John O'Dowd
Upper Bann · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“As I set out in response to the previous question, we have in place the vacant property rate relief scheme and the small business rate relief scheme, which are very successful. I set aside £10 million in the draft Budget for small business rate relief to be invested.”
“I am particularly keen to hear from those impacted by vacant commercial units and especially about how any phased increase can be implemented in a sustainable way that is fair, proportionate and sustainable within the tax system.”
“I outlined my intent to take that approach in my statement on 18 November, alongside the fact that reform of rating policy should support growth, make better use of property and ensure that the system is fair, proportionate and aligned with wider economic objectives.”
“The accelerator will operate alongside our highly successful Back in Business scheme, which has helped to bring over 100 vacant high street properties back into use since May 2024. Those issues have been the subject of considerable interest and comment in the Assembly, and it is right that we grasp the nettle now.”
“There are no circumstances in which a hard border would be good for the people of Ireland; it would not be good for anyone. Those who suggest that are being naive at best and dangerous at worst, in the sense of not understanding this society. <BR /> <BR />Rural communities along the border are one and the same.”
“This announcement represents the next step in that. That said, I also put on record my intention to strengthen support for small businesses. In that vein, £10 million has been set aside in the draft Budget to broaden the impact of the small business rate relief scheme in order to increase the number of businesses that can benefit from it.…”
The complete record
Every one of 6,140 lines we hold for John O'Dowd, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 55 of 123.
“We try to coordinate the work as much as we can. In scheduling a major work scheme, we must take the opportunity to do it with our contractors who have been involved in a number of other major road schemes, and to do it when the weather is reasonably good. We have to time it. This week's work was carried out between 10.00 pm and 6.00 am. There will be further works in the weeks and months ahead.”
“Your rural colleagues are looking on in envy at Belfast's receipt of £3·2 million for road improvement and a £340 million bus and rail station. Your rural colleagues are asking, "What are you complaining about?". However, I accept that there has been traffic congestion in Belfast. We are reviewing that. If lessons need to be learned from the weekend, they will be learned. We are resurfacing a major arterial route into Belfast. The reason that we are resurfacing it is that it is such a high-volume part of the road network. I suspect that most Members travel on it daily. It needs to be upgraded and resurfaced — that is why we are doing it — but, yes, if lessons can be learned, they will be.”
“As I mentioned earlier in Question Time, as part of the review of 20 mph speed limits around some of our schools, the question of whether it would be appropriate to introduce 20 mph zones in certain other areas, particularly residential areas, has arisen. We need to explore that further. I am aware of the clamour in Wales to reduce the number of 20 mph speed limits. The approach taken in Wales was much more general than I would propose. I would propose that we look at residential areas that have no through roads to see whether a reduction of the speed limit to 20 mph would increase safety for whoever happens to be using the road. We need to explore that further.”
“There will be consultation with the PSNI in that regard, particularly if there is a history of collisions on the stretch of road where the reduction or increase in the speed limit, whichever it may be, is requested.”
“I do not know whether DFI has issued a ban, but there has to be appropriate parking for coaches in Belfast city centre; that is without doubt. My officials and others are working with Belfast City Council to see how we can best regulate coach parking in Belfast city centre. If we had unregulated coach parking, the traffic congestion that the Member referred to would only get worse. Let us work towards a solution. I have no doubt that we will reach a solution.”
“<BR /> <BR />I accept that there are circumstances in which public transport is not suitable, but, when we are sitting in traffic, one question that we need to ask ourselves is this: could we use public transport to get here? When you are sitting in traffic, you are the traffic. I accept that public transport is not always accessible or available for everyone.”
“I agree with the Member: there is serious traffic congestion in Belfast in the mornings and during the evening rush hour. Part of it is as a result of a £340 million investment in the new Grand Central station, and part of it is as a result of the £3·2 million that is being spent on upgrading the Sydenham bypass. The reason that some of it is happening is that we are investing in our infrastructure for the economic well-being of us all. <BR /> <BR />I have asked my officials to monitor the Belfast situation closely to see whether there are interim measures, such as changes to traffic light operations, that we can take while the work in and around Grand Central station goes ahead, to help to alleviate the traffic there.”
