Stormont Faces Budget Shortfall Amid PSNI Data Breach Costs

Northern Ireland's Executive struggles to fund unforeseen expenses as Treasury denies additional support.

Northern Ireland's Finance Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, announced that the Executive will not receive additional Treasury funds to cover the PSNI data breach costs, estimated at up to £240 million.
Despite receiving an unprecedented budget increase, the funding is deemed insufficient to address 14 years of austerity and current financial pressures on public services.
The Treasury has indicated that the Executive should manage these costs within the existing budget settlements, prompting Archibald to seek further negotiations.
The reallocation of funds will require strategic decisions, as departments are expected to operate within the constrained budget limits.
Subsidies for farming and fisheries will no longer be ring-fenced, requiring integration into Stormont’s overall budget process starting from 2025-26.