To ask the Minister of Finance for his assessment of the reports by (i) Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, Cost of Division, (2016); and (ii) Deloitte, Research into the Financial Cost of the NI Divide (2007).

The 2016 UUEPC report, which included an empirical update of the 2007 Deloitte report, indicated that across most areas our costs typically fall within the range of costs identified in other regions. The one exception is policing, where average costs are significantly greater than all other comparable police forces across these islands, accounting for over half the estimated additional cost.

The report analysis identifies areas where division is potentially contributing to a higher cost of service delivery, but states it is only one of many factors and it should not be concluded that the additional costs identified represent potential savings which could be achieved. In some instances that may be the case, but in others instances the costs are unavoidable or would require significant investment to address.