Chris Hazzard
South Down · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The order I am bringing forward extends the power for my Department to pay a grant to NI Water in lieu of domestic water charges. The current powers to pay a grant will expire on 31 March 2017, and the Water and Sewerage Services Act 2016, which was passed by the Assembly in January last year, provided the power to extend that date by an…”
“I thank those Members who have commented on the motion this evening. Some general issues and several specific points have been raised. <BR /> <BR />I will turn first to Mr Farry's question: why, for the period of time?”
“I am delighted that the Alliance argument around water charges does not chime with more of the electorate and that the particular reason does not hold sway, because this Executive certainly are not for turning on this issue. There will be no water charges for domestic customers, and we have ensured that.”
“<BR /> <BR />The second point that Mr Farry raised was around governance issues and the way forward. They are all issues that I have given thought to and that, I have no doubt, would have featured in the mandate in the time ahead, but we are not at that point today. The Assembly is about to be dissolved.”
“However, the imminent dissolution of the Assembly means I have decided to bring the draft order here today. <BR /> <BR />The grant provides NI Water with the funding to enable it to maintain drinking water supplies and deliver sewerage services.”
“I believe that this order will reinforce the Executive's commitment not to bring in water charging for households, and I thank the Members for their support.”
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“<BR /> <BR />There are a number of public transport options for those travelling to and from Belfast International Airport, including to the centre of Belfast. Those include the designated 300 bus service, which operates 50 times each day, seven days a week and with a frequency of 20 minutes at peak times. It is a reflection of the flexibility and quality of that service that, last year, it carried nearly 500,000 passengers between Belfast city centre and the airport. With a fast journey time of 30 minutes and high passenger numbers, it is not a wonder that Translink plans to invest in new double-decker vehicles for that route, adding passenger capacity. <BR /> <BR />In promoting the use of public transport and enhancing access, there appear to be obvious merits in introducing a rail link to the International Airport.”
“Achieving modal shift from the car to our bus or rail services for longer journeys and to walking or cycling for shorter journeys will reduce demand on the road network, which will allow it to work more efficiently, assist in the better movement of freight, reduce emissions and improve health by increasing levels of physical activity. It will also address key barriers to accessing social, employment and other opportunities for those who do not have access to a private vehicle. In that context, I am determined to continue to enhance public transport links to our airports, but it is important that we do so in a way that genuinely improves the opportunities available to those travelling to and from our airports.”
“Alongside the delivery of the A5, I see that as a key to unlocking the economic potential of the west and delivering on our ambitions for more balanced regional growth. Investing in our road infrastructure will not, however, do that on its own. It needs to be part of a more integrated package across government. It also needs to be accompanied by measures that enhance access to and promote the greater use of public transport, including for those accessing the airport. <BR /> <BR />The need to enhance connectivity, with a particular focus on increasing the numbers using public transport, is a key outcome in the Executive's draft Programme for Government. We have been very careful about how we have defined that because, ultimately, it is not about building roads or investing in rail and buses; it is about connecting people and opportunities.”
“<BR /> <BR />Over recent years, the Assembly has supported the Executive in delivering a significant programme of investment that has aimed to enhance regional access, including to Belfast International Airport. That has included dual carriageway provision on the A4 west of Dungannon and the A1 around the south of Newry, as well as the widening of the M1 Westlink and M2. By enhancing access to Belfast International Airport, those have helped to reduce the time and cost of travel for businesses and communities across the North. I and my Executive colleagues are determined to continue to build on that. The Executive's commitment to deliver the £258 million upgrade of the A6 will address the historical underinvestment in that corridor and significantly enhance access to the International Airport from the north-west.”
