All unionist parties united in criticism against O'Dowd budget proposals

The Ulster Unionist Party says the finance minister’s plans fail to deliver the necessary transformation in public services – while the TUV says the plans have descended into “chaos”.

Any budget will require Executive approval, and the DUP have made clear there would need to be significant changes before it will receive their endorsement.

A party spokesperson said: “While we recognise the very real financial pressures facing NI, the choices and allocations set out by the SF Finance Minister are deeply flawed and will require significant changes if they are to command our support.

“The DUP will not accept a Budget that fails to properly prioritise frontline services, particularly education, while wasteful and unnecessary spending continues elsewhere. The Finance Minister must return with proposals that put essential public services first, ensure taxpayers’ money is used efficiently, and deliver for families and communities across Northern Ireland.”

UUP finance spokesperson Steve Aiken said that despite its £63 billion scale, it “fails to deliver the necessary transformation in key public services”.

“While we recognise the pressures, having successfully argued with the Treasury for an uplift to 24% above baseline UK funding, we must ensure that we are using the money we have efficiently. Wasting £150 million on a road without a single square metre of tarmac laid is just one of far too many examples of public procurement gone badly wrong”, he said

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said any other administration would not survive such a public and immediate contradiction at the heart of its most fundamental responsibility — setting a budget. “In any properly functioning system, this level of dysfunction would bring an administration to an end”, he said.

Responding to criticism of his draft plan, Mr O'Dowd challenged the other three Executive parties - DUP, Alliance and UUP - to present alternatives.