee and the business — is a matter between the employee and the business. We have to use imaginative approaches, however, and working from home is not imaginative any more; it has been going on for three or four years now. We have to use all approaches to alleviate traffic congestion in Belfast city centre.

As I have said repeatedly, there is no major engineering solution available. If we are waiting for the Minister or the Department to come forward with a major engineering solution, we will be waiting for a very long time. Let us look at it in a new and constructive way and all play our part, including the media.

Mr Dunne: It is important that the message goes out that our city and town centres are open for business both at this time of year, which is effectively the harvest time for many in the retail and hospitality sectors, and all year round. On the Sydenham bypass works, which commenced in October, there has been a good start and they have made a positive difference. What lessons can be learned for when the work restarts in the new year? Can consideration be given to keeping the road open on Saturday daytimes, given the significant volume of cars and road users on it?

Mr O'Dowd: We will keep that under review, but the works need to be carried out over a certain period of time. We have a contractor in place who is contracted to carry out the work over a period of time. They will have their supply lines in place and teams of workers lined up etc for the agreed dates. Intervening now could be at substantial cost to the public purse, but we will keep those matters under review.

Mr Honeyford: The Minister says that the answer is to use public transport, and I absolutely agree with that. The difficulty is that the evidence that we get from constituents is that they cannot get onto public transport. There is a train service that comes from my area that is already over capacity. Three-carriage trains are used at peak times, which causes delays. Why was the capacity of our public transport system, including our trains, not increased alongside the plans for Grand Central station? When will that be resolved?

Mr O'Dowd: The Member has raised that issue with me a number of times and in correspondence. Translink is looking into how we improve the situation for the commuters to whom you refer. I talked about the perfect storm of accidents, broken traffic lights, bad weather etc. There is another part of that perfect storm: the under-resourcing of our public services. Our public transport system is under-resourced. We can supply only so many carriages and so many buses. We are trying to work our way through all of those things and ensure that the public has a comfortable experience when using public transport.

For the record, I am saying that public transport is part of the answer. There are other options, including varying your route, varying the time that you leave and using public transport. You do not have to use public transport every day: using it even one day a week would make a significant difference.

Again, I appeal to the minority of drivers who block yellow box junctions in the city centre to stop doing it. We have spoken to the PSNI about the matter, and it will take an interest in cars and vehicles that block the yellow box junctions.

Mr Harvey: Does the Minister think that it was a good idea to remove a lane for cars on the Dublin Road in advance of the Boyne Bridge being closed? Is it not the case that the congestion is being caused by Translink and the DFI and that the policy that has led to Belfast not being car-friendly has also meant that it is not bus-friendly?

Mr O'Dowd: As I said, we need to plan our city for all users. The experience across Europe and elsewhere is that our cities will become more congested if we continue to plan them solely on the role of the private car. We all understand why the private car has grown in popularity over the past number of decades, but we cannot continue in that direction. The decision that was taken a number of years ago to increase the bus lanes and cycle lanes on the Dublin Road was right. We have put a bus lane in to allow buses to bring more people into the city centre in a more effective, more efficient and more environmentally friendly manner. That was the right decision. No matter what way you look at it or what routes you put in place, we cannot squeeze any more cars into Belfast city centre. It will not work.

Ms Forsythe: Minister, I want to speak about access to medical appointments that are affected by traffic congestion. In South Down, we have no rail links and our bus connections are limited and disparate. Last week, during the Adjournment debate, we talked about the quality of the roads.

Many of my constituents travel to Belfast to access essential chemotherapy or surgery or children's hospital appointments. When they are hit by congestion, they miss those appointments. That really affects their health and has knock-on effects on our waiting lists. What is the Minister doing to ensure that access to medical appointments runs a bit more smoothly, especially for those who come from rural communities?

Mr O'Dowd: That goes back to the challenge to us all. People attending medical appointments in particular will want to use their private car until they get into the hospital, which is fully understandable. That puts the challenge to the rest of us: if we can use public transport or park-and-ride, we should collectively do that for the benefit of everyone who travels into the city. As I asked earlier, is driving into Belfast city centre and parking your car there all day the best thing to do? Why not park at Sprucefield or one of the other park-and-rides and get the bus in, leaving the space on the road open to others, such as those attending medical appointments, who have to use their private vehicle?

Mr Gaston: It is clear from the answers so far that DFI does not acknowledge that it has played any part in adding to the current congestion in Belfast. Minister, how many planning condition breaches has your Department been guilty of in relation to the closure and demolition of the Boyne Bridge? What is your assessment of the impact of your cavalier approach to businesses in and around Sandy Row?

Mr O'Dowd: My Department is not guilty of any planning breaches.

Mr Carroll: Minister, I agree that much of the solution to the crisis is public transport, although there is the problem, as the Member for Lagan Valley said, of buses being cancelled or being full to overflowing because there are not enough of them on the roads. Given that we have the lowest public transport spend per head of population across these islands, what are you and your Department doing to provide more trains and buses?

Mr O'Dowd: At the risk of sparking another debate about figures and who recognises which figures, I caution against judging how we spend on public transport by comparing it with England, Scotland and Wales. It is not a simple read-across, so I caution against that.

I continue to support public transport and keeping it public. I will continue to work with Translink and my Executive colleagues to ensure that we put as much money as possible into subsidising public transport. It is worth noting that, despite the pressures on my budget, I retained free public transport for the over-60s. Tens of thousands of people benefit from that decision alone.

Mr K Buchanan: I listened this morning to the entirety of that interview with the official. To be fair to the gentleman, he answered a lot of difficult questions.

You made a point about the lights breaking down, but there was time to repair them. They broke down during the day, yet they were not working in time for the rush hour that evening or the next morning. That happened — they have been repaired — but, going forward, what can we do to ensure that parts are there so that they can be replaced more quickly? We have to keep what we have going as best we can for as long as we can.

Mr O'Dowd: I asked exactly the same question on Friday: why did it take until 11.00 am to repair those lights? Information on why that was has been made public, but I will raise the issue with the strategic group. If elements of our infrastructure, such as old traffic lights, could break down, let us ensure that we have the spare parts accessible and ready to install as quickly as possible.

Mr Gaston: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. During Question Time, I asked the First Minister what the legal status of the English language was in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, instead of an answer, I got a load of patronising guff that did not address the question. What remedies exist for a lowly Back-Bencher such as me to get straight answers to simple questions?

Mr Speaker: Having been a lowly Back-Bencher for many years, I share the frustration of the Member

that the Minister is not answering questions in the way that he would like them to. Having been a Minister, however, I know that, sometimes, the best means of getting out of answering a difficult question is to talk about something else. I understand your frustration, but there is no mechanism to deal with it. Thank you for raising it.

If Members would like to take their ease, we will move back to the Finance Minister's statement. I remind any Members who wish to ask the Minister a question to remain in the Chamber. If you are not here for the full statement, you will not be called. Thank you for your cooperation.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Blair): We return to the statement from the Finance Minister on the rating policy strategic road map. The Minister has to conclude her statement.

Dr Archibald: Just before Question Time, I started to speak about my plans to review non-domestic vacant rating. I am attracted to the option of increasing the liability in that area, but it must be done in a managed and coordinated way. Ahead of any increase in NDVR liability, I call on Executive and council colleagues to work with my Department to explore the use of existing and potential capital grant funding powers to help wider regeneration and decarbonisation work. That work would precede any implementation of a higher level of additional non-domestic vacant rating liability.

I also intend to explore options in the system for expanding the parameters of the Back in Business scheme or to provide other forms of similar rate support to help to mitigate the risks of development through allowing a developer a period of vacant rating exclusion after a development has been completed but before it is let and first-occupier discounts such as that deployed in the Back in Business model. My aim is to work in a concerted and coordinated way to get property stock back into use or properly redeveloped or repurposed.

The last revaluation of domestic property for rating purposes came into effect in April 2007. Therefore, 2027 will see our current domestic valuation list operative for a 20-year period. Just as my Department is now operating non-domestic revaluations on a three-year cycle as part of business as usual, it now needs to be able to take forward more regular domestic revaluations. Whilst that does not need to be done at the same frequency as for the business sector, it is right that it be integrated into our business as usual planning. That will see the current domestic tax base of over 800,000 domestic properties assessed and revalued to ensure that distribution is reflective of the current market. That is a significant piece of work, but it will enhance fairness in the domestic rating system. I am today announcing that I have asked Land and Property Services (LPS) to commence immediate preparatory work on the revaluation of domestic property. Once that preliminary work is complete and its findings considered, I will go to the Executive to seek a decision on that work proceeding for 2030.

