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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“The survey will help to inform the necessary financial planning and prioritisation of the required works.”
“While the results of that survey have not yet been finalised, it is anticipated that they will provide a clearer picture of the extent of the investment required to carry out proactive repairs to prevent incidents such as road collapses in the future.”
“I am very aware of the issues relating to coastal erosion and coastal management not just in the Strangford constituency but across the whole coastline of the North. There is clearly a need to tackle the issues in a more strategic way than has been the case up to now, and I will play my part to help to achieve that. I commend the work of the Ards peninsula coastal erosion group in the Member's constituency in raising the profile of those important issues. <BR /> <BR />I can advise the Member that Transport NI has recently carried out a survey of the Ards peninsula coastline to assess the impact of coastal erosion on sea walls and verges adjacent to the carriageway.”
“It would be remiss of me not to consider it in the future now that the Member has raised it, but we should break away from the notion that, to be successful, we need to have a rail halt at an airport. Dublin Airport has expanded massively in recent years and is a good success, but it does not have a rail halt. Public transport is very important. Translink has a strong bus network that services many of our airports. If passenger numbers remain as they are, that is probably the best way forward for now.”
“As I outlined to Mr Ford, the onus has to be on increasing the passenger capacity of the rail network before we can look at reopening the line.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question and his welcome words. To reopen services on the Knockmore-Antrim line, Translink would need to completely re-signal the line, re-rail it with continuous welded rail, upgrade 23 user work crossings, completely refurbish the halts and, depending on the timetable operated, potentially reinstate a passing loop. It is difficult to cost that work without undertaking a full feasibility study. However, provisionally, Translink estimates that the cost would be in the region of £100 million. Without the relevant passenger numbers, I do not know that that would reflect best value for money.”
“The document identifies possible future new network connections, including reopening the line between Antrim and Knockmore via Crumlin. However, the document suggests that reopening the line is considered a long-term option only.”
“The priorities for investment in our rail network over the next 20 years are contained in the railway investment prioritisation strategy, which was consulted on and published in 2014. While the strategy contains a commitment to explore the potential for establishing a rail link to Belfast International Airport, it was estimated that annual passenger numbers would need to rise to around 10 million to make a rail link economically viable and enable the provision of a regular and frequent service. Passenger numbers throughout 2015 totalled 4·4 million. A network utilisation strategy developed by Translink more recently sets a detailed, costed timetable of potential investment that reflects that strategic decision.”
“As I outlined to Members who asked questions previously, the additional finances will enable us to have a second cut right across the network, which includes the capital city, as the Member put it.”
“As a result of the outcome of June monitoring, Transport NI has been allocated £5 million to enhance routine maintenance services in a number of areas. Not only will a second grass cut happen everywhere, despite the fact that it happened only once last year and not at all the year before, but the majority of potholes will now be repaired and the renewal of road markings will be accelerated. An additional gully clean will be programmed in all urban areas, and the repair of street lighting outages will continue well past the autumn. Weed spraying, none of which was done last year, will also begin again this year.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary and, indeed, for his good stewardship of the Education Committee while he was Chair. <BR /> <BR />Yes, absolutely, I am very prepared to work with anybody who can help us with this. We know that the farming and rural community came to our great aid during the recent winter storms, when snow blighted areas such as mine in south Down. Farmers came to the rescue when they were needed. I know I am due to meet farming representatives over the next few months, and that will certainly be on the agenda.”
“To a large extent, there is work taking place behind the scenes between my Department and other agencies to look after grass cutting. I know that councils sometimes get involved in the amenity areas, and that is something I am more than happy to look at and to extend in the future.”
“<BR /> <BR />Grass-cutting operations carried out by my Department are for road safety reasons and not for cosmetic or amenity purposes. I fully realise that the reduced level of service has had a significant impact on the appearance of our towns and villages and across the road network generally. I hope Members will welcome the restoration of the second grass cut in rural areas. However, within the funding envelope available, it is not possible to reinstate five cuts per year in urban areas, although I note the welcome intervention of some councils to maintain grass in urban areas. <BR /> <BR />I am determined to ensure that my Department delivers an acceptable level of routine maintenance services, and I look forward to continuing positive engagement with Executive colleagues to secure the necessary funding.”
