A New Programme for Government (PfG)

• Programme for Government 2024-2027 ‘Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most’

Other PfG related documents including consultation reports and impact assessments are available here.  

A Wellbeing Framework has been designed to identify areas of concern and help the Executive understand if projects and programmes intended to contribute to the PfG are working for everyone.

The Executive’s Nine Priorities

The PfG outlines nine high-level immediate priorities.  Of these, DfI will particularly contribute to the four areas highlighted below:

1. Grow a Globally Competitive and Sustainable Economy
2. Deliver More Affordable, Accessible, High-Quality Early Learning and Childcare
3. Cut Health Waiting Times
4. Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
5. Better Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs
6. Provide More Social, Affordable and Sustainable Housing
7. Safer Communities
8. Protecting Lough Neagh and the Environment
9. Reform and Transformation of Public Services

The PfG recognises the underpinning nature of infrastructure and the importance of funding to address and maintain Northern Ireland’s deteriorated critical infrastructure including our wastewater assets. DfI is not the lead department for any of the priorities in the PfG. It will, however, play a fundamental role as an enabler of the achievement of several of them and by delivering on the Executive’s Building New Foundations ambitions which encompass several areas of DfI work including planning, net zero futures, sustainable transport and managing our water.

The PfG highlights the following high level DfI 2024-25 actions:

Improve our Transport Infrastructure for Safer Travel, Connected Communities and Sustainable Economic Growth

• We will deliver an improved road network that better connects on a North-South and EastWest basis. This region-wide, reliable, and strategic road network will frame and open our towns and landscape while improving safety. Actions will include progressing delivery of the A5 Western Transport Corridor and publishing an annual Action Plan to support the Road Safety Strategy.

Improving transport connectivity through building on the Union Connectivity

• We will build upon the Union Connectivity Review, which made recommendations to improve transport connectivity, enhance quality of life and build economic opportunities across the UK.

Developing our rail networks to provide more accessible public transport for rural and disabled communities

• We will work with the Irish Government to develop our rail networks and to provide more accessible public transport for our rural and disabled communities.

Considering the recommendations of the All-Island Rail Review

• The All-Island Strategic Rail Review offers an opportunity to reconnect our people and communities and continue the decarbonisation of our economy. This includes considering the recommendations of the All-Island Rail Review, which include the electrification of rail services, strengthening Belfast Dublin rail services, and creating new services between Belfast and the Northwest, via Portadown and Omagh. This offers an opportunity to connect people and communities and continue the decarbonisation of our economy.

Improving water quality

• A collective, cohesive and integrated approach will be key for a meaningful and sustained improvement in our water quality, which will require changes in our behaviours and practices.

Managing flood risk, Living with Water in Derry-Londonderry

• We need to respond to the impacts of climate change as well, and that is why we are completing work on Belfast Tidal Flood defences, taking forward a consultation on Living with Water in Derry-Londonderry, and seeking to develop a new flood forecasting system.