“I do not have the full details of the scheme in front of me. Perhaps the scheme that the Member refers to is the scheme in conjunction with councils — I am trying to catch the Member's eye. I am more than happy to follow that up for the Member, but, moving forward, this will be a commercially driven operation. The Department for Infrastructure does not provide access to petrol or diesel stations; that is not part of our function or role. It might be nice to have the financial backing to nationalise the electric vehicle charging network — I could be tempted to go down that road — but I simply do not have the financial wherewithal to do that at this time.”
“The electric vehicle charging network is a commercial operation that is driven by commercial entities. It has had significant success in recent times, and we are seeing more electric vehicle charging points being made available to members of the public on that commercial basis.”
“The weekend traffic chaos that you refer to is the result of a £3·2 million road improvement scheme being carried out in Belfast. I suspect that people in rural Fermanagh, rural Tyrone and elsewhere are aghast at people complaining about £3·2 million being spent on their area.”
“<BR /> <BR />I plan to meet officials in the coming weeks to review the scheme, which will allow me to consider the way forward for the entire major roadworks development and the placemaking scheme. Any subsequent decision to proceed with the York Street interchange project can only be made when I am confident that there is budget certainty for the scheme and that its delivery is in line with my Department’s emerging transport plans.”
“Major road schemes are an important part of the work that is delivered by my Department as we seek to reduce journey times, increase reliability and improve road safety. In October 2022, I published a placemaking and active travel review report on the scheme and asked my officials to carry out further work on three scenarios that were recommended in it. <BR /> <BR />The work to prepare a placemaking and active travel development report has now been completed. Due to underinvestment in major road schemes and to the constrained budget position, the scheme was considered in the prioritisation of major schemes, and further work on it was paused as part of the outworkings of that review.”
“You have to be able to run a Department through evidence-based interventions. My Department had an evidence-based intervention for Newry. We carried it out and, as a result, protected thousands of homes and thousands of businesses in Newry. Does more need to be done? Of course, it needs to be done. Some of those decisions will be difficult, some will be unpalatable and some will require a Minister to make an evidence-based intervention, and I will continue to do that.”
“The Member makes a flippant remark, but the reality is that, had I followed the Member's advice and not carried out the necessary works in Newry, the flooding in Newry last year would have been worse than it was. Had I followed your advice and your campaign, it would have been to do nothing, because you did not come forward with an alternative solution. You think that you can run a Department through headlines; you cannot.”
“Working with local communities and businesses, we want to be in a position to ensure accessibility to some of the materials that are required for the first, initial emergency response, working in conjunction with all the partners who respond to flooding incidents.”
“The regional community resilience group has been set up, in discussion with other agencies, to see how we can work with other agencies and communities to assist communities in their response to flooding and how they can assist when flooding incidents happen, particularly in the distribution of sandbags etc and in storing sandbags in certain locations so that they are easily accessible. As the Member and everyone else knows, we do not always get significant warning of when a flooding event will take place. It is very difficult to predict where exactly the major flooding incident will take place.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department continues to work closely with the Newry business community to establish a regional community resilience group for them and others to improve preparedness for any future flooding. <BR /> <BR />To alleviate the impacts of flooding from rivers, my Department will continue its inspection and maintenance regime for designated watercourses and associated infrastructure within the Newry and South Armagh catchments. An extensive programme of desilting works is also scheduled to be delivered this financial year in Newry for designated underground culvert infrastructure.”
“The 'Review of South East Flooding Autumn 2023' contains 22 recommendations that cover a range of measures, including the provision of flood forecasting, the development of additional flood risk management infrastructure and further improving communications and resilience. <BR /> <BR />My Department is progressing a study to assess the viability of further flood alleviation measures to reduce flood risk in Newry. The project team is also engaging with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council with a view to potentially accelerating a section of the proposed flood alleviation works through the council’s theatre and conference facility suite.”
