Northern Ireland's public services are 'crippled' by lack of funding, say MPs

Northern Ireland's public services, including hospitals, schools and police, are being "crippled" by lack of funding, affecting the quality of life for many people, a report by a government committee has concluded.

- Lisa O'Carroll

The Northern Ireland select committee found patients were waiting more than 12 hours to be seen in accident and emergency departments, while mental health needs were 40% greater than anywhere else in the UK. Hospital waiting lists were among the worst in the country.

Its investigation was also told that Northern Ireland "recently held the world record for prescribing the most antidepressants per head of population". It also found that children with special needs were waiting more than a year for support.

The budget for the Police Service of Northern Ireland has been static since 2010, despite the special challenges it faces including cross-community recruitment and efforts to stamp out paramilitarism, one of the last vestiges of the Troubles.

One witness, the Law Society of Northern Ireland, said public services were "at risk of collapse".