Stormont claims progress on its action plan – but think tank thinks otherwise
JOHN MANLEY, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, Irish News, April 3rd, 2026
STORMONT’S leaders say “significant progress” has been made in the implementation of the executive’s programme for government.
But, according to the head of think tank Pivotal, it’s debatable whether the public is feeling any benefit from money spent on the administration’s priority areas over the past 13 months.
The first and deputy first minister’s office is next month scheduled to publish an “annual report on the progress that is being made” by the executive since the programme for government was launched in February last year.
According to Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly the report will “ensure transparency and accountability”.
Ahead of its publication, the joint-leaders have provided an update on progress up to the end of last year, via a response to a written assembly question from Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer.
The examples of “significant progress” cited include £129m “transformation project funding” focusing on health and social care, special educational needs, justice, and infrastructure.
The ministers also highlight a “significant investment” of £55m in early learning and childcare provision for the last financial year, which they say resulted in 25,640 children benefitting from the childcare subsidy scheme and the creation of more than 2,500 additional full-time pre-school education places.
They say that from April to November last year around 190,000 red flag or time-critical patients were seen, diagnosed or treated.
Elsewhere, they point to £20m invested in a skills fund, £5m for “community-based action” aimed at ending violence against women and girls, and 120 special educational needs-specific accredited training places at further education colleges last year.
The housing supply strategy, launched in December 2024, and the warm healthy homes strategy,
‘‘ Most of the actions reported are focussed on inputs – funding, plans and strategies – rather than improved outcomes. Whether the public notice any improvement in their day to day lives remains unclear.
Ann Watt, director of think tank Pivotal launched earlier this year, are also namechecked, as is £83.7m provided last year for housing related support to help people and families live independently.
The report concludes by pointing to 5,300 “additional” properties that are able to connect to the wastewater infrastructure, an action plan approved “to protect and restore” Lough Neagh, and the establishment of an Office of AI and Digital.
Pivotal director Ann Watt said the achievements listed were “positive steps forward”, demonstrating how the nine programme for government priorities have been followed up by actions.
The think tank head noted how there had been “some good progress” on issues like health waiting lists, childcare and public services transformation.
Inputs rather than outcomes
“However, most of the actions reported are focussed on inputs – funding, plans and strategies – rather than improved outcomes,” she said.
“Whether the public notice any improvement in their day to day lives remains unclear – in February, a Lucid Talk poll found only 27% of people felt that the executive’s return had made a positive impact on their lives.”
Ms Watt said delivering real improvements for the public must remain the executive’s priority.
“Many services are falling far short of what the public require, including access to health services, housing affordability, and water quality,” she said.
“Other areas lack agreed plans, like improving waste-water infrastructure, hospital reconfiguration, or addressing poverty. The longer term investment strategy has still not been published. An agreed Programme for Government is an important step forward, but there is a long way to go.”
The Pivotal director said the promised progress report would be “important for transparency, scrutiny and accountability”.
“However, few targets have been published, so even then it will be difficult to assess what has been achieved,” she said.
Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole said the executive parties had “prioritised party political infighting over meaningful delivery”.
“It now appears inevitable that the next year will be an exercise in ever more performative confrontation between executive parties in an effort to distract the public from their collective failure to improve their lives,” he said.
Finance minister still seeks multi-year budget agreement as deadline slips by
JOHN MANLEY, Irish News, April 3rd, 2026
FINANCE Minister John O’Dowd is expected to continue efforts to secure executive agreement on a multi-year budget despite missing his own deadline.
The Sinn Féin minister had previously signalled his hope that Stormont could sign off its first three-year budget for more than a decade by April 1.
Mr O’Dowd unilaterally launched an eight-week consultation on his spending plans in January with the aim of finalising a budget ahead of the beginning of the financial year.
The DUP described the draft proposals as “deeply flawed”, claiming they would result in significant cutbacks in departments overseen by its ministers.
There has been no comment this week from the minister regarding the budget, or from the DUP, but a spokesperson for Mr O’Dowd’s department said “intensive work is ongoing”.
“The finance minister is continuing to engage with the treasury to make the case for fairer funding for public services and is working in partnership with ministerial colleagues to progress the multi-year budget which will provide departments with greater certainty for strategic long-term planning,” the spokesperson said.
