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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“I have yet to see studies, reports or evidence that lead me to believe that we should do one thing or another and it is something that I want to address.”
“<BR /> <BR />Turning to the review of the parking enforcement contract; the current contract with NSL Services for the provision of parking enforcement and car park management services commenced on 30 October 2012 for an initial four-year term and has recently been extended by mutual agreement for a further three years. That contract does not affect any decision my Department may take in the future relating to the cost of a PCN, on-street parking tariffs or limited waiting times. <BR /> <BR />Turning to comments made by Members today, William Humphrey, in a gallant effort to step in for Edwin Poots who was due to kick off today's session, mentioned traders. It is an emotive issue that comes up time and again, but we need to look at evidence.”
“For the enforcement of any system that enables free parking for the first 30 minutes to be effective, traffic attendants would be required to return to each street on multiple occasions to carry out checks on each vehicle to determine the validity of its parking status. This would be detrimental to our ability to meet all the enforcement demands across each CPZ and in other critical situations which rely on parking enforcement, such as urban clearways and arterial routes. Offering free on-street parking in this way would also create a negative impact as a result of drivers circling the controlled parking zones to avoid parking in charged off-street car parks where the 30-minute free parking rate would not apply.”
“When patrolling the streets in a controlled parking zone, traffic attendants must check each parked vehicle for evidence of a valid parking ticket ie that a pay-and-display ticket has not expired or that it has an equivalent cashless parking session logged. This involves traffic attendants making a single pass of each street as they continue to patrol the remainder of their beat. Then, as part of the cyclical process, they will repeat this process later in the day to deal with any vehicles with expired parking time and record details of any newly parked vehicles. <BR /> <BR />The success of any restricted parking facility relies on effective parking enforcement.”
“The pay-and-display machines currently in use in our controlled parking zones cannot be configured to allow the tariffs to be charged in this way as they are not designed to accommodate a multi-layered range of tariffs. To carry out parking enforcement for any system introduced that offers the first 30 minutes of parking free would be extremely resource-intensive. This is because traffic attendants would be required to undertake a series of additional observations to enable them to determine the validity of parking times being claimed. <BR /> <BR />Currently, traffic attendants patrol streets in controlled parking zones two or three times per day by adhering to predetermined schedules known as beats. Each beat has been designed to optimise the resources available to obtain maximum efficiency and effectiveness.”
“Indications are that this charge is having the desired effect of discouraging people from parking illegally, as the numbers of PCNs issued per annum has declined. The overall trend of the number of PCNs issued has been downwards, even though car and van ownership continues to increase, and that is an indication that the deterrent nature of the cost of a PCN is having a positive effect. The number of penalty charge notices issued has fallen from an all-time high of 163,000 in 2007 to 110,000 in 2015, despite the number of vehicles rising in that same period by up to 5%. <BR /> <BR />The area in which on-street charges apply is called a controlled parking zone (CPZ). We have three in city centres here, namely Belfast, Lisburn and Newry.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to debate the issues relating to adequate and affordable on-street parking for the growth and development of our town centres. I have listened with interest to the issues and concerns that Members have raised. The main issues of concern relate to the current cost of a penalty charge notice (PCN) and the provision of cheaper and longer on-street car parking. Our aim is to reduce the number of illegally parked vehicles on the road. We want to reduce congestion, thereby improving the vitality of our towns and cities. We do not want to issue PCNs, but if we have to, we will. We want everybody to park properly; that has to be the message that is heard today. <BR /> <BR />The cost of a PCN increased to £90 on 1 June 2012, and it is discounted to £45 if paid within 14 days.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion today. There appears to be an awful lot of confusion between on-street, off-street and the entire issues that we are discussing today. <BR /> <BR />As Minister for Infrastructure, I have overall responsibility for ensuring that we have an efficient and safe transportation system in the North. This includes ensuring that vehicle drivers have access to the various business and retail sectors in our town and city centres. In order to deliver this, my officials and their service providers have two tools at their disposal, namely, parking provision and the associated tariffs and parking enforcement. Correctly levelled tariffs are aimed at ensuring there is a turnover of parking provision whilst, at the same time, allowing vehicle users enough time to go about their daily business.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. On a number of occasions this morning, DUP Members have said that all they are looking for is a review. The DUP motion does not ask for a review; the amendment might ask for a review, but the motion asks for the fine to be reduced.”
