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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“Transport NI exchanges details of the programmed work with the utility companies to ensure any potential issues are identified at as early a stage as possible. Notifications of planned works are also placed on the street works registration and notification system, which identifies potential conflicts. Where a conflict is identified between planned resurfacing works or other major road works and planned utility works, Transport NI will liaise with the utility company to ensure that the utility company works are completed in advance of the resurfacing scheme, where at all possible. That is the case with our rural roads initiative, where, in a number of locations across the North, work is being held back until the utility companies are finished, and the rural roads initiative will take place later in the year.”
“I do not have the guidelines in front of me, but, if the Member wants to write to me, I will be more than happy to share them with him.”
“My Department charged utility companies just over £100,000 for follow-up inspections carried out in 2015-16 to ensure defective reinstatements had been adequately repaired.”
“I thank the Member for his question and, indeed, his interest in this. It is something I am currently looking at. I share the Member's frustration and, indeed, that of the wider public. We see public realm schemes come into place in many of our regional towns and villages, and then, six months later, there are maybe kerbs or flagstones being lifted. There is a sense that people, especially traders, are asking, "Why could this not have been done six months ago?". It is something I am looking at to examine whether more needs to be done to the policy, and, if that is the case, I will be more than happy to do that.”
“Where a reinstatement fails to comply with the specification, the utility company is notified and required to carry out repairs. Follow-up inspections are carried out to ensure that remedial works have been completed. The cost of those follow-up inspections is also recovered from the utility company. <BR /> <BR />Transport NI uses sample inspection results as a key performance indicator for utility companies and informs those companies of performance on a monthly basis. Progress is also discussed at quarterly meetings of the NI Road Authority and Utilities Committee. In the event that an individual utility company's performance becomes unacceptable, Transport NI has powers to increase the number of chargeable inspections until such time as performance improvements have been achieved.”
“Utility companies are required to notify Transport NI of all works on roads and footpaths through the street works registration and notification system. Transport NI inspects a 10% sample of all utility openings within six months following completion and a further 10% sample within the last three months of the reinstatement warranty period. That is to ensure compliance with the specification for reinstatement of openings in roads. The cost of the inspections is recovered from the utility companies. <BR /> <BR />Of course, Transport NI also identifies defective reinstatements through routine road condition inspections, inspections in response to third-party reports and a six-monthly core survey, where core samples are taken from visually compliant reinstatements.”
“Yes. I was in Victoria Park and around that area and in Orangefield. We have examples of where Rivers Agency and the city council are working together. The projects that they are delivering are first-class. It is a model that there is much value in, and I am certainly more than happy to work with it.”
“I thank the Member for getting the wheels of revolution turning. It is a reputation that I want to build on, and I will do what I can over the next mandate to continue it. The bicycle strategy, as the Member is no doubt aware, envisages a comprehensive network for the bicycle not just in Belfast but across the North. The strategic plan for greenways is one element of that, and the urban network plans are another. My intention, following the publication of the Belfast plan, is to learn from the experience and roll it out to other urban centres.”
“The Belfast Bike Life report shows that 7 million journeys are cycled in Belfast every year. My Department's most recent research on cycling to work reveals that 5% of Belfast commuters already use the bicycle to travel to and from work. The momentum to continue growing is demonstrated by the success of the Belfast bike share scheme, with over 300,000 journeys having been taken in the last 18 months. I am confident that that growth in cycling will continue as we continue to invest in better cycling infrastructure, both in urban networks and in the development of our greenways.”
“I thank the Member for raising the issue. I think that I was one of the MLAs who signed up to the various pledges. We need to see an increased spend and budget when we look at active travel and our cycling infrastructure. It is a generational project. My greenways strategy will be generational. I have mentioned that it is over 10 years; that is the approach that we have to take. I want to work in partnership with our local councils. Some of them have been doing sterling work. I have already mentioned the likes of the Connswater greenway, which is a great success in the east of the city. I am certainly determined to do my best to work in partnership with Belfast City Council on that.”
