Northern Ireland has now witnessed contractual close on PFI/PPP projects in most sectors. Whilst education and health remains the focus of local Government, projects in sectors such as accommodation, ICT, water, roads and waste are now at various stages of procurement. Largely speaking, these schemes are coming on the back of the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) which was published by the Strategic Investment Board (see question 1.6 below) in December 2005.
ISNI was developed by the SIB together with the various local Government Departments as their formal response to the deficit in public service funding.
It was branded as a new and unprecedented approach designed to inform Government decisions on capital investment priorities over the next 10 years. The intention is to develop a framework that can endure short-term fluctuations and facilitate long-term priorities in order that crucial projects can be executed in a faster more confident and coherent manner. ISNI is to be used by all Government Departments, under the guidance of SIB, when updating their investment priorities, informing budget allocations in respect of investment expenditure and utilising existing assets to maximum potential. The prime objective is the implementation of an infrastructure delivery plan that will ensure public service delivery of the highest standard throughout Northern Ireland. It could potentially support up to £16 billion worth of projects within its decade of operation.