“The provision of grass-cutting services, along with many other routine maintenance activities, has been adversely affected not only by budgetary constraints in my Department over the last two years but as a result of our economic climate, at the behest of Tory Ministers in London. As Members will appreciate, the provision of all public services depends on the availability of funding. The restoration of grass cutting and other maintenance activities to normal levels ultimately depends on the available budget. I am pleased to say that, as a result of the Finance Minister's announcement of an additional resource allocation as part of the June monitoring round, an additional grass cut across all areas will now be undertaken. That means that rural grass verges will be cut twice this year.”
“I thank the Member for her supplementary question. I am, as a local person, well aware of the road safety concerns in recent years for some pedestrians inside and outside the town. Road safety is paramount for my Department, and any plans will take that into consideration.”
“As local MLAs, we know the back roads to avoid the congestion in Ballynahinch town. That is not to suggest that the bypass is not a significant priority for my Department. Whilst it is not a flagship project, it is very important for not only tackling congestion in Ballynahinch town but the wider south Down area. I remain committed to seeing the project through so that, if funds become available, we should be able to progress with it.”
“The Transport NI project development team considered the report and its recommendations and is preparing a report for my consideration, which will be ready later this year. Subject to a satisfactory outcome, my Department will publish the environmental statement and notice of intention to proceed, and it will make the direction order for the proposed scheme.”
“A significant amount of work has been completed on the A24 Ballynahinch bypass to progress the scheme through the preliminary options, preferred option and proposed option scheme assessments. This work enabled publication of the environmental statement, draft direction and draft vesting orders in March 2015. The former Department for Regional Development received a number of objections during the statutory consultation period for the draft orders, and it was determined appropriate to convene a public inquiry to examine the case for and against the proposed scheme. The inquiry was held on 26 and 27 January this year. The inspector's report of the inquiry was subsequently received in March 2016.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. Some of the safety measures that I outlined in my initial answer to Mr Aiken included some of those measures, such as the puffin crossings at Mossley Primary School and Ballynure Road in Ballyclare, traffic calming measures on Avondale Drive in Ballyclare, a collision remedial scheme on Doagh Road and general traffic management measures, such as pedestrian refuge, footway upgrades, bus measures and traffic signal upgrades. I am not aware of the particular issue that the Member raised, but I am more than happy to sit down with him and other Members to discuss some of those concerns.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. As I outlined in my previous answer, I am more than happy to meet with any Members who have innovative ideas and approaches to the situation. Our options and the number of places where we might be able to look for alternative finance may be limited, on the back of decisions last week. As I said in my previous answer, I am more than happy to sit down with the Member and discuss some of those ideas.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary, and, indeed, for his kind words. I think that it is important that all Ministers, especially in light of the decision taken last week, are innovative and think outside of the box when looking at funding arrangements. <BR /> <BR />The Ballyclare bypass, or western relief road, is identified in the Belfast metropolitan transport plan as being required to support development proposals in the area. Therefore, it is termed a developer-driven road, and it is the responsibility of developers to build it. As such, the Ballyclare relief road will not be funded from the public purse and is not programmed for delivery by my Department.”
“These will include the provision of new puffin crossing facilities at Mossley Primary School and Ballynure Road, Ballyclare, and a collision remedial scheme at Doagh Road in Newtownabbey. Plans are being prepared for the upgrade of the Doagh Road/Station Road/O’Neill Road junction at Cloughfern in Newtownabbey; the widening of the Manse Road between Prince William Way and Carnmoney Road North; the widening of the Hydepark Road in the vicinity of Boghill Road and provision of a footway on Carntall Road, all in Newtownabbey; and the provision of a footway at Shore Road, Toome. <BR /> <BR />Details of all work being carried out by Transport NI in the mid and east Antrim area can be found in Transport NI’s annual report to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, which is now available on the departmental website.”