“The spillage monitors, which Mrs Dodds referred to, will give us evidence-based information on the areas that are under the most pressure from overflows and spillages. I also hope to be able to invest in a flood forecasting centre for here, which will be hugely beneficial. It is quite a significant investment, but, for our forward work programme, it is something that we have to invest in to ensure that we have a suite of knowledge in front of us that allows us to plan, predict and react in a way that protects homes and businesses moving forward.”
“I have. I have a constant course of engagement and discussion. As I said in answer to one of the previous questions, I am engaging with my Executive colleagues to see if we can have more financial capability in this financial year. I am looking at legislation through a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) Bill. That will be about trying to hold back some of the rainwater and releasing it into the system more slowly so that it does not become overpowered as quickly as it can in some circumstances. I am also looking at developer contributions. That may require legislative change. I am exploring that to see whether it will be part of the suite of solutions that we require to provide a sustainable funding model for NI Water.”
“That 1% to 2% of raw sewage is released into watercourses, which are also heavily influenced by storms, and is therefore further diluted. Every system, no matter how modern and well invested in it is, will have an overspill facility built in.”
“Removing storm overflows completely would cost billions upon billions of pounds and may not be the best, most effective usage of public moneys in that context. There is no question about it: we have to operate and install new waste water treatment works. However, the most efficient waste water treatment works will always have an overflow built into them, because when a deluge of rain comes, the system becomes overpowered and you have to release the water somewhere. If you do not release the water, it will go back up the system and into schools, homes and properties. <BR /> <BR />As I said in my answer to the original question, while the volumes of water that are being released are quite significant, they usually contain between 1% to 2% of raw sewage, which is not ideal. I am not suggesting that that is ideal.”
“I thank the Member. I agree. The Lough Neagh issue is multifaceted. Finger-pointing and blaming will not get us anywhere. We have to identify the issues and find resolutions to them. <BR /> <BR />In regard to my responsibilities as Minister of the sponsoring Department for NI Water, I am working with my Executive colleagues and others to ensure that there is proper funding for NI Water to put in place waste water treatments works and spillage monitors so that we know exactly what is happening and where it is occurring, and to work with others to ensure that we restore Lough Neagh to its full health and well-being.”
“Storm overflows are a critical part of any waste water system, and, during periods of heavy rainfall, are designed to allow diluted sewage to spill into water bodies in accordance with regulations set out by NIEA. Spills from storm overflows are made up of waste water from households and businesses that is heavily diluted by rainwater. The vast majority of what is spilled is made up of rainwater. However, NI Water estimates that approximately 1% to 2% of what is spilled is raw sewage. NI Water publishes on its website information on predicted and actual spill volumes. From the information that NI Water provides on predicted spills into Belfast lough, that 1% to 2% equates to approximately 28,000 cubic metres per year.”
“Schools are a rich source of promoting active travel, if we can provide the proper infrastructure and a safe environment for pupils and parents to walk to and from school. Schools will be a central part of the plan. As I said, I hope to launch that consultation in November, and there will be much discussion. If young people can be encouraged to start walking to and from school, that will set a pattern in life that will, hopefully, stay with them for the remainder of their life. It will be a central part of our active travel strategy.”
“That will happen when we have firm proposals to bring forward. I understand the frustration of elected Members and members of the public, but, changing the traffic going through a town or a village has implications for the roads and networks in and around that town or village. Therefore, we have to rule out taking actions that may have damaging impacts elsewhere on the road network. We want to make sure that, when we take an action, it is the right action. Once we are in a position to ensure that we have a workable proposal to bring forward, we will bring it forward in consultation with local councillors, MLAs and the MP for the area.”
“My message is this: the driver of the vehicle should have been taking all precautions to protect the pedestrians on the footpath. There is no, "I have to mount the footpath". You drive at a speed that is appropriate to the area, and you respect other road users. The Member is pointing his question in the wrong direction. The answer to his question is like the answer to Mr Chambers' question: if you are driving past a primary school or any school, you drive appropriately to ensure that you do not present a danger to other road users.”
“Due to the recent opening of a new Eurospar and the merging of three schools to form Lecale Trinity Grammar School, we have now commissioned further traffic surveys for inclusion in that study to inform other options. After we receive the study's conclusions, my officials will arrange another meeting with district electoral area (DEA) representatives, including MLAs, to discuss a way forward.”
