Jayne Brady: Civil Service head calls for meeting with NI parties over "extremely challenging" budget
Northern Ireland's Civil Service chief Jayne Brady has invited Stormont party heads to a meeting to discuss budget issues and the "governance gap" in the region.
She told the leaders of the four parties, needed to form an executive, that the budget settlement for Northern Ireland, "will inevitably cause enduring harm to public service delivery, society and the economy".
It is understood the meeting has been arranged for Thursday of this week.
Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris recently set a budget for the region in the absence of devolved ministers at Stormont.
Several Stormont departments have since warned they are facing significant monetary challenges.
In her letter which was seen by the PA news agency, which was sent in advance of the local government elections, Ms Brady said the budget situation remains "extremely challenging".
She added: "It remains the collective view of myself and permanent secretary colleagues that the budget outcome will inevitably cause enduring harm to public service delivery, society and the economy.
"The budget challenge is compounded by a governance gap."
She said draft guidance issued by Mr Heaton-Harris did not materially change the limitations on civil servants to make decisions on funding issues.
She added: "That law leaves beyond departments' powers some decisions - decisions that would 'turn civil servants into ministers'."
Her letter continued: "For some departments, remaining within budget allocations would require decisions which cannot be taken in the absence of ministers.
"This leaves the relevant accounting officers in the invidious position of having no lawful means to ensure full compliance with the duty to remain within budget limits.
"As a result, the spending trajectory currently exceeds the budget and this will remain the case until and unless ministerial decision-making is restored.
"Departments have carefully considered the budget allocations and an analysis of the decisions required, and the implications for public services will be provided at our next meeting."
Ms Brady said that even if an Executive were to be established, it is "highly likely that the financial position would remain very challenging".
She said: "An incoming Executive would be faced with a series of difficult choices, made all the more challenging because they would fall to be taken part-way through the financial year.
"Our engagement since the Assembly election has been constructive and has informed our collective next steps for further preparatory work towards the establishment of an Executive.
"All parties have indicated that they are keen to continue that engagement with the NICS."
She concluded by inviting the party leaders to a meeting later this week.
Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy said civil servants in Northern Ireland had been left to try to manage a "terrible budget".
"I understand the pressures the Civil Service faces, clearly they have been left in a very invidious position where the budget, as they have said, will do irreparable damage to public services here," he told the BBC.
He added: "They are in a position where they have a void in terms of decision-making - some of the decisions are clearly not within the gift of the civil service.
"The Secretary of State has left them with a terrible budget and no decision-making capability in relation to it.
"I would assume Jayne Brady wants us to meet to put some impetus in terms of getting back into government."
DUP MP Gavin Robinson has said any return to devolved government would have to be matched with a recalibration in how Northern Ireland is funded.
"Jayne Brady and her officials in the Northern Ireland Civil Service had developed in cohort with the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) a step-in power, they had drafted the legislation to give the Secretary of State the ability to make those decisions," he said.
Mr Robinson added: "He took a political decision not to assume that power.
"But even if you had the ability to make decisions, what decisions are local politicians being asked to make? Fundamental damaging cuts, destroying pathway funding for our young and vulnerable in Northern Ireland, removing funding for Sure Start for our young and vulnerable, not providing the level of funding for the health service.
"The fact is that for as long as we have £870 million missing from the budget, the only decision anyone can take is to cut, that is not good enough for Northern Ireland.
"If we see a return to devolution, it is going to have to be matched with a fundamental recalibration of how Northern Ireland is funded."