Whether the executive ultimately agrees a multi-year budget or reverts to its usual single-year spending plan, the authority to spend initially is provided by a parliamentary procedure known as ‘vote on account’, which usually expires in July.
The Treasury is currently conducting an ‘open book exercise’ in which Whitehall officials are closely scrutinising Stormont spending.
‘Stand-off’ situation
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the party’s ministers would continue to engage with the treasury and other executive parties to find an agreed way forward.
The Alliance Party described the current situation as a “standoff”, which it said was “leaving all departments without the clarity and collective direction needed”.
A spokesperson urged the other executive parties and the British government to work towards “an agreed budget approach”.
Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken claimed the “silence from the finance minister” was an indication that the treasury wasn’t minded to provide more money than already pledged.
“Time to make decisions has never been the Northern Ireland Executive’s previous forte, and this budget delay will probably continue until we hit the buffers of the vote on account in July,” he said.
Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole said the British government had given the executive a three-year financial settlement last June to enable the setting of a multi-year budget.
“That was 10 months ago but now here we are at the start of the last financial year of this mandate and the executive is in breach of the law because it cannot or will not agree a three year budget,” he said.
“This isn’t anyone else’s fault but the executive collectively, who increasingly treat the public with contempt by attempting to distract from failure with theatrical fallings out.”
Boutcher criticises ‘negative media’ reporting on McNally murder and Lurgan proxy bomb attack
CONNLA YOUNG CRIME and SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, Irish News, April 3rd, 2026
PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher has accused the media of “negativity” after being publicly questioned about the Natalie McNally murder investigation.
The former Operation Kenova chief also hit out after The Irish News reported that a proxy car bomb was driven past an unmanned security post and open gate beyond a perimeter blast wall at Lurgan PSNI station earlier this week.
The attempted attack, which police say involved a “crude but viable” device, is believed to have been carried out by dissident republicans.
Last week, The Irish News revealed that an investigation team led by a detective involved in the botched Katie Simpson murder probe was told not to release Natalie McNally’s killer from custody until his false alibi was checked out.
Stephen McCullagh, Ms McNally’s former partner and father of her unborn baby, was found guilty last week of stabbing her to death in her Lurgan home in December 2022.
The killer had claimed to be taking part in a livestream at the time of the murder that was in fact pre-recorded.
Former Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell initially had a lead role in the investigation.
Mr Caldwell featured in a BBC Spotlight programme broadcast in 2023, which focused on the suspicious death of Katie Simpson in Co Derry in August 2020.
Initially treated as suicide, her death was later upgraded to a murder investigation.
A man accused of raping and killing her, Jonathan Cresswell took his own life on the second day of his trial in April.
During a Policing Board meeting yesterday, Mr Boutcher was asked about the McNally case by Alliance Party member Nuala McAllister, who asked if McCullagh’s alibi was “investigated forensically or did we have an approach that was – ‘believe the male’.”
Ms McAllister also asked if there “will be any more cases like Katie, or perhaps, like Natalie…. where grave mistakes were made and further victims have been traumatised?”
In response, Mr Boutcher criticised media reporting, although he did not specifically reference The Irish News.
“On the issues around Natalie, whenever I think we’ve done a really good job there’s some negativity in the media, which is often related to Freedom of Information requests and all sorts of strange things,” he said.
“And I think that’s people who just have a negative view of policing.”
Mr Boutcher told members that murder probes can be difficult.
“But let me try and be clear and as somebody who has got more time as a detective than anybody in this room, how incredibly difficult it is at the start of these awful incidents to understand what’s happened – particularly when you are dealing with people who are profoundly devious and particularly cunning and conniving in their planning to perpetrate some of these crimes,” he said.
“We might not get things right straight away, but we have shown that we do get things right.”
Mr Boutcher referred to coverage of McCullagh’s alibi.
“Those checks were done, and telephone liaison unit checks were done,” he claimed.
“The individual was actually declassified as a suspect by a detective chief inspector, who made the decision and has the complete trust of the family based on all the information that was available to him.