“On that bombshell, I am more than happy to retire.”
“The comments from Members today reflect the importance that we all attach to the development of Titanic Quarter. I can assure you that I will do everything that I can to support that development, and I conclude by welcoming the commitment of the Belfast harbour commissioners and TQL to driving forward the development of Titanic Quarter. I also congratulate Members for their obvious display of passion and dedication to a project that really does have the ability to transform not just our city but our inner-city communities that really need that transformation. Finally, I am more than happy to meet the Member and the people whom she wants me to meet in the months ahead.”
“Both also committed to act with the utmost good faith to reach agreement to facilitate viable current and future development projects. That is to be welcomed. The signing of the new MOU has prompted the review of the previous Titanic Quarter master plan, which is under way. This provides an opportunity to consider not just the respective roles and responsibilities of the commissioners and TQL but to look at the infrastructure requirements to enable the further development of the Titanic Quarter site. Looking forward, while differences will emerge at the level of individual projects or investment proposals, the agreement provides an appropriate framework to resolve those through negotiation. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to respond to the Adjournment debate today.”
“It is the ability to resolve these and to continue to work together in the common interest that is important rather than ignore their existence. In that context, I think that we can all agree that the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the harbour commissioners and TQL in May this year was a very welcome development, as it provides an opportunity to reinvigorate Titanic Quarter and resolve outstanding differences. I believe that we are already seeing the fruits of that, with progress made on the exhibition centre, hotel accommodation and new film studios. <BR /> <BR />In signing the agreement, both parties recognised that Titanic Quarter is a major economic opportunity for the North of Ireland.”
“The commissioners and TQL have worked together for more than a decade to deliver projects and realise the ambition of the agreed master plan for the redevelopment of the quarter. We would not be where we are today without the hard work and dedication of both. In supporting the development of Titanic Quarter, however, it is important we recognise that the harbour commissioners have a responsibility to have proper regard to the public interest and commercial considerations. It would be entirely inappropriate for the commissioners to operate in a way that was not consistent with that obligation or, indeed, for the Government to seek unnecessarily to influence commercial negotiations. <BR /> <BR />Tensions in any relationship, particularly commercial relationships, are to be expected.”
“That regeneration, of course, is not limited to Titanic Quarter. It includes over £60 million of investment by the commissioners in key projects such as City Quays 1 and 2, the City Quays Hotel, the Science Park and cruise terminal, among others — projects that are central to Belfast's ability to attract the high-value investment we seek. <BR /> <BR />I recognise, as we all do, that over the years there have been tensions in the relationship between the commissioners and TQL. It is unfortunate that too often that distracted from the positive contribution both parties have made to the regeneration of Belfast, particularly given that the tensions were not a result of different levels of ambition for the regeneration of the quarter.”
“There has been criticism in recent years that Belfast city centre was moving east. It is important that we do not have a situation where investment and opportunity are sucked into a particular quarter, meaning that we do not have the ability to expand. The BRT system will link east to west through the city centre, so it is vital that the Casement redevelopment and the Andersonstown leisure centre — those are just two projects that come to my mind — progress well and that we have the flow of people, goods and services that the Programme for Government says should be right across our city. <BR /> <BR />It is equally important that we recognise the role of others, in particular the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, in supporting and enabling development at Titanic Quarter as an integral part of the wider regeneration of the harbour estate.”
“Absolutely. As the Member across the way from me suggested, to develop a lot of the stuff we are talking about here, we need the infrastructure to be in tandem. Otherwise, we would be simply wasting our time, and there would be congestion and gridlock that we would not be able to deal with. I will, of course, be keeping such projects on the radar. <BR /> <BR />The introduction of the new Belfast rapid transit (BRT) system will greatly assist in opening up further opportunities by providing high-quality public transport connections between Titanic Quarter and Belfast city centre, as well as to our major population centres in west Belfast and east Belfast. This goes back to my South Down colleague's comments about ensuring that all of Belfast and, indeed, the wider North can generate prosperity from Titanic Quarter.”