Councils, businesses and trade bodies, as well as household ratepayers, have been telling me that they want a system that is fairer and more equitable and that utilises the strengths of our devolved system design. Today's statement outlines my initial plans for securing those objectives. I am determined to build a fair and progressive rates system that stimulates our economy, grows our tax base and provides appropriate support for those who need it. The statement outlines the building blocks to achieving that.

Mr O'Toole: Minister, we, as the Opposition, have always encouraged you when it comes to ambition around rating policy. There is not that much clear ambition here. Some of the things that you are looking at are welcome, including vacant property relief. However, exactly how much money will be raised from the measures that you are announcing today? By my count, it will be less than £10 million, which, by anyone's calculation, does not represent a significant new form of revenue-raising.

Dr Archibald: I thank the Member for his question, and I disagree with him. What we are announcing today is ambitious. It is probably the most radical look at rates in a couple of decades at least, and it sets the direction of travel with regard to us having a progressive rating system, as I outlined. The specific measures that we will consult on next year will obviously be subject to Executive agreement at a later time. I must emphasise that the reason for taking forward those consultations is not just about income generation, although that is important because our challenges in public-service funding are well documented. Reducing the early payment discount by 2% would raise £4 million. The max cap elevation would raise £2 million for the Executive, because that is split between Executives and councils.

Ms Forsythe: I thank the Minister for her statement on the review of the rating policy, including her commitment to align with the Executive priorities. In considering alignment with three specific Executive priorities — to grow the economy, deliver affordable childcare and reduce health waiting times — does the Minister acknowledge that there is a need for immediate action to save some businesses, including those in retail, hospitality and childcare and GP surgeries, as they look to the 1 April cliff edge of increased employer contributions and minimum wage? Will the Minister take steps to consider intervening now, applying rates relief to prevent business closures?

Dr Archibald: I thank the Member for her question. I met representatives of the business sector this morning. I have listened to the business sector. Probably like many Members in the Chamber, I have had significant correspondence from businesses and business representatives who face significant challenges as regards the cost of doing business and in relation to the impact, as she has outlined, of the British Chancellor's autumn statement. One of the things that I have announced in today's statement is that I will commission research into the cost of doing business. It is important that we have an evidence base and that we understand the issues. Obviously, businesses and business organisations will have the opportunity to feed into that research.

Like everybody in the Chamber, the Member will be well aware of the challenges that we face with the Executive's budget, so it is important that we have the evidence and an understanding of what the issues are and that any rates supports that we put in place target the right issues. That is why I have taken the approach that I have in relation to the strategic review that I announced today of all rate reliefs to ensure that they are still fit for purpose and still delivering on their policy objectives. We should take that considered look, and, if something is not working or is not still achieving its objective, we could release funds that could be redirected to other supports, as the Member has outlined, where there could be demand.

Miss Hargey: I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, how important is the domestic revaluation?

Dr Archibald: It is important to emphasise that the purpose of the revaluation is to restore fairness; it is not about raising more rates. It is vital that our rates system reflects the economic environment. That is why I have asked Land and Property Services to commence the immediate preparatory work on the revaluation of domestic property. That will see the current domestic tax base of over 800,000 domestic properties assessed and revalued to ensure that distribution reflects the current market.

Members will appreciate that that is a significant piece of work, but it is the right thing to do to enhance fairness in the domestic rating system. By definition, a revaluation will reset all the values to a new rate. It is inevitable that some ratepayers will end up paying relatively more and others relatively less than they currently do as a result.

Dr Aiken: I thank the Minister for her remarks made so far. Further to her remarks just made about Reval2030, obviously, we have known for some time that LPS has been involved in a lot of preparatory work for that. Can the Minister indicate when we will be ready to go with Reval2030? With the preparatory work that has already been done, we should not have to wait until 2030 to reach that point.

Dr Archibald: My Department and LPS have only just begun the preparatory work on that. I understand that they will brief the Finance Committee this week on that specifically. They will be able to set out more details. Significant preparatory work will have to be done. Then, I will have to take it back to the Executive to seek agreement to take it forward.

Miss Brogan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas.

The Minister talked about the support available for businesses and ensuring that it meets its aims. Could the Minister outline the existing support that is available to businesses, le do thoil?

Dr Archibald: Around 70% of non-domestic ratepayers here get some form of rate support. That proportion rises to 75% when non-domestic vacant rating is taken into account. Almost 57% of all pubs get some form of rate support; 65% of the hospitality sector, as a whole, is in receipt of support via the small business rate relief scheme; over 63% of retailers get some form of support, 80% of which is provided to small retail properties with a net added value (NAV) of less than £15,000; around 30,000 businesses from a tax base of just under 75,000 get small business rate relief; and over 4,400 manufacturers get 70% off their rates by virtue of industrial derating, which is a tax relief that is unique to here.

Rates cannot be reduced or removed easily through additional support, as the system remains our only substantive income-generating lever for public spending. Every pound that we provide in new rate relief will be paid for by other ratepayers in the system paying more or by a reduction in public spending.

Mr Brett: May I agree with the Minister that the rating system may not be the ideal vehicle for the type of immediate help that is needed for our business community? Does the Minister agree that it was a dereliction of duty by the Economy Minister to fail to make a single bid for a business support package in the October monitoring round?

Dr Archibald: As I have announced today, I have commissioned research into the cost of doing business. Obviously, I will work with Executive colleagues on that. That will inform Executive decision-making, going forward.

Mr Delargy: Will the Minister elaborate on her plans for non-domestic vacant rating?

Dr Archibald: I am happy to provide further detail on that. The issue is twofold. The first issue is the overall level of liability that should be charged in relation to vacant commercial units. One of my key aims is to align rating policy to help tackle the blight of vacant properties in our towns and cities; an issue that all Members will be conscious of. Increasing non-domestic vacant rating liability from 50% of the occupied liability to a higher level of liability was consulted upon as part of the revenue-raising process. It has the capacity to raise £1 million in revenue for the Executive for every 5% increase in liability. However, some consultees expressed a genuine concern about their ability to let older retail or office properties that have ongoing issues due to general economic factors, including the demand for high-grade, energy-efficient stock.

As I said in my statement, I am attracted to the idea of increasing liability in that area, but it has to be done in a managed and coordinated way. Any increase in liability would need to be explored alongside the existing or potential capital grant-funding powers to help the wider regeneration and decarbonisation work that would have to precede any implementation of a higher level of additional non-domestic vacant rating liability.

The second issue is the suite of exclusions that apply within non-domestic vacant rating. At the moment, exclusions from liability apply where the occupation of a property is prohibited by law, where a property is a listed building or where a property is a historic monument, for example. All those things will have to be looked at in the context of wider regeneration matters. That is why it, alongside small business rate relief, will form part of those two planned reviews in the incoming financial year.

Mr McGuigan: I thank the Minister and welcome her statement and, additional to that, the fact that she intends to carry out a review of the cost of doing business here. In the Minister's discussions with businesses, today and previously, what has she heard from them about the impact of the increased employers' National Insurance contributions?

Dr Archibald: As I said to Diane in a previous answer, that is something about which I have had significant correspondence. I have listened to the business community about the challenges posed by the autumn Budget in recent weeks. As I announced in my statement, I plan to commission research into the cost of doing business here, with a particular focus on the impact on our sectors of the announcements of planned additional employer National Insurance contributions, as well as other announcements that will, obviously, impact on some sectors more than others. The sectors most impacted on will be engaged in that work, and the findings will help inform Executive decision-making. It is important to be clear: an Executive of a devolved region cannot fully offset all the fluctuations that are the result of decisions taken on reserved taxation matters.

Mr Durkan: I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she have a time frame for when she expects her study on the cost of doing business to be completed? Today's statement was trailed as being urgent; what businesses need to see is urgent action.

Dr Archibald: I thank the Member for his question, and I take his point. We are in the process of engaging with potential researchers to be able to conduct that research and scope the terms of reference. I would like to see that commissioned and reported on very quickly. We will have to confirm time frames with whoever is going to take it forward for us.