“But it was because of the diligence, the exceptional care and professionalism at checking every single aspect of that alibi that through more detailed forensic work we were able to establish that the alibi of this live streaming was entirely fraudulent.”
Mr Boutcher added that after other checks were carried out by police “the alibi appeared to stand up”.
The senior police officer later turned his frustration back to the media.
Anti-police undercurrent
“There is an undercurrent of reporting against the police,” he claimed.
“This is a case I don’t think they could have done any more in the time they had.”
Addressing whether similar cases will be highlighted in future, Mr Boutcher said it was “uncertain” and again attacked the media.
“So, there will be other cases in the future that I am sure in the media that will be twisted against our officers to suggest they have done things that they should not have done,” he said.
Unprompted, he then referred the recent attempted proxy bomb attack in Lurgan, launching a fresh criticism the media reporting.
“I even saw a story turning the attack into Lurgan police station into a failing by the PSNI in a paper, absolutely no failing, absolutely no failing at all,” he said.
“Even to suggest that is abhorrent, no failing, and I am happy to deal with that publicly in the fullness of time.
“So, the accountability I really welcome because I think you know my views about transparency and openness, but it has to be fair, and it has to be reasoned and it has to be justified.”
Mr Boutcher added that he wanted “public reporting to be a bit more reasoned”.
“And some checks and balances to go in place, including speaking to us I think with those people who put the stories out there because it can be incredibly misleading and it affects trust and confidence in the organisation,” he added.
The PSNI was contacted in relation to both the Natalie McNally investigation and Lurgan attack.
‘Triple workload’ to tackle violence against women
CLAUDIA SAVAGE, Irish News, April 3rd, 2026
THE PSNI will do “everything” in its power to address the “profound societal issue” of violence against women and girls, the Chief Constable has said.
Jon Boutcher yesterday said officers in the major investigation team are handling more than three times the cases recommended, while those dealing with “offender management” including restraining orders are responsible for double the cases they would ideally be.
The head of the PSNI was addressing the policing board, in the context that two women have been killed in Northern Ireland since their last public meeting in early March.
Last week a man appeared in court charged with the murder of Amy Doherty in Londonderry, while another man appeared in court charged with the murder of Ellie Flanagan in Fermanagh last month.
Violence against women and girls has also been under renewed focus as a result of the conviction of Stephen McCullagh for the murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally.
Mr Boutcher paid tribute to the McNally, Doherty, and Flanagan families, as well as the family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old who was killed in Ballymena in 2023.
“Amy’s murder brings to 30 the number of women who’ve been murdered by men here in the past five years,” he said.
“For a country the size of Northern Ireland, that is shocking, and I want to reiterate the determination of everyone in the PSNI to do everything in our power to address this profound societal issue.”
He added: “I have repeatedly, since arriving here, expressed concerns about our capacity to properly address violence against women and girls.
Dealing with misogyny in PSNI
“I have also expressed concerns as regards to our approach and internal mechanisms for dealing with both violence against women and girls and misogyny.
“When arriving I was disturbed by the numbers of domestic homicides in Northern Ireland and when reaching into the behaviour of society in general towards women and girls and into a small number of cases of inappropriate behaviour within the PSNI, I became aware of the worrying levels of wider misogyny.”
Mr Boutcher has repeatedly lamented the financial difficulties being faced by the force, and said the PSNI will “sweat our asset of resource”, but funding restraints limited their capacity in coping with serious crimes.
“The College of Policing recommends that each major investigation team that deal with murders against these young women, should have six cases per team; we have 20,” he said. “So, I worry about that pressure.” He added: “Orders that women obtain to manage the predatory and unacceptable behaviours of previous partners need to be enforced.
“Our offender management situation, and we’ve alluded to this in front of this board before, we should have one officer having 50 cases – that includes violent and sexual offenders – we’ve got one to over 100.”
Sinn Féin MLA and policing board member Linda Dillon referred to the number of women killed, saying “we cannot any longer tolerate it being something that’s on the agenda but is not being prioritised”, as she asked about training for officers in this area.
“I think the policing focus needs to be on ensuring that orders, harassment orders, stalking orders, are very much properly prioritised with regards to perpetrator activity,” Mr Boutcher replied.
