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Public services in Northern Ireland, encompassing hospitals, schools, and police, are experiencing severe underfunding, leading to significant impacts on the quality of life for many, as concluded by a government committee report. The Northern Ireland select committee report demonstrates that patients have been waiting over 12 hours to receive medical attention in accident and emergency departments, and mental health requirements are 40% higher compared to the rest of the UK. Additionally, Northern Ireland has the worst hospital waiting lists in the country.

Investigations highlighted that the region has recently held the world record for the highest per capita rate of antidepressant prescriptions. Children with special educational needs have had to wait more than a year for support. The Police Service in Northern Ireland has not seen its budget increase since 2010, despite its specific challenges in recruitment and addressing paramilitary activity.

One witness from the Law Society of Northern Ireland expressed that public services are on the verge of collapse. Stephen Farry, a former MP and co-director of Ulster University’s strategic policy unit, stressed the urgent need for the political elite in London to understand the severity of the situation in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of Great Britain.

Chair of the committee, Tonia Antoniazzi, remarked that the protracted crisis in public services due to insufficient funding continues to impact the daily lives of individuals across communities. The committee has demanded that the government ensures the next fiscal year’s funding (2026-2027) aligns with Northern Ireland’s level of need.

Despite having the highest public spending per person in the UK, Northern Ireland raises the least revenue per person, relying largely on a “block grant” from the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Barnett formula dictates that each of these nations receives the identical per capita increase in funding as the national funding. For instance, if education in England is funded at £100 per head, devolved governments must receive the same amount.

Recognizing the dire state of public services, the previous government increased funding to £124 per head for Northern Ireland’s public sector. The committee noted that ongoing research is examining if further funding increases would be needed. It was remarked during their previous inquiry in 2023–24 that public services were under immense pressure, and the situation appears to have remained unchanged.

In 2024, following a two-year period without a functioning government, a £3.3 billion package was provided, with the expectation that the Stormont government would also raise revenue for public services. However, this proposal has proven to be politically challenging, with limited options available to the devolved government.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/07/northern-ireland-public-services-at-risk-of-collapse-report