Mr Gaston: I take the Minister to her short-term measures. Bearing in mind that councils strike the rates in February, will the proposal in today's statement have any impact on the rates for 2025-26, or is it for 2026-27? On that basis, given that councils deliberate over a number of months on what rate to strike, it is important that you give them timely advice to let them know how much more money they can expect to get from the proposed changes.

Dr Archibald: I thank the Member for his question. He is quite right: it is not for the incoming financial year; we are looking beyond 2025-26 to potentially 2026-27. Obviously, we have to go out and consult on the measure and then take a policy decision based on the findings of the consultation. That will have to return to the Executive to be agreed before it can be taken forward.

On the point about engaging with councils, I completely agree. This morning, I met the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) to discuss the proposals that I brought forward today. I am committed to continuing to engage with it in the months ahead on all this work.

Mr Frew: The Minister said today that she is starting to build a progressive rates system, but what she really said is that she is preparing to strip away reliefs. Surely it would be far better if that £4 million in savings went to our hard-working constituents, who would get much benefit from it, rather than it being in an inefficient government coffer.

Dr Archibald: I do not agree with the Member. I was very clear in my statement in setting out that "review" does not mean removal. It means looking at each of the rate reliefs that is in place and ensuring that it still meets its policy objective. We are consulting on some of the measures to determine whether they still meet their policy objective. Some consultation has already been done in that respect. There is a case for reducing the early payment discount, which is, I believe, the particular measure that he is referring to. Of course, if money were freed up by changing some of the specific reliefs or measures that are in place, that could be redirected to other rate reliefs, for example. I am lobbied on a regular basis about a whole range of rate reliefs. At this point, however, we do not have the funds to put towards any such reliefs. For me, it is about taking a holistic look at the system to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that the rate reliefs that are in place align with our Executive priorities.

Ms Bradshaw: Apologies, Minister: I was not here for the start of your statement. I have a lot of constituents who are termed "property rich, cash poor" and will be concerned about the proposal to elevate the maximum capital value. Have your officials made an estimation of how much that would be in monthly rates for a household?

Dr Archibald: That issue is raised with us a lot when we start to talk about the max cap. As I set out in the statement, it is really important to emphasise that means-tested rate reliefs for those on lower incomes or those in receipt of the lone pensioner allowance or disability allowance will remain in place and will increase proportionate to the raising of the cap.

We have a breakdown, but I do not have the monthly figure. The Member looks confused. Rate reliefs are means-tested, and a percentage is applied to, for example, the lone pensioner allowance or some other allowance, and a proportionate increase will then be applied. I do not have the monthly figure, but I think that the weekly figure, at the absolute max end, is between £14 and £18, depending on council area. Of course, a number of properties will fall between £400,000 and £485,000 of rateable value. Somewhere in the region of half of properties will be in that space, so rates bills for them will not increase by the maximum amount.

Mrs Mason: I thank the Minister for her statement. What are her thoughts about the calls for an independent review of rates?

Dr Archibald: The rates system and rate reliefs here were subject to public consultation, review, reform and revision in 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019 and, most recently, this year. A number of changes have already been implemented as a result of those reviews. For example, more frequent revaluations have been introduced; the Back in Business rate support scheme and the rural ATM scheme were reintroduced; and new legislation was made to enable councils to strike different levels of household and business rates. In addition, the Department previously availed itself of impartial advice from the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC), including on the targeting of COVID-19 rates support, and commissioned a comparative study of domestic rates against council tax.

The UUEPC is also currently undertaking research into business rate poundage differentials across council areas. The findings of the most recent consultation have been used to inform the further work that I have outlined on how best to align the rates system with the Executive's strategic priorities. The strategic review cycle that I have announced today is more appropriate than a external review, which would not be the best use of the limited resources that are available to the Executive at this time.

Mr Carroll: Thank you, Minister, for your statement, even though there is nothing in it about reviewing industrial derating, which, in large part, is a handout to major corporations such as Caterpillar, Coca-Cola and Moy Park. I presume that you are happy to maintain that situation. How do you intend to reform the rates system to make sure that it is connected to wealth and to corporations' profits?

Dr Archibald: I thank the Member for his question. It is important to emphasise that, when considering industrial derating, 54% of properties have an NAV of £15,000 or under. That is the NAV that is used for small business rate relief. Some 81% of properties have an NAV of £50,000 or under, so they are by no means large businesses under the rating system. As the Member pointed out, industrial derating supports large manufacturers, but those that fall into that bracket employ some 94,000 people here. One per cent of manufacturers are deemed to be large concerns, and they alone account for almost half the employment and more than half the turnover here.

The broad consensus from a lot of the engagement that I have had about industrial derating specifically is that it is an important strategic relief that has supported the creation of jobs and of a thriving manufacturing sector. Rates in and of themselves are, of course, a property tax, so they are representative of the size of the business. The larger the business, the more rates that are paid, so, in that way, it is a progressive taxation measure.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Blair): That concludes questions on the Minister's statement.

Mrs Long (The Minister of Justice): I beg to move

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Blair): The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on the debate.

Mrs Long: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak about the Arbitration Bill, which is progressing through Parliament. Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution that offers an alternative to court. Parties can agree to appoint a third party or to resolve a dispute between themselves privately and issue an award.

Arbitration is used for the resolution of domestic and international disputes in a wide range of fields, including construction, infrastructure, shipping and international commercial contracts. The sector is estimated to be worth at least £2·5 billion to the UK economy each year.

The Bill would amend the Arbitration Act 1996, which governs arbitration in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The 1996 Act predates devolution. However, arbitration is now a devolved matter within the legislative competence of the Assembly. On 7 November, the Executive agreed to a legislative consent motion (LCM) being progressed. My officials provided oral and written briefings on the Bill to the Justice Committee, and it agreed, through its report to the Assembly, which was published on 21 November, to support the motion. I thank Executive colleagues and Justice Committee members for their support and timely consideration of the matter.

I now seek the Assembly's legislative consent for the Bill's provisions to be extended to Northern Ireland. Before I outline the Bill's provisions, it may be helpful to Members if I briefly provide some background. In 2021, the Ministry of Justice asked the Law Commission for England and Wales to review the 1996 Act to ensure that it remained fit for purpose and continued to promote the UK's position as an international arbitration leader. The Law Commission for England and Wales began its review at the start of 2022. It carried out two public consultations and engaged extensively with experts and practitioners in the sector, including key stakeholders in this jurisdiction.

A Northern Ireland perspective was provided by Mr Justice Scoffield in his role as Chair of the Northern Ireland Law Commission. The final report of the Law Commission for England and Wales, together with a draft Bill, was published in September 2023. Reflecting the view of stakeholders and practitioners that the 1996 Act generally works well, the Law Commission for England and Wales concluded that substantial reform is not required but recommended a number of targeted reforms to update the legislative framework and provide greater clarity. The then Government agreed to implement all the commission's recommendations and an Arbitration Bill was introduced in Parliament in November 2023. However, it fell when the general election was called. The new Government introduced the current Bill in the House of Lords in July 2024 and it is awaiting its Second Reading in the House of Commons. With the agreement of the Ministry of Justice, the time for obtaining legislative consent has been extended to the final amending stage in that House.

I now turn to the main reforms that are proposed. The Bill introduces a new statutory rule on the law governing individual arbitration agreements, providing that that will be the law expressly chosen by the parties and otherwise will be the law of the seat: that is, where the arbitration is taking place. There is also one change to the previous Bill to clarify that that new rule does not apply to arbitration agreements that are derived from standing office to arbitrate, which may be contained in treaties or foreign investment legislation. Such arbitration agreements will therefore continue to be governed by international law and foreign domestic law.

The Bill will codify the common law duty for arbitrators to disclose circumstances that might give rise to justifiable doubts as to their impartiality. It will also strengthen arbitrator immunity against liability for costs arising from resignation or applications to court for removal. That will help to ensure that arbitrators can make robust and impartial decisions. In relation to challenges to an arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction, the Bill clarifies that, where the tribunal has ruled on an issue, a further challenge to a court can only be brought after the tribunal has made its final award. The Bill also clarifies that, even where it has been determined that a tribunal does not have jurisdiction, it can, nevertheless, award the cost of the arbitration proceedings up until that point.