“As the Member will be aware, at the end of last year, the £133 million A8 dualling scheme between Belfast and Larne was completed, which represents one of the largest investments in the road infrastructure in the North in recent years. I am also pleased to confirm plans to resurface the A8 between Corr’s Corner roundabout and Houstons Corner roundabout on the outskirts of Newtownabbey. The scheme is expected to cost in the region of £900,000 and will include an overlay of the existing carriageway and the creation of a new pedestrian and cycle path on the southbound side that will link into the national cycle network. The scheme is out to tender and expected to commence on-site later in the summer. <BR /> <BR />I can also confirm plans to invest £130,000 in local transport and safety measures in the South Antrim area this financial year.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He mentioned the tight economic times in which we operate, and, despite us having a number of very worthwhile projects in the planning process and going through different stages, inevitably, our ability to deliver some of them will come down to hard cash. I outlined that construction work on the A6 is due to commence later this summer. I hope that construction on the A5, following the Planning Appeals Commission inquiry, will begin at a similar time next year. The Magherafelt bypass is nearing completion. A number of large road schemes are taking place and, as moneys become available, that will continue.”
“Subject to the satisfactory conclusion of these discussions, and DOF approval of the business case, construction should get under way in late summer 2016.”
“I thank the Member for her kind words. We are taking on two major dualling projects on the A6: the Randalstown to Castledawson scheme and the Derry to Dungiven scheme. The 15-kilometre Randalstown to Castledawson scheme comprises two sections of dual carriageway either side of the Toome bypass. Detailed design is ongoing, as are discussions with the appointed contractors regarding agreeing a target cost.”
“Work on the construction of Magherafelt bypass began in May 2015. Whilst progress on the bypass was initially hindered by inclement weather after construction began in May 2015, the recent spell of good weather has been timely and enabled the earthworks element of the works to be completed. The overbridges and drainage are also almost complete, and the side roads have been reopened to traffic. Pavement construction is well under way, and approximately 30% of the carriageway has been laid. Work to create new roundabouts at Moneymore Road and Aughrim Road is nearing completion, and work on a new roundabout on Ballyronan Road is scheduled to commence in July. It is anticipated that the new road will be open to traffic in October 2016.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I can certainly give guarantees that the Dungiven bypass, as with the dualling works on the A6, remains a priority for me and my Department in this mandate. As I outlined to Mr Robinson, the money is not there at this time to do this project, but there may be other engineering solutions that we are prepared to look at.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary. As the Member will know, the scheme looks to provide more than 2·4 kilometres of overtaking opportunity. I am led to believe by officials who have been looking at the road that this may be possible without going for the full extent of the scheme outlined in plans previously. We are prepared to have a look at it because the Member is right in saying that there are obvious opportunities and benefits for that area from a scheme like this.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department remains committed to improving connections for people and goods and services, and I have already stated my commitment to two of the Executive's flagship projects to improve road connections to the north-west. As such, my Department is pressing ahead with the plans for dualling of parts of the A6 and dualling of the A5. Currently, no funding is available for this project. However, a climbing lane at this location has benefits and will, therefore, be considered further should further funding become available.”
“A proposal to provide a climbing lane on the A37 Broad Road at Gortcorbies between Limavady and Coleraine has been developed by my Department. This project envisages the construction of a new road just to the north of the existing road to deliver a 2·4-kilometre length of climbing lane, providing a positive overtaking opportunity that would reduce queues and the potential for collisions caused by driver frustration. The scheme would complement the existing lane on the Coleraine side of the mountain. As the House will be aware, all capital road improvement schemes must compete for funding alongside other Executive priorities. I must, therefore, prioritise spending on those areas with the greatest need.”
“<BR /> <BR />I assure all Members here this evening that Altamuskin, Aghyaran and Binnafreaghan are just as important to me and the Government as Belfast and Bangor. It is a message that should go out to the people of West Tyrone, and, hopefully over the next five years, they will see that in action.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am fully aware of the issues being raised by rural communities on the number of potholes and the lack of grass cutting and maintenance of gullies and drainage. I recognise the concerns that Members have raised here today, and I hope that the outcome of the June monitoring will go a long way to addressing some of those concerns. As Minister for Infrastructure, I want to support rural communities. As Mr McElduff said at the outset, this is more about people than about roads. My Department's responsibilities, linking directly to the Programme for Government around connectivity, are about tackling rural isolation. Talking about connectivity between rural communities is so relevant.”