“<BR /> <BR />While it is not the subject of today's motion, it is important to acknowledge that the connections that our airports and ports provide will be increasingly important in creating the conditions for prosperity and key to our ability to compete in a global, skills-based and innovative economy, not simply for markets but for investment and talent. Of course, it is not just the overseas connections from our airports and ports that are important. Connections to our airports and ports in the North are critical. For me, this is the core issue of today's motion, because, in tabling the motion, my colleagues are not seeking a rail link for its own sake; it is about realising their ambitions and mine for improving access to our key gateways for all parts of the North.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention, although it is not entirely relevant to the subject. Let the Member be under no misunderstanding — I suppose that it goes back to the motion — it is not that the Executive simply do not look at these issues. They are looked at regularly and are constantly under review. It is not the case that this is news out of the blue. I daily put our airports, ports and connectivity at the forefront of the agenda, and the Executive have them on their radar. Rest assured that there will be plenty of commentary about that specific issue over the next number of days. I hope that that reassures you.”
“I thank the Members on the Benches opposite for tabling the motion. As part of a small island off mainland Europe, we are entirely reliant on our airports and ports to access key markets and destinations, whether for pleasure, business, education or simply to visit family and friends. We are fairly unique in that regard, and that is reflected in the fact that we have significantly more air passengers relative to our population than anywhere else on these islands.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I said earlier, I am not suggesting that this will be the only roads maintenance that will take place. There is £54 million set aside for structural maintenance, and that will continue in all other areas.”
“I am more than happy to do that. Allocations will be made using a range of weighted indicators that are based on the number of defects, the number of public liability claims and the carriageway area, together with the road condition from various surveys. I go back to the fact that our divisional managers know their areas very well. They are the guys who will take the lead on it and will know where that investment is needed in local areas.”
“The June monitoring round allowed us to secure a number of resources to deal with some of the roads that had been damaged by flooding. I know that particular works are already under way in Fermanagh, and that may be the case in point that you have raised. If there are roads in need — and I think this should be stressed — it will be the areas that are in greatest need that will receive the money. I am more than happy to meet the Member to discuss that in further detail.”
“No. There is an insatiable appetite for these sort of works throughout the North, and I do not think that it will present any sort of challenge in that way. We are more than happy to look at the contractor issue if it arises, but I do not believe that it will be a problem.”
“Go raibh maith agat for the question. I will indeed. Our divisional managers and teams are the experts when it comes to this. I want to give them the flexibility and room to be able to spend the money as they see fit. They are the guys on the ground who know where that money is needed, and I am happy to give them that level of autonomy when it comes to that sort of money. In the months ahead, I certainly think that local communities will see a benefit, and that is a positive in the round.”
“I am happy to give a guarantee to the extent that there is the need to address an imbalance. For so long, our heavier-traffic roads have got priority, so there has been a need to do this, and I think that there will be an ongoing need. These are additional funds, which are not taking away from the level of spend that we will be carrying out anyway. As I say, the high-priority cases are very often heavier-traffic roads in urban areas and our busier rural roads.”
“Simply spending money on pothole repair is not good in the long term. It is not a good way in which to spend our money. That is why I hope that the likes of this scheme can be more strategic and be more than simply throwing a bit of tar into the odd pothole.”
“I thank the Member for her questions and her kind remarks at the start. After speaking to divisional managers this morning, I have no doubt that they will come under an onslaught of requests from Members about their areas. I make a plea to let them get out and get the work done and for us not to have the onslaught so quickly. That will become apparent in the weeks ahead, through the recess and into September. I will be more than happy to engage with the Committee again if that is the case. <BR /> <BR />I agree entirely about the need for more strategic investment in our rural roads and in our roads in general. We were in Rotterdam this week looking at various ways in which Europe can play a role. This is topical given the recent referendum, but we need to find innovative and more strategic ways to invest in our rural roads.”
“Funding will not be broken down into constituencies, as you would expect. Southern division, which covers a lot of that area, will receive a substantial amount of the £10 million, as will the western division. They have a high density of rural roads. I expect that the Newry and Armagh constituency, like my constituency of South Down and those in the west of the Province, which have such a high density of rural roads, will receive a substantial amount of this money.”
“I hope that, as some have said, people will see the tar men out on the roads starting to get into it. I said during the Adjournment debate on West Tyrone that places such as Aghyaran and Edendarriff in our rural communities are as important to me as Derry and Belfast, and I hope that today goes some way to illustrating that that is the case.”