“The actual conduct of the men who committed these murders goes way, way back before the police are involved, it does, that’s the reality of this, this is a societal issue.”
Bomb attack terrorists are 'idiots who are changing nothing', says PSNI chief
LIAM TUNNEY, Belfast Telegraph, April 3rd, 2026
'LITTLE DOUBT' DISSIDENT REPUBLICANS WERE RESPONSIBLE, POLICING BOARD TOLD
Those behind an attack on a Co Armagh police station are “idiots” who are “changing nothing”, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has said.
An incident during which a delivery driver was forced at gunpoint to drive a crude but viable device to Lurgan police station has been widely condemned.
Dissident republicans have been blamed after the driver was hijacked in the Kilwilkie estate in the town at around 10.30pm on Monday.
It sparked a major security alert that resulted in more than 100 homes being evacuated as bomb disposal experts examined the vehicle.
At yesterday's meeting of the Policing Board, Mr Boutcher described those responsible as “idiots” who were “irrelevant” in today's society.
“Detectives from our terrorist investigation unit have begun an investigation, and while the inquiry is at an early stage, there is little doubt that dissident republicans were responsible,” he said.
“This is likely to have been a sad attempt to appear relevant ahead of planned dissident republican parades over Easter.
“The only thing these people are interested in is themselves and their own egos.
“There is no place in the democratic society for such criminals and I appeal to anyone with any information whatsoever to come forward and tell us what they know, tell us who was involved before these idiots cause some harm.
“This attempted attack was as futile as it was cruel. These ever-decreasing dissident gangs have no support and nothing to offer.
“Society simply does not want them. The sooner they realise that the better and things will be much better for everyone. I ask all such groups to stop such pointless attacks.
“You are changing nothing. Think of your children, their future children and our collective next generation. We all need the future to be peaceful and for Northern Ireland to be a place where we respect our neighbours and have a society that is fair and safe for everyone.”
ICRIR should assess PSNI records
Meanwhile, Mr Boutcher said the PSNI should not have to assess every document the organisation provides to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
The ICRIR was set up in 2024 following the passing of the Government's Legacy Act the previous year and has a remit to investigate Troubles-related deaths and serious injuries.
The Chief Constable said it was for the commission, rather than the PSNI, to assess the documents it provides.
“We neither have the people nor the time to do this,” he said.
“The legacy material held by the PSNI should be provided in an unfettered manner to the commission.
“It should be for the commission to suitably classify documents and determine any prejudice that might exist, not for the PSNI.”
Mr Boutcher said the process would put a further financial burden on the police service.
“We project funding pressures of £65m next year, rising to £180m by 2028/29. The independent capital for next year is £52m, significantly below our assessed requirements of over £120m.
“They present a stark picture of the financial challenges facing the organisation.”
PSNI must show it has learned lessons from serious mistakes
Pro Fide et Patria, Irish News, April 3rd, 2026
IT is fair to say that most aspects of policing in our divided society have been transformed since the launch of the PSNI 25 years ago, but there are clearly still disturbing issues which need to be addressed.
Stark concerns surround two developments in recent days: one involving a long-running murder inquiry which was originally undertaken by the RUC, and the other relating to the surveillance of lawyers by the PSNI itself.
The sectarian assassination of Fergal McCusker (28) in Maghera, Co Derry in 1998 was a particularly outrageous act carried out by the group known as the Loyalist Volunteer Force a matter of months before the Good Friday Agreement.
“Mrs McCusker should never have been forced to take legal action over the basic human right of a proper investigation in the first place
Mr McCusker had only recently returned from a period working in the US when he was abducted and shot dead while walking home after a night out, with his body callously dumped outside a youth club.
A number of suspects were subsequently arrested but no charges were ever brought, and police earlier this week offered a formal High Court apology to Mr McCusker’s family for “inadequacies” during the investigation.
Damages which were undisclosed but described as significant were part of the settlement agreed after the victim’s mother, Christina McCusker, had sued the police for alleged negligence and misfeasance in public office.
The PSNI said that, while it did not accept liability, it recognised that those shortcomings brought additional distress to the family, and acknowledged their deep and lasting grief.
