大象传媒

After the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister in January 2017 triggered the collapse of the power-sharing government at Stormont, Northern Ireland has effectively been run by civil servants. The 大象传媒鈥檚 Ireland Correspondent Chris Page talks to those at the front line of public services to see what impact the lack of ministers is having. We hear from a primary school principal that blocked toilets and broken sinks are being fixed by volunteers as there鈥檚 no one to lobby for more money to pay for building work. A woman dealing with cancer tells us she鈥檚 been let down by local politicians in accessing vital drugs. And Northern Ireland鈥檚 top civil servant tells us how he鈥檚 coping with running a country without any ministers to provide direction. Do we really need politicians or are things better without them?

Produced by Elaine Dunseath for 大象传媒 Northern Ireland