“A message probably to get out is that we have an issue in a lot of our rural communities; it is not unique to West Tyrone. There are areas of south Down and right across the North where it is true. You mentioned some innovative initiatives that I am more than happy to come back to you and talk about. No doubt your experience in community transport is vital in discovering and putting together some of those ideas. <BR /> <BR />As we go forward, budgets will remain tight, so we must show innovation and look at community-style initiatives. Engineering solutions will be the way we get around this. I think there is an appetite for doing that and an appetite from the public to give us a bit of space to allow us to develop that sort of approach.”
“The pressures on resource funding have led to some positive new approaches to road maintenance within Transport NI to improve efficiency; for example, we now have the new NI Direct online system, where members of the public can report issues online. Transport NI has also been working with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on the Don't Mow, Let it Grow initiative to promote biodiversity in areas where grass cutting is not seen as essential. On the engineering side, more and more shorter machine-laid resurfacing schemes are being implemented to target problem areas, and new deferred-set materials are being used by operations and maintenance staff for emergency pothole repairs. <BR /> <BR />I concur with the Member for Strangford on the roads on the peninsula, having often gone from Kircubbin to Newtownards.”
“Only the highest-priority potholes — those greater than 100 mm deep — are being repaired on rural low-traffic roads. Following today's announcement by the Finance Minister of additional road maintenance funding in June monitoring, I have asked officials to immediately enhance grass cutting, gully emptying and the repair of potholes right across the North. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that reduced levels of maintenance have had a negative impact on the network, and this is now being seen in West Tyrone and other areas. The majority of routine maintenance services are currently being provided by in-house operations and maintenance staff.”
“Those pressures have been present since August 2014, and, since then, the Department has been unable to provide normal levels of routine maintenance. At present, grass verges, for example, are cut only once.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members can be assured that I will work with Executive Colleagues to enhance structural maintenance funding during this year in order to invest further in structural maintenance for roads in rural areas. I am pleased that the Finance Minister has announced additional funding for road maintenance in the June monitoring round today. That was very welcome. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to resource funding, which covers the delivery of day-to-day maintenance services, such as pothole repairs, grass cutting, gully emptying, street lighting repairs, the winter service and bridge maintenance, which have all featured in the debate this evening. As Members will be well aware, the Department faced budgetary pressures on resource funding in previous years.”
“Structural maintenance is an excellent example of what was referred to earlier as "A stitch in time saves nine", as early intervention prevents long-term degradation of the network. The current structural maintenance budget for the western division of Transport NI is £17 million, which will deliver significant road improvements in 2016-17 in the division, including large parts of West Tyrone. That is significantly better than the starting position in 2015-16 and an investment that will make a difference to those rural communities. It is also an investment that will be welcomed by the local quarrying industry. It will deliver over 400 kilometres of surface dressing on the rural network in West Tyrone over the summer months, together with a number of resurfacing schemes.”
“In starting my response, I should explain that the West Tyrone constituency, as many here will know, lies within Transport NI's western division. It comprises all of Omagh, from within the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area, and Strabane, from within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. My Department is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the road network and delivering services through capital and resource-funded programmes. <BR /> <BR />I turn first to capital programmes. Capital structural maintenance programmes, such as resurfacing, surface dressing and drainage activities, provide good value interventions that protect the long-term integrity of the road network.”
“I start by congratulating the Member for West Tyrone, Barry McElduff, for securing the debate. He promised me that he had tabled it before I came into post, so I am happy to believe him on that. I concur with many tonight that it was a prominent issue during the last election. As someone who represents a rural constituency, South Down, I am only too aware of a lot of the issues, especially connectivity in rural areas and rural isolation. I have a lot of sympathy with the concerns that have been raised, and it is something that I want to take forward as I look into the post. <BR /> <BR />A network of some 23,000 kilometres of B, C and U roads connects our rural communities. Often, they are colloquially termed "rural roads".”
“I look forward to working with the Assembly and the industry in taking those proposals forward. <BR /> <BR />A LeasCheann Comhairle, I have asked my officials to take note of the Hansard report of the debate. If I have not addressed any points that have been raised by Members during the debate that fall within my remit, I will write to them in response.”
