Extra spending in England means more money for Stormont under the Barnett formula. This week’s Westminster budget means a lot more: £640 million this year, almost enough to cover the executive’s £770m shortfall, then £1.5 billion more next year, equivalent to a 10 per cent increase in Stormont’s budget.
This is not entirely good news. The overspend is a legacy of the previous Tory government artificially squeezing Stormont two years ago to cajole it into political and financial discipline.
Before that, there was always plenty of money, yet public services were still mismanaged to the brink of collapse. Too much money may even have caused mismanagement by allowing Stormont to endlessly put off difficult decisions.
There were signs this lesson was slowly sinking in, but now the Treasury tap has been turned back on again, what little hope there was of a teachable moment has passed.
Newton Emerson: The Treasury tap is back on – but does more money mean more problems for Stormont?
Brian Feeney: Why do unionist leaders say the future can be the same as the past?
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After months of considering and consulting on rates reform, Sinn Féin finance minister Caoimhe Archibald has presented proposals to the executive. These are known to include a revenue-neutral revaluation of all domestic properties and removing the £400,000 cap on expensive houses, but little else.
Caoimhe Archibald reacts to the Budget at the Department of Finance at Clare House in BelfastQuestioned by MLAs about other specifics, such as ending the exemption for student accommodation, Archibald replied she has no plans.
It must be hoped the minister has more ambition........