Mrs McCusker should never have been forced to take legal action over the basic human right of a proper investigation, and there will be widespread agreement with the family’s conclusion that the belated expression of regret was “mediocre”.
An inquest was halted in 2024 after evidence that information had been withheld on grounds of security, in circumstances which emphasise the lack of credibility of the British government’s Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, set up under contentious legacy legislation.
For some time, it has also been separately beyond doubt that the prolonged surveillance carried out by the PSNI on lawyers and journalists was unacceptable in every way.
It emerged this week that, according to UN human rights experts, the police conduct may have “violated” international standards when it obtained telephone data of two Belfast-based solicitors, Darragh Mackin and Peter Corrigan, who have already received an apology from the chief constable, Jon Boutcher.
The PSNI should demonstrate that it has learned the lessons from these serious mistakes and will take an entirely different approach in the future.
Attacks on homes a ‘dangerous pattern of racism’
REBECCA BLACK, Irish News, April 3rd, 2026
CONCERN has been voiced at a “dangerous pattern of racist hatred” following damage to a number of properties in east Belfast.
Police said a number of windows were broken and graffiti daubed on the outside of properties in the Templemore Avenue and Paxton Street areas in the early hours of Tuesday.
A family inside one of the properties on Paxton Street at the time of the incident were left “badly shaken”, police said.
Yesterday, police said that following further enquiries into the reports of criminal damage to the properties, they are content that there is no hate element to these incidents and they are being treated as criminal damage.
Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, said this incident is just the latest in a dangerous pattern.
“This attack has left another family terrorised in their own home and is nothing more than racist violence,” he said.
“Slogans such as ‘No HMOs’ daubed on houses are just a rebranded version of ‘No blacks’ or ‘No migrants’ designed to intimidate people from their homes.
“Responsibility for insufficient social housing lies squarely at the feet of successive Ministers at the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Executive as a whole.
“Their political failure to provide enough homes should not be scapegoated onto our neighbours, colleagues and friends who simply need a place to live.
“This latest attack is not an isolated incident, it is part of a dangerous pattern of racist hatred that must be confronted head-on by political leaders, communities and the police.”
A window was also smashed in the attack on the Templemore Avenue property
Police have urged that anyone who witnessed the damage to the houses, or has CCTV, doorbell or other footage that could assist with enquiries, contact detectives on 101 quoting reference 39 31/03/26.
Reports can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Rules allowing police officers accused of misconduct to retire 'could be amended'
LIAM TUNNEY, Belfast Telegraph, April 3rd, 2026
Arrangements which allow police officers facing misconduct proceedings to retire could be amended, the Chief Constable has said.
Jon Boutcher made the comments during yesterday's meeting of the Policing Board at James House, Belfast.
It comes after it was revealed that four officers cited in complaints to the Police Ombudsman in relation to the Katie Simpson murder case have retired while under investigation.
Ms Simpson died in hospital in August 2020, days after being found seriously injured at a house in Lettershandoney, Co Londonderry.
Police initially believed Jonathan Creswell's claims that she had attempted to take her own life, but the following year he was arrested and charged with her rape and murder. His trial was halted in April 2024 when he was found dead.
Responding to a question from Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey, Mr Boutcher said there were “frustrating processes” in place regarding misconduct issues.
“People have been able to leave the organisation when we should have been able to deal with them because of their breaching of the codes of practice in a way that made sure their inappropriate behaviours were addressed and those people they had impacted felt a sense of justice,” he said.
“People are simply able to retire when that shouldn't happen. We are looking to amend the regulations that currently restrict what we can do with regards to that. Often you will see reports about X and Y officer being allowed to retire; that should never be the case.
“We should deal with these cases quickly so they are not earning an income when they don't deserve to earn an income and robustly with regards to misconduct regulations.
“That is something we are seeking to address with the department.”
It comes after a review into violence against women and girls (VAWG) and PSNI culture carried out by Rachel Langdale KC made a number of recommendations for the organisation to implement. A 10-page summary of the findings has been published and was also discussed at yesterday's Policing Board meeting.
The review noted that while it was not possible to assess the extent of sexism and misogyny in the PSNI, “there must be absolute clarity about the manner in which it is tackled”.
