'Frankly appalling!' Taxpayers to foot bill for £500k Stormont canteen renovation

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Timothy Gaston, who represents North Antrim, condemned the expenditure in the strongest terms.

"This at a time when ordinary households across Northern Ireland are struggling with the cost of living, and the constant complaint of executive ministers is that they don't have the money to pay for essential public services," he said.

Mr Gaston branded the spending "indefensible", comparing it to the price of two family homes.

The bulk of the expenditure went towards the physical renovation works, totalling £437,559.

This sum covered construction work, new doors, flooring, joinery, furniture, kitchen appliances, lighting installations, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Design costs accounted for nearly £40,000, whilst project management fees came to approximately £28,000.

A senior Stormont official confirmed in correspondence that an additional sum of around £20,000 remains outstanding to complete a "small number of final elements".

Mr Gaston demanded a comprehensive breakdown of where the money had gone.

"It seems that there is pressure on legitimate public services but a bottomless pit of taxpayer money when it comes to the Stormont canteen," he said.

The Assembly Commission, which oversees Parliament Buildings and comprises MLAs from the five largest parties, defended the renovation project.

A spokeswoman stated that the dining facility had received only a minor refresh in 2008 and had not undergone substantial updating since 1998.

"During those 27 years, working and eating habits have changed significantly, with people wanting more flexible and informal options, reflecting more collaborative and 'away from desk' working," the spokeswoman explained.

The restaurant recorded approximately 72,000 transactions in 2024 alone, serving assembly members, their staff, civil servants, journalists, and members of the public meeting their elected representatives.

Officials argued that modern facilities were essential as the Assembly prepares for increased late evening sittings during a busy legislative period.

The canteen controversy emerges against a backdrop of severe financial strain across Northern Ireland.

Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals that one in four children in the region are growing up in poverty, with 330,000 people overall living below the poverty line.

The charity found that nearly two-thirds of children experiencing poverty come from working households, whilst 45 per cent of workers have faced low pay over the past five years.

Mr Gaston argued the spending demonstrated misplaced priorities.

He said: "This is not value for money. This is not responsible government.

"This is the political class looking after itself while telling everyone else to tighten their belts,