03 June 2026 – The Women’s Regional Consortium (WRC) has submitted our response to the Department of Health’s Draft Budget Consultation, raising serious concerns about the potential impact of proposed allocations on women and families across Northern Ireland. In our response, WRC highlights that ongoing financial pressures and constrained investment in health and social care risk deepening existing inequalities, particularly for women who disproportionately rely on these services both as users and as part of the workforce.

The Consortium stresses the importance of robust Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) and calls for greater transparency in decision-making to ensure that budgetary choices do not further disadvantage those already facing barriers, including carers, low-income households, and marginalised groups.

WRC is urging the Department of Health to prioritise preventative services, community-based provision, and support for frontline workers, noting that failure to do so will place additional strain on already overstretched services and exacerbate health inequalities.

The Women’s Regional Consortium remains committed to working with policymakers to ensure that public spending promotes equality, fairness, and improved outcomes for all.

-ENDS –