“I hope that they will see differences as soon as possible. We have given the instruction to start looking at the work immediately. The summer months present the best opportunity to get value for money when it comes to resurfacing projects.”
“I thank the Chair for his question. It is £10 million in addition to the £5 million that was previously allocated to deal with road maintenance. The £10 million will be spread across the North and targeted at the areas of greatest need. Depending on the work that needs to be done and the high density of rural roads in some parts compared to others, where there is greatest need, resources will be skewed.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, in relation to the impact of the British referendum on the so-called Brexit, the initiative deals with rural roads and, to a large extent, our comprehensive roads network. To a large extent, such roads would not be reliant on European money, so the money to deal with them is strictly from our own budget.”
“I thank the Member for her list of questions. I will start by saying that the £5 million that I announced for road maintenance as part of the June monitoring round a couple of weeks ago will deal with the majority of potholes. The investment that we are announcing is more strategic, and the experts have told us to have a more stitch-in-time-saves-nine approach to it. As you said, £10 million is only a start. I would love to be announcing £100 million or £200 million, and I am sure that the Health Minister would rather have £50 billion than £5 billion, but we are dealing with reality. I think that this is a good start. It is something that I hope we can build on, going forward.”
“<BR /> <BR />In addition to resurfacing, the funding will allow for some road drainage enhancements on rural roads and a reasonable level of pre-surface dressing patching in advance of next year’s surface dressing programme. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the House will welcome this initiative. I want to be a listening Minister, and I want to be prepared to take action where it is needed. I have listened to the concerns about the condition of rural roads, and, today, I am taking action.”
“The £10 million will deliver up to 1,000 small-scale resurfacing schemes on short lengths of rural roads with high numbers of potholes. The schemes will start immediately so that the benefits will be realised as early as possible. Improving these roads will make a real difference to the lives of those living in rural communities. I have asked my officials to identify the sections in greatest need and to start work as soon as possible. <BR /> <BR />Rural constituencies right across the North will soon be able to see the benefits. The initiative will not, of course, solve all the problems on our roads, but I believe that it is a very positive measure to address a clear need.”
“Over recent years, resource funding pressures required the former Department for Regional Development to reduce significantly its routine road maintenance activities. Resources, by necessity, were concentrated on urban and rural roads with heavier traffic. This meant that more roads did not receive the same level of maintenance as in previous years. <BR /> <BR />On 14 June, the Finance Minister announced the outcome of June monitoring. As a result of the capital allocation to my Department, I am pleased to be able to announce to the House today that the £10 million rural roads initiative will be launched. The rural roads initiative will target sections of the network in greatest need of repair, with the £10 million funding targeted at the areas of greatest need right across the four Transport NI divisions.”
“<BR /> <BR />People and communities rely on the rural roads network to do business, go to work, go to school and socialise. Rural roads are the connections that enable people to live their lives and help to reduce isolation. Many rural communities are isolated enough without having to endure the additional difficulties imposed by inadequate road conditions. People living in rural areas are just as important to me and my Executive colleagues as those who live in cities and larger towns. Over this mandate, they will see action that reflects this assurance. <BR /> <BR />Today, I am taking action to address the concerns of rural communities. I am announcing a rural roads initiative to address maintenance backlogs.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will certainly bear that in mind. I hope that broadcasting institutions will also bear in mind the importance of embargoes. Perhaps we could all get together in future on these sorts of issues. <BR /> <BR />As a Minister who represents the rural constituency of South Down, I am only too aware of the issues being raised about the maintenance of our rural roads network: maintenance issues gleaned from talking and listening to people and communities on the ground; the frustrations and annoyances of rural communities having to tolerate the inconvenience, and even the potential dangers, of the poor condition of many rural roads; the number of potholes, the time taken to repair them and the resultant damage to vehicles; and the general inconvenience caused.