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Investment Strategy Northern Ireland

The Executive Office

The Northern Ireland Executive has a clear vision for infrastructure in our region – to enable everyone to lead a healthy, productive and fulfilling life, supporting sustainable economic growth and putting our environment at the forefront of our future infrastructure investment plans.

Over the last ten years, government has invested £14.9 billion in maintaining, upgrading and extending our regional infrastructure – an average of £1.48 billion per year or £8,000 per person. Nearly three-quarters of this has been directed to the major infrastructure areas of roads, housing, water and wastewater, schools, public transport and hospitals. Over 400 projects have been completed, thirty with a value of more than £100 million. 

We know the region will face significant new challenges in the coming decade and beyond. These include:

  • the immediate need to respond to the climate emergency and achieve Net Zero;
  • the need to innovate at pace and develop our approach to delivery;
  • the changing requirements of an ageing population;
  • our evolving trading relationships with our neighbours in Europe and elsewhere;
  • the speed of technological innovation and the increasing risks to cyber-security and
  • the need to maintain our current infrastructure.

Our objectives and priorities for infrastructure investment are based on a dispassionate and impartial assessment of where we are now, where we need to be and what we need to do. 

The entire region will benefit from the implementation of this strategy. Infrastructure investment will drive inclusive growth and increase resilience to climate change and economic shocks. It will safeguard jobs, promote skills development and encourage innovation. It will help build a green economy, protecting our heritage and environment. It will help us all to achieve our full potential.

What is The Executive Office?

The overall aim of The Executive Office, previously the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) is to contribute to and oversee the coordination of Executive policies and programmes to deliver a peaceful, fair, equal and prosperous society.

The First Minister, Paul Givan and deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, supported by the Junior Ministers, Gary Middleton (FM) and Declan Kearney (dFM), have overall political responsibility and accountability for all the Department’s activities. They set the strategic policy and resources framework for the department.

The Executive Office is managed by the Departmental Board which is made up of senior staff, who meet with the Head of the Civil Service every month to discuss strategic issues and to plan, prioritise and report on progress.