A Treasury review has suggested that Northern Ireland Executive could unlock an extra £3 billion a year for public services—but only by increasing rates, introducing water charges, and cutting thousands of jobs.

The proposals are already sparking anger, with critics asking why ordinary people are being told to pay more before major spending waste is tackled inside government itself.

Questions are now being raised over a series of costly projects and expenses at Stormont, including:

• £1.4 million spent on hospitality in less than a year
• More than £500,000 refurbishing the Stormont canteen
• Over £100,000 on St Patrick’s Day travel trips
• £10,000 spent on gift baskets for officials
• £150 million committed to the A5 project without a completed road
• £1.3 million spent on a proposed gondola project that never materialised
• Millions paid to outside consultants instead of building in-house expertise
• £120 million linked to the PSNI data breach settlement
• A £14,000 pay rise for MLAs, adding more than £1 million to annual wage costs

Travel expenses alone reportedly reached £332,000 in a single year, while overall political costs are estimated to exceed £25 million annually once allowances and wider expenses are included.

At the same time, Northern Ireland already has one of the largest public sectors in the UK, with around one in four jobs tied to government employment. Stormont is also facing a projected £1 billion overspend.

Critics argue the direction of travel is becoming clear: rather than reducing duplication, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending, the burden could instead fall on households through higher bills, new charges, and job cuts.

For many families already under financial pressure, the growing debate is no longer just about public finances—but about priorities.