# The Occupied Territories health workers run out of patience with Stormont budget delay

- Link: https://antisocial.news/northern-ireland-health-workers-run-out-of-patience-with-stormont-budget-delay/
- Published: 2026-10-18T12:23:00+01:00
- Author: Stringer

On Tuesday, Finance Minister John O’Dowd laid out his position in the assembly. “Pressures across departments in the current financial year are around £1.6bn. The offer that is currently on the table is around £525m. “Public sector pay alone is £500m or thereabouts, and any settlement or agreement has to include money for pay uplifts for teachers, nurses and other public-sector workers.” Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant has reacted with exasperation. “You cannot keep overspending willy-nilly and not expect consequences from that. It’s just irresponsible,” he told the BBC. He held a virtual meeting with Stormont ministers on Friday. There was no sign of agreement. More discussions will be held next week. Bryant has suggested the absolute deadline for reaching a deal is January because at that point the money available to spend under the emergency arrangements will run out. A deal will need to be reached much sooner than that if strikes are to be avoided. Source link