Response to the Finance Minister’s Executive Budget for Northern Ireland
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01 April 2020
Dr Patrice Cairns
Policy Manager, Northern Ireland, RICS
In reaction to the finance minister’s executive Budget for Northern Ireland, RICS policy manager Dr Patrice Cairns comments:
‘RICS welcomes the support provided to businesses during this period of uncertainty. The reduction in non-domestic regional rates, which we had called for the executive to consider, will provide a boost for the ailing high street in the longer term. While the immediate three-month rates holiday for all non-domestic ratepayers is welcome, we urge the Northern Irish executive to deliver further support for business, such as a six- or 12-month rates holiday and further reliefs. Many high street businesses were struggling before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and will need extra help in the period after the crisis is over.
The New Decade, New Approach deal promised not only a strategy to address both the immediate and long-term impact of climate change, but also included a commitment to increased infrastructure delivery across sectors in Northern Ireland. RICS would like to see multi-year budgets in place, and the use of unallocated Financial Transactions Capital where possible to help accelerate the delivery of vital low carbon and resilient infrastructure.
RICS believes the executive should fast track their commitment to urgently invest in wastewater infrastructure. Without the significant support required for strategic drainage under the Living with Water programme, there is an enhanced risk of resilience issues, as well as a further risk of city deal projects being unviable because essential infrastructure is not in place.’
About the author
Dr Patrice Cairns
Policy Manager, Northern Ireland, RICS
Dr Cairns is a policy manager within the RICS UK Government Relations team. In addition to developing UK policy and promoting RICS thought leadership, Dr Cairns is responsible for leading RICS public policy work in Northern Ireland across all priority issues and key sectors. She works to build RICS' influence, credibility and profile.