“Permitted development legislation also includes conditions regarding reinstatement of the land, including that, within 28 days of the cessation of operations, the borehole shall be adequately sealed, any structures and waste material removed and the land restored. <BR /> <BR />Given the short remaining time frame for the Woodburn development to operate within the permitted development framework and the fact that jurisdiction for this matter is the responsibility of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, there are very limited opportunities for me to act in this case. However, the case has highlighted to me the need for change. I am very conscious of the need to ensure that permitted development rights are fit for today's purpose. That is why, today, I have proposed changes to permitted development rights.”
“NI Water has also ensured that the portion of the Woodburn north river that is within the catchment area of the drill site is not currently flowing into any of its reservoirs. While NI Water is of the opinion that the project is well designed and well managed, this is a belt-and-braces approach to provide further reassurance to the public. NI Water is satisfied that the proposed work will have no detrimental impact on the impounding reservoirs or the public water supply. <BR /> <BR />Clearly, the ongoing work at Woodburn has generated significant public concern. However, one of the key restrictions to the permitted development for mineral exploration requires that development does not exceed a period of four months. I am advised that this time restriction will expire in a few weeks, in early July.”
“NI Water also works closely with NIEA to minimise any potential impacts on drinking water quality and monitors risks as part of the drinking water safety plan process. <BR /> <BR />Before entering into the agreement with InfraStrata, NI Water gave careful consideration to the protection of the water supply in the catchment area of the site. The exploration project at Woodburn has been designed as a zero discharge site. This was achieved through the development of a fully bunded site, lined with a specialised geosynthetic clay liner that prevents liquids on site from soaking into the ground below. In addition, NI Water has taken further precautions to allay concerns that the public may have and has put in place increased monitoring of raw water at all reservoirs in the catchment area and at the associated water treatment works.”
“If InfraStrata wishes to move ahead with oil production, the agreement allows for InfraStrata to exercise an option for a long-term lease. However, that option is only exercisable if InfraStrata receives full planning permission for the production well and any associated infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />As previously referred to, there are other regulatory safeguards in place relating to pollution control, groundwater regulation and water abstraction practices. NI Water has in place drinking water safety plans for all its water treatment works and supply areas. Those plans identify the potential risks in the catchment and, where needed, put in place any appropriate mitigation measures and controls to protect drinking water quality.”
“That agreement allows for the construction of an access road and the drilling of an exploration well.”
“<BR /> <BR />If the company finds oil and gas deposits from its current exploratory work and wishes to extract them, it will need to apply for full planning permission to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, or to my Department if the amount extracted exceeds 500 tons per day in the case of petroleum or 500,000 cubic metres per day in the case of gas. If the proposal involves the extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons, the application will be regionally significant development and will be considered by my Department. <BR /> <BR />A number of issues have also been raised about the impact of the exploratory borehole on the water supply. NI Water owns the land at Woodburn forest and has entered into an exploration agreement with InfraStrata.”
“In the case of the InfraStrata proposals, an EIA determination was carried out, which concluded that the proposed development did not need to be accompanied by an environmental statement and, therefore, that planning permission would not be required. InfraStrata was advised of that in December 2013. <BR /> <BR />Following the transfer of planning powers in April 2015, the jurisdiction for the proposal moved to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. It is understood that the council sought legal opinion on the project and was similarly of the opinion that the operations were indeed permitted development. Members should note that the council's procedures in respect of Woodburn are the subject of a legal challenge. In that regard, it is not appropriate for me to comment further on those matters.”
“Such activity will be subject to the full planning application process as well as the relevant EIA, licensing and environmental permitting arrangements. <BR /> <BR />In April 2015, the vast majority of planning powers transferred to local government. Therefore, for over a year, the planning responsibilities at Woodburn have been a matter for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. Up to that point, the former DOE had responsibility to consider permitted development notifications. In August 2013, InfraStrata submitted a permitted development notification to DOE detailing its intention to carry out an exploratory borehole in Woodburn forest. In addition to the provisions of the permitted development legislation, environmental impact assessment regulations require consideration.”