The SDLP Leader of the Opposition, Matthew O’Toole MLA, has sharply criticised First Minister Michelle O’Neill and the Northern Ireland Executive for what he described as an "abysmal record of delivery" since their return last year.

The challenge came during the final questions session in the NI Assembly before its summer recess.

Mr O'Toole highlighted a "litany of failures" across multiple critical priorities. He specifically cited issues surrounding the progress of the A5 Western Transport Corridor upgrade, the stalled Casement Park stadium project, and the ongoing environmental crisis in Lough Neagh.

"The Executive’s report card deserves a failing grade,” stated Mr O’Toole. "Ministers have failed to do the basics to deliver vital projects – most recently, the Infrastructure Minister's abject mishandling of A5 planning processes and the failure to offer any direction for the Casement Park project, even after nearly £100 million extra was provided by Governments in London and Dublin.” The Casement Park redevelopment, a proposed GAA stadium in West Belfast, has faced significant delays and spiralling costs, with initial estimates of £180 million rising to potentially over £400 million. While the UK and Irish Governments have pledged substantial contributions, the project's future remains uncertain, particularly after it was deemed unlikely to be completed in time to host EURO 2028 matches.

On the environmental front, Mr O'Toole criticised the Executive's handling of Lough Neagh, which falls within the First Minister's own constituency and has suffered from severe algal blooms. He accused the First Minister's party of voting with the DUP "to block any action on agricultural pollution of the lough," despite promises to rescue the natural resource.

The SDLP leader also pointed to failures in social policy delivery: "To this list of non-delivery, can be added the almost instantaneous failure to meet the social housing target set by the Executive just weeks after their Programme for Government was published and the absence of any clear targets on waiting list reduction.”

Concluding his remarks, Mr O'Toole urged a renewed focus on tangible results: "I hope the First Minister has a break over the summer and returns with a focus on delivery above platitudes and photo opportunities. If the Government in Dublin had the delivery record of the Government Michelle O'Neill leads, her party would rightly roast them for their ineptitude. Citizens in the North deserve the same standards."