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As is the case in many Departments, funding is an issue that will constantly be on the table. Whilst the A5 and A6 are not heavily reliant upon European funding, last week's decision will make funding a number of projects a lot more difficult for my Department. I am content that the A5 and A6 are not reliant upon this scheme of money, and they certainly remain a priority for me and my Department in the years ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />Four public exhibitions on the scheme proposals were held in March 2016, with more than 1,000 registered attendees. My Department also received almost 1,000 formal representations on the proposals. A public inquiry to be administered by the Planning Appeals Commission is due to commence on 4 October. The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) has arranged a pre-inquiry meeting for this Wednesday, 29 June, in Omagh. The PAC will report on the inquiry around May 2017. Subject to successful completion of all the statutory processes and satisfactory outcome of the PAC inquiry, it is hoped that construction can begin in late 2017.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I very much enjoyed presenting to the Chamber of Commerce in Derry. It was a very worthwhile venture to speak at and to give assurance to people of the north-west that they will remain a priority and that a priority of mine will be to address the infrastructural deficit west of the Bann. <BR /> <BR />As far as the A5 is concerned, in February 2016, the then DRD published draft statutory orders and a new environmental statement for the A5 scheme. Draft vesting orders and a direction order were published for sections between New Buildings and Ballygawley. The orders for the section between Ballygawley and the border at Aughnacloy are not being taken forward at this stage until we have confirmed details of the link with the N2 at the border.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary. It is thought that the first cut will be complete in the next few weeks. We have had a period of very wet and hot weather, which provide perfect growing conditions and increase the amount of time that it takes to get around that. As far as I am aware, the weed spraying will begin in the few short weeks ahead.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It enables us to do a second cutting. When road safety comes into view, if you excuse the pun, everything else is secondary. Road safety is paramount for my Department. While we are looking to do second cuttings, we will cut sight lines and pull them back when necessary as often as possible.”
“Thank you for your supplementary question. Access to land will be required in some cases, but, with a fair wind, I expect that works on the ground will be carried out in late summer and early autumn.”
“<BR /> <BR />All schemes require an element of design, in particular the highest priority scheme on the B127 Newbridge Road, Lisnaskea, near the Share centre, where a piled reinforced concrete slab solution is now being developed.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am pleased to advise that funding has been allocated to my Department as part of the June monitoring round to enable five flooding relief schemes to be delivered in Fermanagh this financial year. The five schemes are: the B127 Newbridge Road, Lisnaskea; the B533 Wattlebridge Road, Newtownbutler, at Derrykerrib; the C436 Inishmore Road; the C444 Boho Road; and the U6525 Wellington Road. The first three schemes are on key roads from one side of Lough Erne to the other. The other two locations are routes prioritised on the basis of inconvenience caused. The schemes are considered to deliver the greatest benefit to the wider community.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. Let me make it very clear: if there are lessons to be learned in this regard, I will make sure that those lessons are learned for everybody involved. I am more than confident in the Department's procurement processes. I will look again at this issue with officials to see what can be gleaned in the short term so that long-term practices are what the public require.”
“I thank the Member for his question and indeed his kind welcome. My Department was disappointed with the outcome of that particular case, but I do not think that it is appropriate to say any more at this time.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary. Indeed, he is right. He will be well aware of the problem of HGVs not only in Edward Street but in Fountain Street. Edward Street will be key to the solution going forward. I would like to give the Member the assurance that this is a very important problem that I want to address in the years ahead. Again, I am more than happy to meet him to discuss this in person.”
“Transport NI has recently undertaken a full consultation process with key stakeholders and two public information events for the general public. I am pleased to advise that all events attracted considerable interest, allowing the Department to fully engage with elected representatives and the public on the various traffic-management proposals currently being considered. Full consideration is now being given to the key findings and recommendations of the report and also the feedback received at these events in order to decide how the Department should proceed with its plans to improve traffic progression and road safety in Downpatrick.”