The Bill introduces a new express power for an arbitrator to dispose summarily of an issue that has no real prospect of success. That replicates the powers of summary disposal that are available to courts in litigation. The Bill enhances the effectiveness of emergency arbitration to deal with urgent matters, such as preservation of evidence, by clarifying that any orders made can be enforced by the court. The Bill also enhances the powers of courts in support of arbitration proceedings, clarifying that the court may make orders against third parties; for example, in relation to the taking of witness evidence and by providing for greater consistency in the remedies available where a tribunal award is challenged by one of the parties in court.

The final targeted reform proposes a revision of the framework for applications to the court on the ground that the arbitral tribunal lacked jurisdiction. That will enable rules of court to provide that such applications should involve no new evidence or new arguments. That is to avoid such challenges becoming a full rehearing in court, thereby preventing further delay and expense. In addition, the Bill makes some technical amendments, including clarifying that parties must exhaust arbitral appeal or review processes before bringing matters to court and that a party may appeal a decision of the court to stay legal proceedings in favour of arbitration and streamlining the process of applying to the court for certain preliminary rulings on jurisdiction and points of law. That concludes my overview of the Bill.

As Minister of Justice, it is, of course, my preference to legislate for devolved matters through the Assembly. However, Members will appreciate that the Arbitration Bill is relatively technical in nature, and, hopefully, they will agree that, in this instance, the extension of the Westminster Bill to Northern Ireland is the most efficient and expedient way to legislate for those matters. The Bill will simply modernise and clarify an existing legislative framework that already extends to Northern Ireland. No issues specific to this jurisdiction that would require a different approach from that in England and Wales have been identified. It would be disadvantageous to parties and practitioners here were the changes to be made by the Bill to the 1996 Act not to apply to Northern Ireland at the earliest opportunity. I hope that the legislative consent motion will have the support of the House.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Blair): Thank you, Minister, for moving the motion.

Ms Bunting (The Chairperson of the Committee for Justice): I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion as Chair of the Justice Committee. I declare an interest, in that I have an immediate family member who works in the legal profession. The Minister outlined the purpose of the legislative consent memorandum, and I see no reason for repetition. Instead, I will focus on the Committee's approach to the LCM for the Arbitration Bill, which seeks to amend the Arbitration Act 1996 and has 18 clauses, all of which, as the Minister outlined, would apply to Northern Ireland.

The Committee initially considered an LCM for the Arbitration Bill that fell due to the dissolution of Parliament when the general election was called earlier this year. We were in receipt of a written briefing from the Department of Justice on the LCM for that Bill, and we requested and received further information following that. The Committee also wrote to the Law Society of Northern Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland to seek their views. We subsequently considered correspondence from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Law Society, both of which were largely supportive of the changes to the Arbitration Bill. Indeed, the submission from the Federation of Small Businesses said that the business community in Northern Ireland would likely welcome the proposed changes, as the Bill should provide greater clarity and simplicity and address anomalies in the current legislation.

In October, the Department of Justice wrote to the Committee to inform us of the Minister's intention to lay a new legislative consent memorandum before the Assembly for the Arbitration Bill that is currently before Parliament. The Committee, at its meeting on 24 October 2024, considered correspondence from the Department on the background to the Bill and its provisions. We also heard oral evidence from officials, who informed us that the scope of the Bill was very similar to that of the one that fell previously and that they were of the view that there were no Northern Ireland-specific issues that would require a different approach from that in England and Wales. The Committee sought clarification on a number of issues, including the likelihood of changes being made to the Bill as it progressed through Parliament. Officials suggested that major amendments were unlikely due to its technical nature. They also commented that there is broad support for the Bill. The Committee heard that the Law Commission in England and Wales had carried out two consultation phases and received a large number of responses. Officials stated that there had been good engagement with key stakeholders, including those in Northern Ireland through the Law Commission and Mr Justice Scoffield. The Committee for Finance also responded to us to note that it was content with the proposal to include Northern Ireland in the Bill, subject to approval by the Executive.

Given those assurances and having considered the evidence available, at that 24 October meeting, the Committee agreed that there were insufficient changes between the previous Bill and this one to merit further consultation with the organisations from which we had previously heard and that it was content with the proposal to extend the provisions in the Arbitration Bill to Northern Ireland. Therefore, the Committee for Justice was content for the LCM to be laid before the Assembly as soon as possible. The legislative consent memorandum for the Arbitration Bill 2024 was laid by the Minister of Justice on 8 November 2024, and, following consideration of it, the Committee agreed to support the Minister in seeking endorsement of the motion.

In my capacity as justice spokesperson for the Democratic Unionist Party, I reiterate that we were satisfied that any of our queries around the technical Bill and its LCM were addressed by departmental officials and by the assurances that we received by way of correspondence from the FSB and the Law Society. On that basis, we in the DUP are content to endorse the motion.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Blair): Thank you. I call the Minister of Justice to conclude and wind up the debate on the motion.

Mrs Long: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Members for dealing with the motion so expeditiously, and I thank the Chair and members of the Committee for giving the Bill and the legislative consent motion their support.

The Arbitration Act 1996 is over 25 years old. The proposals that arise from the review carried out by the Law Commission of England and Wales that are being taken forward in this Bill will modernise the legislative framework to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and that the UK remains an attractive seat for domestic and international arbitration. There is no appetite for divergence from England and Wales amongst practitioners, and I want to ensure that businesses here, especially those that operate in both jurisdictions, will also be able to avail themselves of a legislative framework for arbitration that is modern, fair and efficient. I therefore commend the motion to the House.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Blair): Members should take their ease for a moment before we move to the next item of business.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken): The next item of business is an all-party motion on the 40th anniversary of Nexus, tabled by the Women's Caucus.

Ms Sugden: I beg to move

Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken): The Business Committee has agreed to allow up to one hour and 30 minutes for the debate. The proposer of the motion will have 10 minutes in which to propose and 10 minutes in which to make a winding-up speech. All other Members who are called to speak will have 10 minutes. Claire, please open the debate on the motion.

Ms Sugden: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. It is with appreciation and reflection that I mark the 40th anniversary of Nexus. This milestone is a recognition not just of the many years that have passed but of the lives that have been transformed and the progress that has been made in the fight against sexual and abusive relationships in Northern Ireland. As Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Assembly Women's Caucus, I believe that it is appropriate that we unite to recognise Nexus's remarkable contributions, while acknowledging the ongoing need for collective action against the horrific abuses that, sadly, remain frequent across our society.

The motion is the first of the mandate to be led by the Women's Caucus, an important cross-party forum comprised of all the current women MLAs. Its aims are to address the under-representation of women in politics and highlight the importance of women in public life. As elected representatives, we are committed not only to advancing gender equality but to being a voice on critical issues such as gender-based violence, abuse and harm. Through our shared objectives, we strive to create a society in which all individuals can live free from fear and violence.

Nexus began, 40 years ago, as a small volunteer group responding to a number of rapes in south Belfast. Today, it is an established beacon of hope and resilience that provides support to adults, children and young people impacted by sexual abuse. As well as providing critical therapeutic services, Nexus has been active in early intervention, education and prevention through training and workshops in schools, communities and organisations. Since 2019, Nexus has also managed the regional domestic and sexual abuse helpline, which offers a lifeline to those in desperate need. That invaluable service reflects its unwavering commitment to victims and survivors, regardless of their age, gender or circumstances.

Sexual abuse and abusive relationships are a profound human tragedy, inflicting deep and enduring harm on individuals, families and communities. Those crimes often occur in silence, hidden from view, leaving survivors to carry an immense burden of pain and a shame that should never be theirs to bear. The impact extends beyond the immediate victim, disrupting lives, eroding trust and casting long shadows over generations. It is a hidden shame in our society that must be confronted with courage and compassion. It is the responsibility of us all to bring attention to those issues, to ensure that survivors receive the support and justice that they deserve and to create a culture that rejects abuse in all its forms.

While we reflect on Nexus's remarkable journey, we must confront a stark reality. Violence against women and girls persists at alarming levels in Northern Ireland. Over 32,000 domestic abuse incidents were recorded last year, which is more than one and half times higher than the figure 20 years ago. Forty-two women have lost their lives to violence since 2017. Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places to be a woman. That is not an exaggeration; it is not open to whataboutery or diluted forms that ignore the problem. It is a shocking and unacceptable reality that underscores the critical need for the work of Nexus and other organisations. It also highlights the importance of the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls, with the goal of addressing gender-based violence at its rotten core.