Mr Boutcher said he accepted the review's conclusions and promised “clear action”. Since 2025, the Chief Constable said he had overseen 14 disciplinary hearings, many involving misogyny. “In each case, the officer was dismissed without notice,” he said.
“Those who act in this way can expect to lose their jobs as a minimum.
“There is no place in this organisation for any misogyny, sexism or hateful behaviour in any form. It is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Ms Langdale's recommendations included the appointment of VAWG local impact teams or officers in every police district. She also suggested that data sharing should be strengthened between the PSNI and support sector agencies, as well as addressing any delays in disciplinary proceedings.
PSNI’s £5.5m body armour contract with Israeli-linked firm
CONNLA YOUNG, Irish News, April 3rd, 2026
The PSNI has confirmed the existence of a £5.5m body armour contract with a firm that supplies equipment to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
Chief constable Jon Boutcher also said at a Policing Board meeting yesterday that his force is using spyware linked to Israeli software firm Cellebrite.
Last month, The Ditch website, through a freedom of information request, revealed the PSNI had a £5.5m contract with an unnamed Israeli firm, which raised concerns it could be linked to snooping software.
Mr Boutcher has now confirmed the multi-million contract is with a firm called Source Tactical Gear Limited, which is Israel’s largest tactical gear manufacturer and has supplied the IDF for 25 years.
Mr Boutcher told board members the PSNI contact is for the supply “of integrated body armour systems – body armour”.
The senior officer explained the contract, which started in 2019, is “over eight years….with an option for a two year extension followed by a final one year extension”.
“Any suggestion we are investing vast sums of money in some sort of illicit and complex spying material with regards to that amount of money would be inaccurate,” he said.
Police previously provided a ‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ response when asked about Cellebrite technology, which is often used to access electronic devices in police stations and extract data.
The use of the intrusive software was confirmed in a report published last year into the PSNI’s surveillance of journalists, lawyers and others, which was authored by Angus McCullough KC.
In the report, Mr McCullough confirmed Cellebrite was used to target Belfast-based journalist Barry McCaffrey.
In 2024 the Investigatory Powers Tribunal found the PSNI and Metropolitan Police acted illegally by spying on Mr McCaffrey and colleague Trevor Birney to identify their sources.
Mr Boutcher added that his force does not have a direct contract with Cellebrite but use software “under licence that is theirs because there is procurement rules that allow us to do that”.
“That material, because it helps us understand what threats exist against children and vulnerable people when examining phones is all done under proper authorisation,” he said.
“It’s not done in any illicit way as people may have alluded to.”
Mr Boutcher did not provide any information about the cost of the licenced software.
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath said “the use of Israeli-developed Cellebrite technology by the PSNI will raise serious concerns, particularly in light of a number of high-profile cases involving the unlawful surveillance of journalists.
“The PSNI must confirm that any use of this technology is fully lawful, subject to appropriate oversight and has not been used improperly to date,” he added.
Council accused of mixed messaging after votes on Irish street signs spark new row
MICHAEL KENWOOD, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER, Belfast Telegraph, April 3rd, 2026
Belfast City Council has been accused of sending out mixed messaging on Irish street signs.
A street in east Belfast is to get an Irish/English dual language sign, despite more residents voicing objection than support, while another street beside Stormont which had a similar reaction saw Irish signage voted down.
At its monthly meeting on Wednesday, councillors partly reversed a committee decision not to go ahead with Irish signs at Onslow Gardens off Cregagh Road, not far from George Best's house, and at Stormont Park off Upper Newtownards Road.
Both passed the required threshold of 15%, but in each case more people were against the new street signs than were in favour. After Wednesday's deliberations, Irish signage now will go ahead for Onslow Gardens, but not for Stormont Park.
At the People and Communities Committee three weeks ago, a tight vote to exclude Onslow and Stormont from six applications for Irish street signs was only passed with a casting vote from the DUP chair of the committee, Fred Cobain.
The committee received six applications for dual language street signage, at Onslow Gardens, Stormont Park, Kimberley Street off Sunnyside Street and St John's Place in south Belfast, Indiana Avenue off Cavehill Road and Mountainview Drive in north Belfast.