“<BR /> <BR />Further Tourism NI investment is planned for early next year with the construction of the Titanic waterside pathway, which will improve the connectivity between key heritage sites in the area and enhance the overall visitor experience in Titanic Quarter. That will benefit significantly from the investment the Department for Communities and the Belfast Harbour Commissioners have taken forward in the cycling and pedestrian infrastructure along the Lagan and through the harbour estate. <BR /> <BR />It is important we recognise the Executive's commitment and support for the redevelopment of Titanic Quarter, including that of my Department working with Titanic Quarter Ltd (TQL) to address the infrastructure challenges associated with major development. Indeed, the introduction of the new Belfast —”
“We have film studios and major financial and IT employers, all of which raise the profile of the North of Ireland and all of which, just over a decade ago, few of us would have anticipated. <BR /> <BR />The progress that has been made reflects the high level of commitment and support the Executive have provided to the redevelopment of Titanic Quarter, including investing £50 million in Titanic signature-related projects in recent years. That is part of our ongoing commitment to develop the tourism potential of Titanic Quarter, and it includes Tourism NI support towards the restoration and development of the historically significant HMS Caroline as a visitor attraction.”
“We now have over 18,000 people living, working and studying in Titanic Quarter, and over one million visitors per year come to what was, little more than a decade ago, a derelict former shipyard and building land.”
“Since the Titanic Quarter master plan was launched in 2005, we have seen investment of some £358 million, and the successful delivery of major commercial, tourism, residential and education schemes, some of which, such as the award-winning Titanic signature project, have come to define Belfast internationally.”
“No one in this Chamber would dispute the importance of that transformation. Where once we had derelict sites, we now have thriving businesses and communities. The significant investment which the Government and others have taken forward in recent decades has allowed us to create the type of dynamic, urban environment central to attracting high-value businesses and investors. It has also been key to building the sense of pride and ambition within our communities along the Lagan. <BR /> <BR />I believe all of us in this Chamber recognise that the redevelopment of the harbour estate, and in particular Titanic Quarter, has been a key strand of that transformation.”
“I thank Mrs Long for bringing the topic to the Assembly. She said at the outset that I have just returned from China, and I saw at first hand the interest not only in Titanic — they are building a complete replica of the Titanic in China, which shows the worthiness and the value they place on it as a model to attract investment — but also 'Game of Thrones'. Here we have two massive investment opportunities centred right on the very location that we are talking about this evening. I am more than happy to be here to discuss this. <BR /> <BR />The redevelopment of Belfast waterfront has been a key feature in the economic regeneration of the city. It has resulted in the transformation of the Lagan and the reclaiming of the river as a key feature of the city centre — a social, as well as an economic, asset benefiting local communities.”
“Certainly, and we know, for example, that there may be opportunities through the invest-to-save initiative. I am continuing to look at that in the Department, and we have discussed this. If it is feasible and affordable to roll out in the future, I am more than willing to look at it.”
“I mentioned earlier the savings that are involved and the expense of having the old system. It is something that I am looking at because I do believe that it is a project worth pursuing.”
“There are not enough bicycles in Beijing, I think it is fair to say. All joking aside, you touch upon that, and we were shown images of the bicycles in Beijing in the 1980s, and they absolutely outnumbered all the cars. As the growth in the economy happened in Beijing, the bicycle disappeared and the car took over. That is the exact same problem that we face here when it comes to congestion, and it is something that they are also tackling. Again, there is much to learn from that. <BR /> <BR />On LED street lighting, the retrofit scheme, to a large extent, has been successful. There were a number of issues that caught people by surprise in that the amount of white light was not as much as that from the old system. Once people get used to that, it will allay a lot of fears. Again, it is something that I want to look at.”
“Even before the EU referendum result, there was no doubt that China is a global superpower. You only have to cast your eye across Europe to see a number of the large-scale, and even smaller, infrastructure projects that China is investing in. There is no doubt that the axis of global power is tilting east. Many political commentators say so. I took the opportunity to visit Hubei province, where there are cities that, perhaps, some people have never heard of, yet they have populations of 10 million, 12 million or 15 million. There are hugely ambitious infrastructure programmes, and there is a lot that we can learn. I think that the best thing for us is that there is a willingness on the part of the Chinese to join us in that campaign because they have much to learn from us also.”
“Many of the problems, issues and solutions are very similar, so I think that we can build on that in the future.”
