O'Neill: Stormont's programme for government to be agreed by Executive by summer

Stormont's programme for government is set to be agreed by the Executive by this summer, First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said.

The programme for government - which will set out the Executive's priorities and aspirations for this Assembly mandate - is set to be discussed by ministers this week.

A previous draft programme for government ran from 2016 to 2021. Work was under way in 2022 on the next programme, however the institutions collapsed before it could be formally agreed.

It is understood the last agreed programme for government was in 2012, which covered the period 2011-15.

Ms O'Neill said the Executive's key priorities include childcare, reducing hospital waiting lists, tackling violence against women and girls, special education needs, Lough Neagh housing and developing a globally competitive economy.

But she said their most immediate priority remains the stabilisation of public finances.

"It is important to us that everyone in our society feels the benefits of the decisions that we make," she said.

"Work is now moving at pace to develop a new programme for government, with plans for a fully agreed programme for government be in place for the summer.

"We will provide an update to the Assembly in due course and of course the Assembly would also have an opportunity to discuss that also."

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath questioned whether the programme for government could be published before the summer recess to give MLAs an opportunity to assess it.

Ms O'Neill said work is continuing "at pace" but she wants to make sure they "get it right".

"I'm more interested in getting it right. I'm more interested in making sure we've got a programme for government that reflects our priorities as we, the four parties of the Executive have identified," she said.

"We (the Executive) will have some discussion this week, but the intention is that we will have something formally in place for the summer this year and then we have to go through the consultation process and work through all the details of it.

"But let's get it right. Let's not be in a hurry. Let's make sure it's meaningful and impactful."