All six passed the 15% threshold to erect the signs, but only Onslow Gardens and Stormont Park received more voices against than in favour. The council surveyed 115 people for Onslow Gardens and 83 for Stormont Park.
For Onslow Gardens, 29 occupiers (25%) were in favour of the erection of a second street name plate, while 41 occupiers (36%) were not in favour of the erection of a second street name plate.
For Stormont Park, 13 occupiers (16%) were in favour of the erection of a second street name plate, while 56 occupiers (67%) were not in favour of the erection of a second street name plate.
At the committee meeting, Alliance councillor Jenna Maghie proposed granting approval for signs at Kimberley Street, St John's Place, Indiana Avenue and Mountainview Drive, but not for Onslow and Stormont.
A counter-proposal by Sinn Fein councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, that all six be approved, failed after it was heard first.
Councillor Maghie said the decision not to approve streets that had more people against than in favour, despite the 15% threshold, was “in line with what we have done previously”. But at the full council meeting this week, Ms Donnelly forwarded an amendment to overturn the committee decision and have all six streets use the dual language signage.
This amendment fell on a tight vote, with 28 in favour from Sinn Fein, the SDLP and People Before Profit, to 29 against, from the unionist parties, Alliance and the Green Party.
A Green Party amendment, to go ahead with dual language signage for Onslow Gardens and the other four streets, but not to go ahead with Stormont Park, was successful. Thirty councillors voted in favour of this proposal, from Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the Green Party and People Before Profit, to 27 votes against from the unionist parties and Alliance. The Irish for Onslow Gardens is Gairdíní Onslow.
Ms Donnelly said at the full council meeting: “There is no point in this council having a threshold to support a minority language if there are going to be constant attempts, each time one comes forward, to shy away when it is uncomfortable, and decisions have to be made.”
SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite said: “I am bemused that we are at this point again, where we are having a conversation about why it is that people have to assemble themselves into a majority to have their rights recognised in this city.”
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn said: “In relation to Onslow Gardens, I am very happy to support it going ahead. It is very clearly well past the threshold. I do have concerns around Stormont Park.”
He said: “When we come to this street, we are talking about one vote, and I think it is pragmatic to use discretion on this very small and limited case.”
DUP Alderman James Lawlor said: “We already know the consequences of imposing this policy against residents' wishes. In Shandon Park, this has caused increased tensions, vandalism, and an unnecessary focus on a peaceful residential street.”
'It's getting out of hand': How conflict is hitting our pockets in NI
JAMES MCNANEY and NIAMH CAMPBELL, Belfast Telegraph, April 3rd, 2026
Filling a 50-litre tank of diesel today costs £23 more for drivers here than it did before the US and Israel attacked Iran.
Price rises are hitting numerous areas of life as the disruption and impact of the conflict in the Middle East ripples out to the rest of the world.
Energy costs are making the headlines. Brent Crude, the international standard, has risen to $108 (£82) per barrel.
A 300l purchase of home heating oil now costs £376 — an 86% increase from the £202 it sat at before the war began on February 28.
Even sharper rises were recorded for 500l and 900l of heating oil, which have increased by 94% and 97% to £597 and £1,060 respectively.
Another headline cost hitting people is car fuel, which is a particular issue for diesel drivers. A 50l purchase of diesel now costs £89 on average here.
Meanwhile, 50l of petrol is £74.55, a £12 rise from before the US and Israel launched their attack.
Over 120% increase in calls for help
The Society of St Vincent de Paul revealed approaches for assistance were up 126.5% last month compared to March 2025.
SVP's national vice-president Mary Waide said: “The rise in calls to our regional office in Belfast for people who cannot afford to put oil in the tank is absolutely shocking — and these figures only capture the people who are brave enough or willing enough to lift the phone. I'm sure there are many more who need help but just don't know how to request it, or are too afraid to ask.
“Even with the brighter evenings it is still bitterly cold, and for people we are visiting, who are sitting in a cold and often damp home, there is little to no feeling of the arrival of spring.
“While SVP volunteers are out in our local areas doing all we can to provide much needed assistance, the reality is that demand is far outpacing the limited resources we have available. Without additional support, many households will continue to struggle to heat their homes.”