“As the Minister responsible for promoting and improving road safety, I want to work actively with partners to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. I believe that the targeted provision of infrastructure at local schools can go a long way to making our roads and communities safer. <BR /> <BR />I am aware of the ongoing issues at Edward Street, Downpatrick, particularly in the immediate vicinity of Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School. My Department has taken forward a study to establish what options are available to introduce engineering measures to improve road safety and traffic progression along Edward Street in Downpatrick.”
“Yes, and schools struggle with this every day. I am a parent, and I know from going to my local primary school that some of the parking and behaviour, by a minority, is totally unacceptable, and it presents a danger to children leaving and entering that school. I appeal to everyone to be considerate of how they park around our schools and to slow down when passing our schools.”
“I hope to be able to launch our active delivery plan for consultation in November. Links to schools and other attractors are priorities in that plan. Work in the area also includes consideration of measures that can be used in the vicinity of schools, such as we have discussed, to improve the environment for parents and young people, walking, wheeling or cycling. Operations are taking forward pilot projects that will inform the future direction in the area.”
“For Members who are not familiar with the scheme, the School Streets initiative means that a designated street is closed off to all traffic at certain times of the day — obviously, the opening and closure times of the schools. We are looking at it as part of broader work on active travel and how we promote more active travel. Schools are a good example of where and when we can promote active travel, so it is part of that formula, and there will be discussions and consultations around it.”
“I thank the Member for that question. As I said, I want the Committee to be given the opportunity to review the report before I publish it. I expect that to happen within the next number of weeks. The report's findings have been positive, however, and it is good to see such feedback from teachers, pupils and parents in regard to the matter. It raised questions and perhaps even challenges as to how we move forward with the introduction of it, but I will leave that detail to another time.”
“I am pleased to confirm that the review of the part-time 20 mph speed limit at schools initiative, which saw the facility introduced at 216 schools, is complete. I have had the opportunity to consider the review report and am content. However, I want to share the report with the Infrastructure Committee before it is published and have asked officials to make the necessary arrangements. I wish to explore how we introduce 20 mph speed limits in general and have requested a paper from my officials in regard to that matter.”
“We will constantly keep under review any measures we can take to improve road safety, particularly on the A1, given its horrific traffic accident history. As I have said to Members before, the most effective way of improving road safety is changing road user behaviour. We have to ensure that, when we use the road, we act in a way that keeps us and others safe along that road.”
“This has been raised with me on several occasions, and my officials have carried out studies to see whether there is a solution for Royal Hillsborough. We have not as yet found a solution that would not cause significant traffic congestion and disruption on outlying roads. I am due to meet the Member's party colleague, the deputy First Minister, in the coming weeks, and we will have further discussions about it.”
“I am not sure that I can say "regardless of budget", because a procurement exercise is going on and we want to get the best value for the public purse. The current cost estimates for the scheme are around £110 million to £120 million. That will come out of my Department's budget. I have already made a commitment to move ahead with the scheme, and that commitment remains.”
“Construction is planned to begin in February 2026 and continue to completion over the following three years.”
“The proposed A1 junctions phase 2 scheme from Hillsborough to Loughbrickland has been developed to address the most prevalent safety issues on 25 kilometres of the dual carriageway, particularly focusing on the closure of all gaps in the central median, including the installation of a concrete safety barrier, the provision of four grade-separated junctions, the closure of nine minor roads that connect with the A1 and the altering of all remaining roads and accesses to operate on a left in/left out basis only. <BR /> <BR />Preparation for the procurement process is now under way, involving the finalisation of the contract documents in readiness for a formal procurement competition. The process is due to commence next month and last between 12 and 15 months.”
“I dare not rebuke you, given that the Speaker did not. <BR /> <BR />The landslide in the area to which the Member refers is significant. It is another one that requires a significant engineering solution, if one can be found, given the scale of the landslide and the undermining of roadworks in the area. My officials continue to work to see whether we can identify a solution. Both incidents came about as a result of torrential rainfall. We have seen a significant change in the pattern and intensity of our rainfall. That is a reminder of the impact that climate change is having on our society.”