In September, the cross-departmental domestic and sexual abuse strategy was published. It is built on the five pillars of partnership; prevention; children and young people; support and provision; and justice. It emphasises the need for a whole-of-society approach. We all must be committed to the strategy and to creating a society in which abuse is not tolerated, victims are supported, and perpetrators are held to account. The vital role that training and capacity-building play in achieving those goals must not be underestimated. Nexus has led the way by training over 500 police officers and members of the Public Prosecution Service's (PPS) serious crime unit to better handle cases of rape and sexual crime. Such efforts are instrumental in ensuring that there is a trauma-informed response across the justice system.

Today, we commend not only Nexus but the countless staff, volunteers and partner organisations that work tirelessly to combat sexual abuse and domestic violence. Their dedication is a lifeline to those in need, providing safety, guidance and hope in the face of unspeakable trauma. It was right that the Department of Health extended Nexus's contract before the summer, but the handling of the issue — the last-minute decision-making — tells me that the Government have much to learn. We all have much to learn. We need only look to our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland to see that our efforts and resources are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to comprehensively addressing the issue.

Ending sexual abuse and abusive relationships requires leadership, collaboration and unwavering commitment. As Members of the Assembly, we must ensure that the resources and support that organisations such as Nexus need are not only sustained but expanded. We must also foster a culture in which survivors feel safe to come forward and where attitudes that enable abuse are systematically dismantled.

The 40th anniversary of Nexus is a moment to reflect on resilience, progress and partnership, but it is also a solemn reminder of the work that remains. As we move forward, let us be guided by the vision of a society free from abuse, a society where women and girls can thrive without fear. I urge the Assembly to fully support the motion. Let us continue to prioritise the fight against sexual abuse and abusive relationships, champion the work of Nexus and other organisations and honour the courage of survivors. Together we can build a safer, more compassionate Northern Ireland.

Mrs Dillon: First, I am proud to be one of those who tabled the motion. I thank the chairperson of the Women's Caucus for proposing it. It is an important motion, and it is well worth discussing here today. I hope that we do not have to appeal to Members in the Chamber to support the motion. Given the conversations and debates that have taken place over the past while, it should be a given, but we can take nothing as a given.

We are here to acknowledge and thank all those who have volunteered and worked with Nexus over the past 40 years. Since its inception in 1984, Nexus has been a source of hope and healing for countless individuals across the North and has provided essential individual support to those affected by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. Over the past four decades, Nexus has grown from being a small, volunteer-led initiative in south Belfast to a regional organisation that offers specialised counselling and educational services for adults, children and young people throughout our community. Nexus's unwavering commitment to early intervention and prevention through educational training and workshops has been instrumental in fostering awareness and understanding of those deeply challenging issues.

Despite its invaluable contributions, as has been outlined by the previous Member who spoke, Nexus has faced significant challenges, particularly with funding. In March 2024, the charity announced the cessation of its free specialist adult counselling service due to funding cuts, which impacted over 800 individuals on its waiting list. Additionally, in December 2023, funding constraints forced Nexus to halt support for children aged four to seven and to pause services for more than 60 young people aged eight to 16. Behind all those statistics is a victim — a human being — and, in that case, it means more than 60 children who are victims of abuse. If we do not ensure support for those children at the right time, when they need and want it, the chances of good life outcomes for them reduce significantly, and that is a cost to all of us. It is a cost, first, to that child and their life. It is a cost to their family, and it is a cost to society. We will pay the price for that further down the line.

We must support those who want to support our most vulnerable children. The disruptions highlight the critical need for a consistent and reliable funding model that truly understands and addresses the trauma experienced by survivors. The withdrawal and subsequent reinstatement of funds not only hinder the delivery of essential services but exacerbate the distress of those seeking support. It is imperative that we establish a funding framework that ensures uninterrupted access to specialised services and enables organisations such as Nexus to focus on their vital work without the constant threat of funding being withdrawn.

In reaffirming our commitment to combating all forms of sexual abuse and abusive relationships, we must also pledge to support the sustainability of services that aid survivors. That includes advocating funding models that are not only adequate but stable and reflective of the profound impact of trauma on individuals and communities. That is why we must continue to push forward the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls, which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for victims. That aligns with the mission of organisations such as Nexus.

The most dangerous place in western Europe for women and children is in the North, in their home, at the hands of a male family member: not a stranger; not somebody who came from somewhere else. It is somebody whom you know and who, you thought, loved you. By ensuring consistent funding and support for these initiatives, we can work towards a safer and more equitable society for all.

I commend the remarkable efforts of Nexus over the past 40 years, and, most importantly, I think of all the victims and survivors who have used Nexus's services. I hope that it has helped them to have much better outcomes in their lives, the lives of their families and the lives of all those who come after them, because we know that this is a trans-generational issue.

Ms Forsythe: It is an honour to rise today to speak to this all-party motion tabled by the Northern Ireland Assembly Women's Caucus. I thank our chair for leading on the motion.

With female representatives now composing over one third of the House, it has been a pleasure to join together in the Women's Caucus to discuss issues that we unite in sharing and supporting. Today, we join in recognising the 40th anniversary of Nexus, which started from humble beginnings as a group of volunteers in south Belfast. Today, Nexus is an organisation that supports adults, children and young people impacted by sexual abuse across Northern Ireland. We are not here to celebrate the fact that, 40 years on, there is still a need for the service; we are here to remind people that support is available.

As chair of the all-party group on domestic and sexual violence and the all-party group on the voluntary and community sector, I care about the issues. I care about the victims of those crimes and realise that they need support, and I recognise the real truth that, on the ground, it is our voluntary and community sector groups that provide most of the support that is needed. We always need to put the victims at the heart of the conversations and reflect on their needs. We give a voice to those victims in the Assembly.

Crimes of sexual violence are heinous and cause huge physical and emotional trauma to the victims. Such crimes are significantly under-reported due to their nature, the extreme personal violation and the associated shame, coupled with victims' belief that they will not be believed. It is challenging to get people to acknowledge what has happened to them and get them to seek the support that they need. Many of those who come forward for support are reluctant to report the matter to the police or take the charges through the justice system due to the re-traumatisation associated with our criminal justice system and the continuous reliving of their trauma as well as the fact that they often have to face their perpetrator in court.

Organisations like Nexus are often the first port of call for victims as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened to them and look for support. Our voluntary and community sector groups should be commended for providing advice and advocacy support to victims to help them navigate the justice system. Other organisations working in this space include Women's Aid, the Men's Advisory Project and ASSIST NI. In my area, in the Southern Trust, we have the excellent services of Advocacy VSV. I commend all those working to support people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. They save lives every day. The stories of the victims, who are predominantly women, are absolutely heartbreaking.

It is most welcome that ending violence against women and girls has been highlighted as a key Executive priority in the draft Programme for Government (PFG). The recent launch of the strategic framework was a landmark in Northern Ireland. It was so long overdue but so very welcome. There are many strands to that work, one of which is supporting actions to tackle all forms of sexual abuse and abusive relationships, including properly funding organisations that provide the front-line support to victims of sexual abuse and investment in raising awareness and prevention measures.

Our justice system also needs to play a key part. It is devastating that so many in our country have experienced sexual abuse and abusive relationships. However, in the 40 years that we have had Nexus in place, there has been some change. In recent years, we have seen work being done to tackle domestic abuse through the introduction of new offences such as coercive control. We have banned stalking, upskirting, downblousing and cyber-flashing. We have moved to give victims who decide to report abuse better protection and support during their court hearings, but there is more work to be done. The Justice Minister has the ability to introduce domestic abuse protection notices and must move forward with that work. Their introduction would make a real difference to the safety of those at risk of harm from domestic abuse.

We must do everything possible before any more lives are lost. Today, on the news, it was reported that over 1,200 people have been arrested for the new offence of non-fatal strangulation since June 2023. That demonstrates the overwhelming need for legislation in this space, but it also shows how changes in the law that are needed can save lives. We can make a difference here.

I close by again congratulating Nexus on its excellent work in this space over the past 40 years. I remember the victims of sexual violence in Northern Ireland and pray that we see improvements in the services that are needed here.

Today, we stand together and send a clear message that support is available for victims of abuse, regardless of when that abuse took place.

