Appendix 5: Other Evidence considered by the Committee
5.10 Department of Finance: Response dated 18 November 2021 - Draft Budgets 2022-2025
Department of Finance
Private Office
2nd Floor
Clare House
303 Airport Road West
BELFAST
BT3 9ED
Tel: 028 9081 6216
Marie Austin
Clerk to the Audit Committee
Northern Ireland Assembly
Parliament Buildings
Stormont
Belfast BT4 3SW
Your reference:
Our reference: GM-0876-2021
Date: 18 November 2021
Dear Marie
DRAFT BUDGET 2022-25
Thank you for your letter of 29 October 2021 seeking the Department of Finance’s comments on the budget plans of the NIAO, NIPSO and NIAC.
The Department of Finance has examined the plans for the three bodies, and these will be incorporated into the Executive’s Draft Budget 2022-25, which it is planned will go out to consultation in early December.
The Committee should be aware that the Executive is having to address significant financial pressures as we emerge from the COVID pandemic. This will involve the Executive having to make difficult decisions, particularly about the need for Departments to make efficiencies in order to release the resources necessary to, particularly, invest in the Heath Service.
Given that the spending plans of all three of these bodies would see their resource budgets rise over the three year budget period, the Committee may wish to consider to what extent efficiencies can be delivered by these bodies to offset the pressures which they face.
Following the publication of the Executive’s draft Budget 2022-25, which is planned for early December, it will be followed by a twelve week consultation period. It is the Finance Minister’s intention that he will then bring the Executive’s Final Budget 2022-25 to the Assembly at end of February/early March
Yours sincerely
Pp Andy Monaghan
DEPARTMENTAL ASSEMBLY LIAISON OFFICER
Audit Committee
Room 254 Parliament Buildings
Tel: 02890 520302
Committee.audit@niassembly.gov.uk
From: Marie Austin, Clerk to the Audit Committee
To: Andy Monaghan, Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer, Department of Finance
Cc: Roisín Kelly, Department of Finance Emer Rice, Department of Finance
Date: 29 October 2021
Subject: Draft Budget 2022-25
1. On 3 November 2021, the Audit Committee will take oral evidence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO), Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) and Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (NIAC) on their respective budget plans for the 2022-2025 budget period.
2. Written briefing papers have been submitted by the bodies in advance of the oral evidence sessions, copies of which are enclosed.
3. As part of its deliberations and in line with existing protocols, the Audit Committee will have regard to the views of the Department of Finance (DoF) on the budget positions of the three bodies. Follow-up oral evidence sessions have been scheduled for 24 November 2021. Therefore, to facilitate the Committee’s scrutiny, I would welcome views from the DoF on each of the budget plans by noon on 19 November 2021.
4. You may also wish to view the Hansard transcripts of the evidence sessions that will take place on 3 November 2021. The transcripts can be accessed at the following link when they become available: Minutes of Evidence (niassembly.gov.uk)
5. The Audit Committee intends to carry out its scrutiny work in line with the agreed timeframe for the Executive budget process and looks forward to receiving confirmation of same.
Marie Austin
Clerk to the Audit Committee Enc.
