January 18th, 2026


The Workers Party will make a detailed submission to the Budget Consultation Document before the March deadline but in the meantime, we can make some initial observations. At the moment, the future of our much-needed public services is certainly not looking bright. It should be a matter of great public concern that the three-year financial plan published by the Department of Finance has not been approved by the Executive and that parties in the mandatory coalition have issued press statements expressing their disagreement with the financial allocation for their respective ministries. Whilst it is right to move away from one year budget plans, as always, the devil is in the details. The figures for each department do not seem to be inflation proofed.

The health service is already at a minus figure for the next financial year because of pay parity and the commitment made by the Executive parties that parity would be maintained. It would be scandalous if health service staff were once again let down by our political leadership. That is only one of the problems facing our health and social care services and the crisis is growing day by day.

Many promises have been made by the Executive on a wide range of issues including special education needs for children, childcare costs, good jobs commitments, workers’ rights, public housing and homelessness. It would seem that those promises cannot be met on the projected budget allocations.

It is not really appropriate for the finance minister to tell the public he is open to listening to suggestions, when that really just means that the public are handed the knife and asked to make the cuts themselves. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is really not an acceptable financial strategy.