Ms Egan: As a member of the Women's Caucus, I am proud to speak on behalf of the Alliance Party and my constituents of North Down to thank Nexus for 40 years' worth of absolutely vital assistance and help to individuals across Northern Ireland. The service that it delivers and the lifeline that it gives to those facing some of the hardest circumstances that anyone could ever come across is second to none. So many would be lost without it. I know that I will not need to familiarise anyone in the Chamber with Nexus's work. Unfortunately, there is not much time that goes by between constituents contacting our offices, disclosing circumstances of sexual assault or abusive relationships and seeking help moving forward in a safer environment.

Nexus is a relied-on service to which we all signpost. It is a service that we cannot take for granted. Nexus has played and continues to play a fundamental role in shifting the narratives and common knowledge on sexual abuse in our culture, in our everyday lives and in our media. It has worked alongside other organisations to raise awareness of domestic abuse and it sensitivities. Our social media and news intake is fast-paced and constantly growing. It is vital that we ground the truth of those stories in the needs of victims and survivors. It is vital that we use media in a way that calls out rape myths and disempowering narratives that can cast purposeful doubt on those who have been abused, thus giving a platform to perpetrators. It is that work that Nexus's whole-society approach helps champion and bring together.

The misogyny and ingrained hatred in our society that leads to domestic abuse is endemic and must be stopped. It is our responsibility as legislators to put in place actions and plans that do that. We need look only as far as the recently launched strategic framework to end violence against women and girls, the domestic and sexual abuse strategy or the Gillen review. They were long overdue as a result of our stop-start government and a fiscal situation that does not serve the people whom we represent, but Nexus and others were there to pick up the pieces and provide its life-saving services. I am unsure whether the average person realises the amount of work in which Nexus is involved. Its work goes beyond its absolutely vital counselling services.

As many Members have said, Nexus was founded in 1984. It was set up as a response to a quick succession of rapes in south Belfast, focusing on supporting people facing the most horrendous circumstances at a time when our societal definition of consent was viewed much differently from how it is viewed today and when the services that we now have in place were not there to help victims and survivors. Nexus championed education on and prevention of sexual abuse then, as it does now. In 2020, the Rape Crisis NI helpline launched alongside a new website providing educational and support materials. This year, Nexus finished training over 500 front-line PSNI officers and serious crime prosecutors to improve our response to sexual abuse in the justice system. Those are only snippets of the work in which its staff and dedicated volunteers are involved.

Last week, I attended an event in my constituency of North Down to recognise Nexus's achievements, marking 40 years of public service and a changing of the way in which this society thinks about things, something that many of us in the Chamber today could only dream of achieving. From me and all of us here, "Thank you".

Ms D Armstrong: As a new member of the Women's Caucus, I thank its chairperson for proposing the motion.

The 40th anniversary of Nexus is a significant milestone. For four decades, Nexus has been a beacon of hope and support for countless individuals impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. It has been at the forefront of that battle, providing a wide range of essential and therapeutic services to support women. In County Fermanagh, I am familiar with the work of Nexus, which delivers discreet counselling services and advice to meet a growing demand in the rural community. In remote rural areas, we have often seen victims suffer enduring isolation and violence due to peripherality. That means that many incidences go unreported and victims experience a lifetime of violence and fear as a result.

There has been much work of late from Departments on that topic. The strategic framework to end violence against women and girls, which was launched by the Executive Office, serves as a powerful example of our collective dedication to that cause. The framework emphasises a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. It aims to prevent violence before it starts, support victims and survivors and change the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate abuse. Additionally, the domestic and sexual abuse strategy from the Departments of Health and Justice, which is designed around the pillars of partnership, prevention, support and justice, further strengthens our efforts. It is time that we addressed the root causes of abuse, provided the right support to those affected and held the perpetrators accountable. It is not just a women's issue: as we have heard from other contributors, it is a societal crisis that demands urgent and decisive action from all of us.

In Northern Ireland, on average, a domestic abuse incident is reported to police every 16 minutes and a sexual offence every two hours. The awful reality is that, during the 12 months up to 30 April 2024, PSNI data reports that there were 4,090 sexual violence and abuse incidents in Northern Ireland. Nexus plays an important role in providing bespoke training for front-line officers in the PSNI whose role is to respond to rape and sexual abuse incidents. Over 500 specialist officers and serious crime officers have been trained by Nexus to date. That training is essential to building confidence in victims who are coming forward to report those incidents. As a trusted organisation, Nexus provides counselling and compassionate aftercare so that victims can rebuild their lives. This evening, we have heard some really harrowing statistics that underline the demand on the services that Nexus offers.

It is important that we all build on the legacy of the last mandate, when the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, the Protection from Stalking Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 brought Northern Ireland into line with or, in many ways, put it ahead of other jurisdictions in regard to legal interventions to protect women and girls from violence, abuse and unwanted attention and to support victims.

I join other Members in paying tribute to Nexus and all similar organisations that work to support and protect victims of sexual abuse and abusive relationships. I commend the tireless efforts of all those who work with Nexus across Northern Ireland. Their dedication, compassion and resilience are the driving forces behind the progress that has been made in supporting survivors and combating abuse. It is incumbent on all of us to support the motion.

Ms McLaughlin: I am really pleased to speak in this important debate. I thank the chair of the Women's Caucus for moving the motion.

Last month, I had the privilege of attending the 40th anniversary celebration at the Nexus office in Derry. The chief executive, Joanne Barnes, took us down memory lane, and it was remarkable how much has changed. However, it was also remarkable how much has not changed and how much work remains to be done.

The Nexus team is dedicated and is to the fore in helping those impacted by sexual abuse. Its services are vital and, as others have said, a lifeline. They are needed now more than ever. We know that violence against women and girls can take place in many forms. It can range from misogynistic attitudes in the workplace to sexual and domestic abuse at home. A recent report from Ulster University found that 98% of women in Northern Ireland had experienced at least one form of violence or abuse in their lifetime, which is a remarkable statistic. I am sure that every Member knows someone who has been a victim of domestic and sexual abuse.

Mrs Dillon: Will the Member give way?

Ms McLaughlin: Yes, of course.

Mrs Dillon: Does the Member agree that it is important that we understand the prevalence of abuse in order to deal with it and to have the right services in place at the right time and delivered by the right people?

Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken): The Member has an extra minute.

Ms McLaughlin: Absolutely. That is really important, because, in the work that has developed in Nexus, there is a concentration on education to support those in our schools and communities. It is about educating our young people and others about sexual abuse and the forms that it takes.

Of course, the increased media coverage that violence against women and girls has received over the past few months and years is also a welcome part of the education piece. Our public conversation on the issue has come a long way and become more progressive. It is now spoken of and out in the open, whereas, years ago, it was not; it was hidden. The victim felt ashamed and did not speak about it. It is important to remember that it is often the abuse that others cannot see that is most prevalent in the victim's life. That is especially true in cases of domestic and sexual abuse within relationships. Bruises are covered up, abusive texts remain locked in a phone, and derogatory comments remain unchallenged.

Far too often, women suffer in silence. That is never truer than in the case of domestic and sexual abuse, which is complex in nature. Victims not only suffer in silence but often try to heal in silence. Victims often fear that they will not be understood or, indeed, believed, and, as a result, they do not come forward. Not only are they sometimes fearful of medical professionals but they are apprehensive about going to their family for fear of being judged for what they have experienced. That is why the work of Nexus has been and will continue to be so vital and why I am pleased that we are able to mark its achievements today.

The services that Nexus provides are driven by a desire to enable positive change for those who have been impacted on by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. It wants to bring an end to the cycle of domestic and sexual abuse. For four decades, Nexus has provided life-changing and life-saving support for women and girls. I met a few people whose lives were turned round as a result of their engagement with the services. They were pleased to attend the 40th anniversary event, because, they said, Nexus gave them their life and dignity back. The impact of its work is immeasurable when it comes to the individual.

Today's debate is our chance not just to pay tribute but to recommit to delivering that support. Nexus and many other organisations are operating at maximum capacity. Northern Ireland still does not have a dedicated source of stable state funding for such organisations. The publication of the ending violence against women and girls strategic framework was welcome, but only £3 million over two years has been pledged towards its delivery. Many people will rightly ask whether the change that is needed can be delivered with such a small financial envelope. The lack of funding directed towards these matters has caused serious issues over many years. Services such as Nexus have, in large measure, been left to fend for themselves or receive sporadic and inconsistent funding.

