The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland wrote to the Permanent Secretaries of the NI Civil Service Departments directing that they launch public consultations on measures to support budget sustainability by raising additional revenue.

Each public consultation will be co-ordinated by the relevant Northern Ireland department.  Not all the consultations are available yet but will be released over the coming weeks.  The departmental consultations which are currently available for response and which Siobhán will be responding to are listed below.

Department of Finance (deadline 13^th February 2024):

1. The review of non-domestic rating support schemes, including non-domestic vacant property relief, industrial de-rating, freight transport relief, and the exemption for student halls of residence.
2. The removal of domestic ratings allowances, including the early payment discount, the maximum capital value cap and the landlords’ allowance.

Department for Infrastruture (deadline 13^th March 2024)

1. The introduction of domestic water and associated charges (this should also include the removal of non-domestic water allowances and charging for septic tank desludging).

Siobhán will be making Consortium responses to these consultations.  If you have anything you wish to contribute please contact Siobhán as soon as possible at policy@wsn.org.uk