Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of implications for his policies of trends in the level of Republic of Ireland funding in Northern Ireland infrastructure.

Funding decisions concerning infrastructure in Northern Ireland are devolved. In the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and Ministers, it is for the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure to decide on infrastructure spending decisions flowing from their 2023-24 budget allocation.

The UK Government and the Irish Government have a shared interest in ensuring excellent infrastructure is in place to support the growth of the Northern Ireland economy. As set out in the New Decade, New Approach agreement, the UK Government committed to a £1 billion Barnett guarantee for capital infrastructure investment.

It is essential that the Executive forms so that ministers elected by the people of Northern Ireland can take decisions on infrastructure investment and deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.