Eight months ago, the previous Minister of Health cut funding to Nexus, only to reverse that decision due to the public outcry. The organisations deserve better than that. They deserve stability and security, and they deserve to know that their services are valued by people from across our society. For 40 years, Nexus has provided vital services for women and girls across the North. It is time to reward its work with a better approach from government. Nexus helps to lead the way as we seek to end gender-based violence. We must support it and all other life-saving organisations in our community.

Ms Bunting: Sexual abuse is nothing less than a scourge on our society and, indeed, on the world in general. It is an ever-present looming shadow that knows no bounds of class, gender or creed, and its impact can be absolutely devastating. In some cases, it is the most fundamental breach of trust and the most brutal harm that can be exacted and inflicted, because not all sexual attacks are by strangers. It is so often a hidden crime that is covered up, reliant on the guilt, shame and fear of victims to keep them quiet and compliant. It is a violation of body and, often, of trust, causing immense damage that can fundamentally alter a victim's life as they turn in on themselves and turn the blame on themselves, questioning themselves, their decisions and their choices at every turn.

It is important to remember that not all sexual attacks are for gratification. The weaponisation of sexual contact is as old as mankind and can be so much more about coercion, control and power.

Thankfully, there are organisations such as Nexus that help people not only to come to terms with one of the worst things that can happen to anybody but more: they help them to rebuild, go on with their lives and thrive. They may never forget but they will forge a path where they are no longer consumed by or defined by such an experience.

In recent years, progress has been made, but there is still much more to do. Legislatively, in Northern Ireland, we have seen a plethora of new offences created, and the foundations for some additional protections put in place, albeit some are not yet implemented. We have strategies in place, and the Executive have made ending violence against women and girls a priority, which is certainly to be welcomed. However, it is important to bear in mind that not all abusers are men and not all victims of abuse are women. Therefore, the processes, provisions and support systems that are in place must be mindful of the needs of all.

Strategies are all well and good, but with words must come actions and, more importantly, practicalities. We need to make it easier for people to protect themselves and to leave abusive relationships. We need to provide them with proper and readily available facilities for health and housing, financial and legal advice and counselling where it is required. We must also protect the most vulnerable, in particular those, young and old, in care settings, from whom the evidence can be difficult to obtain. Importantly, the police must investigate thoroughly, with open, inquisitive minds and without bias, following all the evidence that they can gather wherever it may lead. That having been said, we still must ensure that the law is not misused or weaponised and that justice is blind, allowing, where possible, complainant and accused to have their day in court. I strongly believe that being sexually attacked is one of the worst things that can happen to a person, but it is also true that it is one of the worst crimes of which to be wrongly accused. Both can leave a person and their family forever damaged. Nevertheless, for survivors of sexual abuse who decide to seek criminal charges, sentencing is key. Likewise for the general public's confidence in the justice system. Victims will never forget. They will move forward, but they will never forget, and seeing their convicted abuser face justice can be cathartic, provided that the sentence befits the crime and is seen to do so.

Societally, people are more prepared than ever to speak about their experiences in order to aid their recovery, and, importantly, to come forward and talk to the police and make formal complaints. Certainly, the stigma and shame once felt by victims are being broken down and, instead, placed squarely where they should rightfully be: at the feet of the perpetrators. Society is becoming increasingly intolerant of abusers. This debate provides another timely reminder to all that sexual abuse is a repugnant and reprehensible crime that will not be tolerated. I encourage anybody who is being abused to tell somebody. Seek help and advice when you are ready. Tell the police as quickly as possible, but however you proceed, do not keep it to yourself. Tell somebody, and then get the support that you need.

I congratulate everybody at Nexus for all that they do in what is an extremely difficult, traumatic and disturbing area of work, which, I am certain, takes its toll on the well-being of the people who give of themselves to help. You all make an immense difference in the lives of many, and, without question, you have saved countless lives too — literally and in many other ways. I commend and congratulate you, and for as long as you are needed, I hope and pray that, in every way necessary, you will be provided with all that you need for your life-changing work.

Ms Hunter: I really welcome the opportunity to speak, and I thank the members of the Women's Caucus for tabling the motion.

In writing my speech, I struggled and found it difficult to articulate effectively how grateful I am for the Nexus staff. We hear all the time in our constituency offices from people who have lived through undeniable struggle, and we very often hear just how incredible the Nexus staff are. I hope that they are listening to the sentiments that are being shared across the Chamber. Those staff are incredibly valuable, and I am delighted that we are debating this topic.

The staff at Nexus go above and beyond to support those in Northern Ireland who have endured the pain and suffering related to sexual trauma. The consequences of sexual trauma can be life ruining, but this vital service provides such a range of support for victims of sexual abuse right across the North. Any of us, at any time of our lives, can be a victim of sexual trauma, whether it is childhood sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault. Thankfully, Nexus NI has been there, holding the hands of people of all genders, all backgrounds, all beliefs, right across the North, guiding their healing journey to surviving trauma.

Sadly, it was not long ago in the House, as rightly mentioned by other Members, that we were fighting for this incredible service to maintain funding so that it could adequately deliver support for thousands of victims right across the North. When the news came to light that Nexus could, potentially, have all its funding stopped completely, I received an influx of messages from constituents right across the constituency, of all different demographics. Most of those messages came through Facebook Messenger. Some spoke about having been raped as teenagers. One person mentioned that they had been violated by their ex-husband. I also spoke with others, who were male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. That is the range of people and victims whom we are talking about, and it is important to mention that here, today. Nexus was the first place that they felt safe. Nexus was their safe space. Funding Nexus is crucial. It is not only crucial but life saving. I am so grateful that its funding was reinstated. I firmly believe that Members across the House must ensure that that potential loss of funding never, ever happens again.

One in four women and one in nine men in Northern Ireland will experience a sexual trauma in their lifetime. Sadly, over the past few years, we have seen a 50% increase in contacts to the domestic and sexual violence helpline, and sadly, even in the past month, we have seen a rise in rapes and reported sexual assaults, particularly in the north-west, which have been deeply upsetting. Let us not forget that sexual abuse is something that can impact on the whole family, not only children but, when it comes to light, parents too.

Mr McGrath: Will the Member give way?

Ms Hunter: Yes.

Mr McGrath: That is a really important point to raise. I congratulate and thank Nexus for their work. However, I know that, for some constituent cases that I have been dealing with, the parents of children who have been abused feel that there are very limited support services for them. They have also gone through a very traumatic experience. They have had to endure, as well — obviously, nothing in comparison to what the child has gone through — but there is a whole family that is upset there. We should aim to have much broader services, even statutory services, that support the whole family.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken): The Member has an extra minute.

Ms Hunter: Thank you, and I thank the Member for his intervention. Absolutely. It is undeniable, particularly when the person carrying out the abuse is also in the family. It is entirely disruptive for the entire family's life. Of course, the victim is at the very heart of that and their parents are right there with them. I wholeheartedly agree with the Member.

Sinéad summarised it so well: we have come a long way. Sadly, the island of Ireland, North and South, has such a profound, dark history of abuse, particularly sexual abuse and institutionalised abuse. Although we have come far, we have a long way to go to tackle sexual assault, abuse and harm in the North.

We cannot have this conversation today without talking about under-reporting. It is estimated that 80% of sexual violence cases go unreported. The honest answer is that we will never really know. We will never know, and the reasons for that are stigma, fear of not being believed, fear of appearing to be attention-seeking. We cannot blame people for not wanting to come forward for many reasons, from rape myths to more. It can be life ruining to take it to court, to seek justice. It could be career ruining. We, as a society, and we, as an Assembly, need to do all that we can to support victims and to challenge those mindsets.

Reports show that between 2022 and 2023, the Police Service recorded that there were over 3,300 sexual offences, highlighting a concerning upward trend. I have no doubt that that is linked to online access to things such as pornography and to the rise of misogyny and normalised misogyny, both online — on TikTok, with the likes of Andrew Tate — and as we experience it each and every day, whether it is in the home or in the workplace. It is on each and every one of us to call out that behaviour and ensure that it is never normalised.

Conviction rates for sexual violence offences in the North remain painfully low. That is what inspired me to bring forward a private Member's Bill that seeks to do all that we can in Northern Ireland to adequately support rape victims who are going through the courts here. I would like every victim and survivor who is listening today to know that they deserve justice and they deserve support. You will be believed. You will be listened to. All of us in the Northern Ireland Assembly will do all that we can to ensure that those people have the right to access support, and we will seek to challenge each and every rape myth and every instance of misogynistic behaviour and violent abuse that we see in our communities.

