AQW 52624/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 22/09/2026
Answered On Date: 05/10/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether the contingency allocations, communicated to organisations sponsored by her Department, would no longer apply in the case of an agreed Executive budget.

Answer:

The contingency allocations issued by my Permanent Secretary in May 2026 were temporary spending control measures put in place in the absence of an agreed Executive Budget. Once the Executive agrees a budget, I will determine how DfE’s allocation is deployed in line with my Economic Priorities.