Fiona Magee of Advice NI said: “In the short-term, there are practical steps people can take to help mitigate the impact.
“We would encourage households to review their budget as early as possible to understand where money is going and identify any areas they could reduce spending.
“Simple changes such as limiting non-essential car journeys, using heating controls more efficiently, and shopping around for the best value on groceries can all make a difference over time.
“It's also important for people to plan ahead where they can. For those who rely on heating oil, monitoring prices or joining an oil buying club, details of which are available on the Consumer Council's website, can help reduce costs.
“If a full tank isn't affordable, smaller top-ups may be more manageable. If you are facing higher transport costs, considering alternatives like car sharing or public transport could help lower weekly spending. If you are worried about keeping up with credit payments, speak to your lender as early as possible.
“Support options may be available, and early action can prevent the situation from escalating.
“If, after reviewing your budget, you find there is little or no flexibility, seeking advice early can make a significant difference.”
1.3 million UK households face mortgage increases
The Bank of England has reported 1.3m UK households are facing a rise in their mortgage costs due to the “shock” of the war. It found that average rates for two-year and five-year deals have gone up by 0.8% and 0.7% respectively, while the total number of mortgage products available on the market had fallen from around 8,500 to 7,000.
Meanwhile, Ross Boyd, director of Belfast chartered accountancy firm RBCA, is calling for the government to help businesses cope with the rising costs.
He said: “Everything costs more when fuel inflation hits, and when combined with reduced consumer spending power, squeezed margins are inevitable for businesses. We also need to recognise these businesses need support.
“It doesn't take a genius to realise that with margins being squeezed due to external factors, our private sector won't be able to expand easily, invest, recruit or support the local towns and rural communities within which they operate until they have addressed these cost and tax pressures.”
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald yesterday called on the UK Government to immediately reduce fuel duty, warning that rapidly rising petrol and diesel prices are placing severe pressure on households and businesses across Northern Ireland.
In discussions with the Cabinet Office yesterday morning and also in a letter to Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade, she called for urgent intervention as fuel prices continue to escalate following the continued conflict in the Middle East.
The minister said: “Fuel duty must be reduced as a matter of urgency. Petrol and diesel prices across the north have risen by between 20% and 40% in just a matter of days, creating sudden and unmanageable costs for households and businesses.
“The Irish Government has already acted by reducing Mineral Oil Tax across petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil. That action has been widely welcomed by consumers and businesses in the south.
“The British Government must now act with the same urgency. Alongside an immediate reduction in fuel duty, the planned fuel duty increases due to come into effect from September must be withdrawn if fuel prices remain elevated.”
‘People just can't afford it.’
People on the streets of Belfast were critical of Stormont's response to the cost of living crisis.
Johnny McDonald (64), from Co Tyrone, said the problem is “out of hand”.
“Stormont is a farce. That money (to ease home heating oil costs) — even though it only was £17m — that money was given over a week-and-a-half ago, and they still haven't decided how they're going to divvy it up,” he said. “It's an absolute farce. And then they take a 27% pay rise. They don't do anything meaningful.”
Finance Minister John O'Dowd said the money allocated would equate to just £35 per household, as around half a million homes here rely on oil-fired central heating.
Mr McDonald added: “If you're somebody on benefits or minimum wage, it (heating oil) is going to wipe you out.
“So, it's going to be a lot of people. It's an absolute disgrace for working people. People just can't afford it.”
Limavady man Chris McCann (52) agreed it was unfortunate for ordinary people here. He said: “We're at the mercy of geo-strategic forces... there's not really a lot the government can do about.”
He added: “It's going to be a bit of an economic shock. With any sort of global shock — Covid and now this — it's always the people who are most marginalised who are hit the hardest.
“I don't know where there's money in the budget to do anything about it.”
Single mum Shannen Orr (33) said: “I can only work certain hours when my son's at school, so I'm trying to get by on pay cheque to pay cheque. There's some elderly people and they're on their own; they have no family, they're struggling to get by because their pension's only going to cover so much.”
With the state pension age also rising to 67 this year, Ms Orr added: “We're going to all be working until we're dead.”