Mr Carroll: I thank the chair of the caucus for tabling the motion, and I thank Nexus for 40 years of vital work, as Members said. We also have to mention that the Executive have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to tackle sexual and domestic abuse and to end violence against women, but we have to look at their track record and highlight and challenge it, especially as they have failed to do those things. The Executive rejected a bid for transformation funding to tackle violence against women and girls. That somewhat shows where their priorities lie. We have to fight for a society that is free from sexism, exploitation and gender-based violence. That includes providing the funding to programmes when they are needed, including those from the likes of Nexus, Women's Aid and others.

A lack of social and affordable housing means that many women are unable to break free from abusive relationships. We heard about the housing supply strategy earlier, but nothing was mentioned about supporting people who are victims or survivors of violence or domestic abuse. We also have the scandal of women who are being abused or going through trauma not being able to get intimidation points. That is unfathomable. It needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Women are, obviously, more likely to be responsible for household finances, and they usually work in lower-paid jobs, which traps them in abusive relationships. The increase that I have witnessed in the number of constituents who come to me about gender-based violence is also concerning. I hazard a guess that that is the case in not just my constituency but, unfortunately, is probably the same across the board, which points to the problem. The worrying rise in those figures is reflected in my constituency office and probably in others.

We need to see emergency funding for safe refuges and other domestic violence services. A few years ago, we saw Regina Coeli House close down with the loss of the provision of 21 spaces. Those spaces have not been matched, as far as I am aware. That was a real loss, and women lost their jobs. We need to see sustainable funding for the community and voluntary sector organisations that provide all those services, year in, year out. We need to see investment in sexual assault treatment units and counselling for survivors. We also need to see more funding for civil legal aid services and for the courts to process cases promptly, which does not always happen. The Executive have said that they are using six suppliers to:

They need to expand on that. How do they propose to use data, tech and design innovation to protect women and girls? How will those tools be used, and when will they be implemented? They state:

That sounds too vague to me and to many others. What is that strategic framework, and how will it be trauma-informed?

Obviously, helplines are very important and essential in many, many cases, but we have to look at why there is such a need for them in the first place and at how we are going to reduce violence by increasing funding for women's aids and counselling services. We also need to look at how we can challenge beliefs in society, as Members said, but particularly in schools about not only masculinity but proper and healthy relationships. That is not done across all schools. We need to see early intervention and early prevention. People's lives — women's lives — depend on it.

The Executive have to be held accountable for congratulating Donald Trump on his re-election. This is a man who has been accused of sexual assault. He is an extremely misogynistic head of state, and, for many people, congratulating him is an insult to women everywhere. Associating with people like that can, in many cases, encourage further violence rather than abolish it.

It also worth noting that End Violence Against Women stated that 76% of women think that the culture of policing has to change in order to better respond to violence against women and girls. It is worth remembering that Sarah Everard was murdered by a police officer and that people who protested against her killing were attacked by police officers. Something needs to be said about police services and their role in upholding sexist values in society. I do not and, increasingly, many women do not believe that the police are best placed or most appropriately placed to tackle violence against women, never mind to prevent it.

How many times have we heard about a woman reporting threatening or violent behaviour, usually by someone known to them, as the Member opposite stated, only for the police to excuse it or shrug their shoulders, with the woman ending up in hospital or worse?

Prevention is obviously key. That starts by investing in services —

Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken): Will the Member draw his remarks to a close, please?

Mr Carroll: — and allowing women access to the financial measures to enable them to leave an abusive relationship.

Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken): Thank you, Gerry. I call Paula Bradshaw to make a winding-up speech on the motion. Paula, you have up to 10 minutes.

Ms Bradshaw: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank everyone — all the members of the Women's Caucus steering group and other Members in the Chamber — for their contribution today, in particular the chair of the steering group, Claire Sugden. I know that the issue is and has been very close to her heart, including when she was the Justice Minister.

The Women's Caucus is a united group of elected representatives. I welcome Diana Armstrong who recently joined us. What we are trying to do is work collectively to take forward our positions. In this case, it is about tackling all forms of sexual abuse and abusive relationships and ensuring that that remains an Executive priority.

Like others, I congratulate Nexus on its 40th anniversary and commend it in the strongest possible terms. The work of those who built the charity, and of those who volunteered and helped with fundraising efforts over the years, is truly remarkable. They cannot be thanked and congratulated enough for their work and what they have achieved over 40 years. As others said, Nexus started in my South Belfast constituency, but, as Sinéad, Diana and others said, its reach is also very much felt and appreciated in rural communities and less urbanised areas. As Joanne Bunting said, Nexus is a trusted and discreet form of support. It is a significant contributor to the community and voluntary sector in my constituency and across the Province. The motion is very simple. It states that we, in the Chamber, reaffirm our commitment to breaking the cycle, and tackling all forms, of sexual abuse and abusive relationships and that we commend Nexus for its work.

I will pick up on some other points. My colleague Connie Egan said that it is not just the Members of this legislature but other outlets, including the media, that have a significant role to play. In reporting on sexual abuse crimes, they need to stop victim-blaming and perpetuating falsehoods, and they need to join the rest of us in dispelling the myths around such crimes.

We all welcome the Executive's ending violence against women and girls strategic framework. It is robust, well-consulted-upon work. However, Sinéad questioned why the funding allocation seems to be less than is needed at this point. My party colleague Connie Egan has raised that time and again. If we are to really tackle the issue a generation on from the agreement, we need to put the resources where they are needed. One reason why we probably have not done enough to prevent sexual abuse and the development of abusive relationships is that we have left it to the volunteers at Nexus, for example, to step in and provide support to those impacted on by abuse after it has happened.

We may have lower crime rates in Northern Ireland generally, but we have very high rates of violence against women. While many Members gave some of the really harrowing, horrendous statistics, it is worth remembering that behind each statistic is an individual. As Diana Armstrong and Diane Forsythe said, we must do more.

Gerry Carroll mentioned that we need more information on actions around the use of technology. We need a wee bit more information on the specifics around how the strategic framework will be rolled out and how it will impact on the ground.

Getting back to Nexus, it must be noted that it is not just about supporting women; it is about supporting anyone who is impacted on by sexual abuse or abusive relationships. Again, that is not limited to adults but includes children. It is very clear that Nexus has a lot of work to do if it is to continue to have the positive impact that it has had. We need to ensure that it has security of funding, and many in the Chamber, including Cara Hunter, pointed out that the number of constituents who contacted us when Nexus's funding was under threat was very significant, and it caused great concern to many. We are all grateful that the decision was reversed at the end, but it must have been very time-consuming for the staff and board of Nexus to have gone through that.

I am particularly interested in and concerned about historical institutional abuse. We know from the testimonies of people who came forward to the historical institutional abuse inquiry about the sexual nature of the abuse that they experienced in the homes. The Committee for the Executive Office has also worked with the truth recovery panel on the mother-and-baby institutions. Again, many of the women who were housed in those institutions were there as a result of sexual assault and rape, many times in the home and by supposed trusted adults. We are now moving on to historical clerical sexual abuse, and I urge the Executive Office to move on that as quickly as possible. We must reflect that when Nexus was formed 40 years ago, a lot of those abuses were happening in real time.

Members have welcomed the domestic and sexual abuse strategy, which is a joint strategy of the Justice and Health Departments. Members also welcomed the legislative interventions that have come forward in recent years, but we need to do more on prevention as opposed to the justice and accountability that comes at the far end. In that regard, I place on record my thanks to and support for the PSNI, Women's Aid, the Rowan sexual assault referral centre, the NSPCC, Barnardo's, the Men's Advisory Project, Victim Support NI and those who man the various helplines that support those organisations. They all deserve consistent funding in order to be able to deliver the services and support that our constituents deserve.

Nexus puts the victim first, and, as we have heard today from Members, it provides support to parents who are so distressed when they hear that their loved ones have been the victim of sexual abuse. We should commend not just Nexus but all those who work to support those who are impacted on by that abuse. I call on the Assembly to reaffirm its commitment to, and support for, actions to tackle all forms of sexual abuse and abusive relationships and to commend all those who work to support people who are impacted on by it.