“I thank the Member for his question and indeed for his kind welcome. I extend a welcome to the House to him. I hope that, as two constituency MLAs, we can work together on a number of issues. <BR /> <BR />I was well aware of the need for the transportation study before I came into this post, but certainly, since my coming into post, it is something that has been on my desk. As you will know, my Department commissioned consultants to review the numerous transport studies that have been carried out over the years for Downpatrick town centre, including the Down District Council's town master plan, and to advise the Department on the best way forward to manage traffic progression through the town. This review has now been completed.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. However, there is such an organisation. It is something that the previous infrastructure Minister, Michelle McIlveen, kicked off; the coastal management forum. I will have further discussions with her on that with regard to which Department takes the lead or has the greater focus. I actually like the idea of the two Departments working together on this. There are infrastructural concerns, but there are also environmental concerns. I think that both Departments can come together and provide more strategic solutions to the problems.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I have spoken to officials about this since coming into post, and I share the Member's concerns. I am not up to date with all the science in this regard, but, despite the fact that the sea level is rising incrementally around Ireland, it is the case that the earth's crust is also slightly rising, which is perhaps buying us time. Whether in Belfast or the west of Ireland, this is an issue that we need to grapple with and that the Executive and the Assembly need to take control of, and we need to do so in a more strategic fashion.”
“The Member is right: while money is needed for road safety concerns, investing it in fixing potholes is not the best way to spend it. "A stitch in time" is definitely the best way of looking at the issue. If we can, in any way, increase not just road maintenance but road resurfacing in a more strategic fashion right across our network, including our rural roads, that will be of benefit to us all.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I do not have that detail in front of me. Due to the economic situation in recent years, our resource budgets — certainly for maintenance — have not been what we wanted. There is no doubt that claims are higher than we want to pay. The Member mentioned rural roads in particular, and, since coming into post, I have focused on the need to look at the rural road network. I hope that that can be addressed with an initiative in the very near future.”
“I will, perhaps, correct the Member: I did not reject the idea of a halt at City of Derry Airport; I said that it would be remiss of me if I did not look into it. Hansard will correct the Member on that. My Department remains in negotiations over the purchase of a site, and it would be remiss of me, as Minister, to come down in favour of one site or the other when negotiations are ongoing. I remain committed to the transformation of the transport network in the north-west. We will see a 21st-century transport hub develop in Derry, and I am committed to that, despite the fact that the recent Brexit vote makes investment in a lot of our projects across the North that little bit more difficult. On my watch, a transport hub in Derry remains a priority.”
“I thank the Member for his question and for his welcome. He would need to get in touch with the Queen's diary secretary to find out why she is travelling to a particular place.”
“As already outlined, this additional finance enables us to run a maintenance service up to the end of the year, when the 2% of street lighting will be dealt with in adequate time.”
“As I stated in my original answer, repairs are being carried out as normal. In the last 12 months, my Department has received reports of 48,000 street light outages, of which 42,500 have already been repaired. The number of street lights awaiting repair is approximately 2%, so we are operating a normal service. Perhaps the Member should take stock of the improvements since his party colleague was in position, when the grass could not be cut and the street lights could not be kept on.”
“I have allocated £0·5 million of the additional resource funding that my Department received in the June monitoring round to bolster my Department’s street lighting maintenance service. The new allocation is in addition to the initial £1 million budget that had already been allocated for routine street lighting maintenance in 2016-17. In street lighting, routine maintenance covers activities such as the repair of outages, underground cable faults and safety defects. At present, a full street lighting maintenance service is being provided. Repairs are being carried out as normal by the Department’s external contractors and by Transport NI’s in-house operation and maintenance staff.”
“I thank the Member for her interest and work on the issue; I know that it is close to her heart. I guarantee that, if those issues are not included in the survey, I will certainly want to look at them afterwards. As I have previously outlined, innovative solutions will have to be a part of this. There are research and development projects into how, for example, tyres can be used to offset coastal erosion. Planting specific plants along our coastline can also play a very important role. If those solutions are not included in the survey, it is a piece of work that I will be keen to do afterwards.”
“I thank the Member for his kind remarks. I do not know when the survey will be complete; I expect it will be later this year. It is something that, as a Member for South Down and someone who has worked on enhancing and protecting our coastline, I will take very seriously. I have had initial discussions with the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Michelle McIlveen, a constituency colleague of yours from that part of the world. It is something that we are keen to work on together as coastal erosion and the need for innovative and strategic solutions become a bigger problem every day.”