“It is very clear that not only are they interested in building relationships and building friendships with the people of Ireland, they are certainly interested in investing in some of our infrastructure projects over the next number of years. I very much look forward to meeting them once again, back here in Ireland, to discuss these projects in further detail. <BR /> <BR />I think that shared learning is perhaps an area in which we may be able to work quickest, certainly by having discussions with the Beijing municipal authority around congestion and car parking. A number of initiatives in public transport and active travel are occurring now in Beijing that we can certainly learn from. As I mentioned earlier, the scale is, of course, very different. They are dealing with a city of over 20 million people, and we are not dealing with that.”
“I thank the Member for her question. At the outset, I thank Tim Losty and staff of the NI Bureau for facilitating many of the meetings that I had in China over the past week. I put on record my thanks to the Confucius Institute, particularly Dr Yan Liu, who assisted us greatly on our visit and certainly helped to open a lot of doors that will, I think, be of great benefit in the future. <BR /> <BR />On the first leg of the question, around investment, I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet the president of the China Investment Corporation, President Tu, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing last week.”
“As a representative of a rural constituency, I probably championed the cause of grit piles to the former Minister in previous years. I am all too aware of the need. We know of the treacherous journeys that commuters from rural areas sometimes have to make. When it comes to grit and salt during the winter months, we know that there is much correspondence with the Department. The former Minister will undoubtedly know that. It is something that I look at. The Member specified Newry and Armagh, and we need to look at the issue constituency by constituency and on the basis of need, rather than strictly geographically. As I said before, we have to take cognisance of the fact that we are operating under limited budgets and have to do as much as we can with them.”
“No. As I outlined to the Member's colleague earlier, there has been a tradition over the past number of years of working closely in tandem with Rivers Agency. As the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent report identified, the flood risk maps very accurately detail the risks, and it is the same with the weather. If the Member has any ideas or suggestions, I am more than happy to listen to them.”
“I am not aware of the exact governance process that we will go through. I have a briefing with officials next week, and a Brexit team in my Department is looking at a number of these issues. Although the initial conversations revolved around funding and immediate situations, I know that regulation is one item on the agenda.”
“The Member is correct: much of it has been because of that. Much of the heat and much of the debate has been around funding, but, of course, my Department also has responsibility for regulation. Waste water is certainly part of that, and something that we will take forward. I have not seen any information that relates to the Member's specific question, but, if she wants to correspond with me, I will be more than happy to do so.”
“I am not aware of any current plans to resurface it. I am well aware of the road, however, which is one that I travel often. I would say that all Members have a list as long as their arm of roads, especially in rural areas, that need resurfaced. This is not a sob story, but our budgets are under pressure, as has been the case for a number of years, and we have to do what we can with the money available to us. When it comes to road maintenance, we need to think about the long term. I said during a recent Adjournment debate on the subject that we need to take a far more strategic and long-term approach.”
“There needs to be a more strategic, generational approach to how we do this and how we budget and finance for roads maintenance. It is one thing to design new roads projects, but we also have to be mindful of the road network that we currently have, and I will be doing all my power to set in place a new strategic framework for how we finance roads maintenance.”
“The Member is correct. When you consider that we have somewhere in the region of a £1 billion backlog in road maintenance, £10 million towards rural roads is a drop in the ocean. Divisional managers have now identified roads, such as Mullaghgariff Road in the Member's constituency, which have not seen resurfacing in more than a decade if not longer. <BR /> <BR />The £10 million will have gone some way to addressing that. There are communities that have always felt isolated and that they have never got a piece of the pie. Certainly, I am under no illusions — I do not think that anybody is. In no way or stretch of the imagination are we going to address a £1 billion backlog in road maintenance in my time as Infrastructure Minister over the next five years.”
“I am not aware of any additional costs. I am due to get a briefing later in further detail around what is likely now to be a delay of a few months to the scheme. At the outset, certainly before I have had that, I am not aware of any additional costs.”
“The scheme had several unintended problems when it came to certain junctions. The scheme had been progressing well. Due to an intense number of utilities that were discovered and have to be dealt with in a timely manner, the scheme is now delayed. I will be working with Department officials and those in Transport NI to ensure as little disruption to traders in the busy Christmas period as possible.”