“The Member has raised that issue with me on a number of occasions. We will organise a visit to the site at some stage. The initial landslide was quickly cleared, but there remained a risk because the embankment was unstable. As a result, my Department installed temporary measures. <BR /> <BR />The land in the area is of outstanding natural beauty, with several environmental designations. That restricts the work that can be undertaken. My Department, DAERA, the Forest Service and Environment Agency officials have had regular engagement to progress the matter. Engineers are now content that a temporary solution can be put in place to allow a full recovery of the road. My Department is awaiting environmental approval to proceed with the work.”
“The landslip on the Kilkeel Road in Hilltown is likely to require a complex solution, as the embankment on either side has become unstable. It will therefore take additional time to investigate it thoroughly, complete a design and implement that design. I assure the Member that my Department will continue to prioritise that work to allow two-way traffic as soon as possible.”
“I recognise the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of one lane of the Shore Road, Rostrevor, and the Kilkeel Road, Hilltown, due to landslips caused by the unprecedented weather in November 2023. My Department has appointed a specialist geotechnical engineer to assist in design solutions. However, the scale and complexity of the work required at both locations means that it will take time to deliver permanent and cost-effective solutions. <BR /> <BR />Regarding the A2 Shore Road, a temporary design solution has been developed to allow two-way traffic. We await environmental approvals from NIEA to allow the work to go ahead. Our contractor is ready to carry out the work as soon as approval comes through.”
“Well, I am sure that there are several thousand Translink bus routes. I could stand here all day and read them out, but that would test the patience of the Speaker. I am more than happy to get the information that the Member has requested and forward it to him.”
“The Member will understand that it is difficult for a Minister at Question Time to discuss every bus and Translink route across the country. I am not sure that that would benefit Question Time either. I am more than happy to —”
“I am not aware of the meeting. I am happy to make enquiries to Translink in that regard. As I said, it is an operational decision by Translink. The legislation sets out what is Translink's role and what is my role. While I am happy to follow up on the Member's request, he will understand that it is not my responsibility to manage everything that goes on in Translink day-to-day. I expect it to have good a working relationship with the unions, but that is an ongoing matter between Translink and the unions.”
“It is an operational decision taken by Translink. However, my Department has taken the time to request the information from Translink. Translink has advised that the 10J and 10K services were extended from Glencolin some years ago in order to have a through service from Twinbrook and to replace the original 10E feeder service. Translink recently acknowledged that that model did not work, hence the return to the previous version of the 10J and 10K, with the reinstatement of the 10E service throughout the week.”
“Where there are existing telecommunication masts, we do have permitted development whereby changes can be made without the necessity for a fresh planning application. <BR /> <BR />I mentioned that my officials are involved in the DFI-led barrier busting task force. I have listened to Members' concerns about the failure of that group to meet more regularly. I will play my part to ensure that the group does meet on a more regular basis and that issues that impact on the applicant or community are fully addressed and lessons learned. Where required changes are to be made, I will drive those changes forward to ensure that we have a modern telecommunications system in line with our modern planning policies and principles.”
“The comments from Keith Buchanan were particularly enlightening in respect of more use of poles instead of dedicated masts and perhaps a perception that mobile phone companies are moving away from having masts on private land to where they do not have to pay land rent, which may have an implication for the quality of phone communication in some areas. It has to be said that communications companies are individual companies in their own right, and they will make commercial decisions that they believe to be in the best interests of their company. <BR /> <BR />Concern was raised about applications for individual masts rather than shared masts. There is a belief that there should be more sharing of masts among companies, which would mean not having the same amount of infrastructure spread across the countryside.”
“<BR /> <BR />As has been said, planning authorities rely on the expertise of statutory consultees to ensure that important public interests, such as road safety and environmental impact, are properly taken into account in planning decisions. Many of my ministerial colleagues will, therefore, also have a role in directly contributing to the effectiveness of the planning system. The mobile phone industry has an important role to play in site selection, the quality of applications entering the system, and timely and adequate provision of information. <BR /> <BR />A number of Members made comments about their perception and experience of poor phone communication in certain areas.”