Women’s Policy Group NI Responds to Draft Budget 2026-2029/30 Consultation
04 March 2026 - The WRDA led Women’s Policy Group Northern Ireland (WPG) has responded to the Department of Finance’s Draft Budget 2026-2029/30 consultation, calling for a more robust and equality-focused approach to budget planning and implementation.
The WPG, a coalition of policy experts and practitioners advocating for gender equality through an intersectional feminist lens, has raised concerns about the lack of detail in the draft budget and the absence of gender budgeting processes. The group emphasised that gender budgeting is essential for creating more equitable outcomes and ensuring transparency in government spending.
Key Recommendations from the WPG Response:
Adoption of Gender Budgeting:
The WPG urges the Department of Finance to implement gender budgeting mechanisms at all stages of the policy and budget cycle. This approach would ensure that resources are distributed to create gender-equal outcomes and address the intersecting identities of women.
The group recommends publishing a gender budget statement alongside the annual budget to highlight resource allocation and equality gaps.
Improved Equality Screening:
The WPG calls for a more intersectional analysis across all Section 75 categories.
The group also highlights the need to address equality data gaps and improve the clarity of the Equality Screening process.
Reform of Consultation Questions:
The WPG expressed concerns about the framing of consultation questions, which often pit services against one another. The group recommends a more focused approach to encourage constructive feedback and better public engagement.
Revenue Raising and Full Cost Recovery:
The WPG supports revising firearms licensing fees to reflect full cost recovery and save the PSNI £2M yearly.
International Human Rights Obligations: The WPG highlights Northern Ireland’s obligations under international human rights conventions, including CEDAW. The group calls for a comprehensive assessment of how these provisions can be integrated into modern equality legislation in Northern Ireland.
The WPG welcomes the introduction of a multi-year budget tied to the Programme for Government priorities but stresses the need for significant improvements in the budget process to achieve equality goals. The group urges the Department of Finance to take constructive criticism seriously and work collaboratively with civil society to ensure a fair and transparent allocation of resources.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Elaine Crory, Women’s Sector Lobbyist at WRDA: elaine.crory@wrda.net
Meghan Hoyt, Women’s Sector Lobbyist Policy Assistant at WRDA: meghan.hoyt@wrda.net