“We are still finalising the terms of the final budget. We are going ahead with bringing into place the data analyst to guide us, but this will certainly not hold up any of the winter services as we proceed.”
“I thank the Member. The Member may be aware that we are currently bringing into place a data analyst to guide the Department when it comes to weather; certainly to give a more in-depth and scientific report than what we might be used to each evening on the 6.00 o'clock news. We also work closely with the Rivers Agency, which has a very detailed team that can work with the weather. <BR /> <BR />The Member can rest assured that all is in place now with the winter service; certainly, with the collection of salt and ensuring that we have the services in place for the winter period and the inclement weather that is likely to come.”
“The Member is right when he mentions the length of time that the communities in those areas have been waiting. I am confident that all has been done in my Department's case to dot the i's and cross the t's. We must respect the statutory processes and the will of the court. Certainly, as the hearing progresses, I will do all that I can to ensure that this scheme begins. Those in the west have been crying out for the scheme to commence, and we wish them all well in that.”
“No delays are envisaged. Work is ongoing, and I will be visiting the scheme soon. I expect the work to be completed next year.”
“Yes, three contractor joint ventures have been appointed to the integrated delivery team, with each joint venture awarded one section of the scheme. Subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the making of the order, the joint venture contractor for phase 1A, Balfour Beatty/BAM/FP McCann, will be instructed to complete the detailed design and construct the scheme.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department will consider the report’s recommendations in detail before I make a decision on whether to proceed with the scheme and make the necessary statutory orders. In late August 2016, the Alternative A5 Alliance applied for leave for a judicial review. My Department is opposing the application for leave, which has been listed for hearing in November 2016. <BR /> <BR />Subject to the successful completion of all the statutory procedures and a satisfactory outcome from the inspector’s report, it is anticipated that construction can commence in late 2017 on phase 1A in line with the Fresh Start Agreement. I am engaging with departmental officials to explore options to maximise delivery of the A5 during the current mandate.”
“One of my key priorities as Minister for Infrastructure is to redress the North’s infrastructure deficit, particularly west of the Bann. The A5 scheme will provide a high-quality road link between Derry, Strabane, Omagh and Ballygawley and will unlock the potential for future economic development in those areas. <BR /> <BR />Following the public consultation into the draft orders and environmental statement for the scheme, my Department appointed the Planning Appeals Commission as the independent inspector to administer a public inquiry. The inquiry opened on 4 October 2016, and the hearing is scheduled to close in mid–December 2016, with the inspector’s report expected around May 2017.”
“The annual cost of electricity for street lighting varies from year to year, depending on the prevailing cost of electricity, the number of street lights and their associated wattage. In recent years, the annual cost has typically been in the order of £10 million. Fortunately, like many other electricity consumers, my Department has seen a reduction in the unit cost of electricity in the last year. Taken over the past five-year period, the approximate cost of providing and maintaining my Department's street lighting assets averaged as follows: £6 million per annum for new provision and renewal of old street lighting systems; £7·3 million per annum for routine maintenance and inspection, testing and safety repairs; and £10 million per annum for electricity.”
“There has been an investment of £3 million during the last financial year to retrofit approximately 15,000 street lights in the Banbridge and Craigavon areas with new LED lanterns, which has resulted in significant energy and maintenance cost savings of over a third of a million pounds per year.”
“Unlike most commercial, industrial or domestic electricity supplies, street-lighting electricity is not metered. That is typical of most public lighting supply arrangements across the world. Instead of metering, my Department maintains a comprehensive inventory of all street-lighting assets, from which the electricity consumption can be calculated. The electricity costs are arrived at by multiplying the number of each type of street light by the respective wattage, by their annual operating hours and by the relevant supplier's tendered price per kilowatt-hour.”
“My Department's costs for street lighting arise from three main areas: the new provision and renewal of street-lighting installations; street-lighting operation and maintenance activities; and street-lighting electricity costs. For all those areas of work, my Department uses competitive tendering to ensure that street-lighting materials, labour and electricity are procured in a way that delivers best value for money. The costs for new provision and maintenance activities are relatively straightforward to calculate. They are simply the product of the applicable contract rate for the various items of work done multiplied by the quantities delivered by the contractors. <BR /> <BR />Calculating the costs for street-lighting electricity is a little more complex.”