“The Member will be aware of a number of cycle schemes that are currently being built in the city centre as flagship schemes to demonstrate the kind of cycling infrastructure that will be delivered. I am keen to deliver more of those segregated cycle routes in the future. The network plan approach will contribute to several outcomes of the draft Programme for Government, such as connecting people and opportunities through our infrastructure and supporting and encouraging long, healthy and active lives.”
“It will do this by bringing good quality cycling routes within 400 metres of around two thirds of residents of the Belfast City Council area.”
“I will shortly hold a public consultation on my draft Belfast bicycle network plan, the first of a series of plans to help to bring coherent, continuous and comfortable bicycle infrastructure within the reach of most people within our towns and cities. This is part of the vision in the bicycle strategy to give people the freedom and confidence to travel by bicycle for everyday journeys and to significantly increase the number of shorter journeys that we make by bicycle. <BR /> <BR />One of the three pillars of the bicycle strategy is to build a comprehensive bicycle network. The Belfast bicycle network plan will provide a framework for the development of safe, attractive cycling provision throughout Belfast over the next ten years.”
“I do not think that the question has any relevance whatsoever to my responsibility as Minister for Infrastructure. As I have outlined already, there is a plethora of different types of memorials on roadsides, including floral tributes and, as I have mentioned, ghost bikes for people who have unfortunately been killed as a result of a road traffic accident. It is not my responsibility to get into that.”
“The Member will be aware of the plethora of memorials across the political spectrum; for the British Army, the UDR, the police and different groups across society. As I outlined, there are also memorials to those who have died at roadsides. The Department's toleration policy was developed as a result of its experience in dealing with illegal roadside memorials and the desire to avoid exacerbating the problem or putting the safety of staff or contractors at risk. Examples of where toleration is similarly exercised include issues such as flag-flying from street lights or cafes and bars placing tables and chairs on the public footpaths where space permits.”
“The Member will be well aware that there are memorials to the UDR, the British Army —”
“Any memorials on the property of my Department's arms-length bodies are matters for the boards of those organisations.”
“A wide range of memorials to deceased persons has been placed on or close to property owned or controlled by my Department over many years. Most of them relate to fatal incidents occurring on or near roads. While a small number of these incidents are directly related to the conflict in the North over the past 40 years or so, most are not. These memorials comprise many different formats, from permanent structures or temporary floral tributes to the so-called ghost bikes. Given the transient nature of many of them, it is not possible to state how many there are across the whole of the North with any certainty. My Department does not endorse any of them but the long-standing practice has been to not remove any such memorials unless road safety is directly compromised.”
“I thank the Member for his comments at the outset. He will be aware of the timescales involved for this particular phase. I assume that similar timescales will be involved when we extend this to north and south Belfast. I think that there is a level of excitement around this particular phase that will only be matched with the north and south Belfast route. It is a route that I travel often. Certainly, I do not think that it takes experts in the field to realise that, again, this will be a transformative route between the north of our city, through the city centre, to the south and out to an area such as Carryduff. I think that it would be much welcomed. It is something that I certainly hope to progress at some point in this mandate.”
“The strategic importance of a project such as the York Street interchange, is clear, but, as I outlined to Members across the way in relation to the Belfast hub, Brexit and its implications for the funding of projects such as the York Street interchange create a substantial hurdle.”
“Congestion is an issue that faces not just our city of Belfast but Derry and Dublin. I was recently in China, and it is the same, on a very different scale, in places such as Beijing and Shanghai. The BRT has been designed to have a transformative effect, and I think that it will. I will also bring forward bicycle strategies in the next number of months. We have seen the success of the Comber and Connswater greenways. These are hugely transformative active travel and public transport projects that, given time and the public appetite, which is there, will have a transformative impact.”
“The contract was awarded in November 2015. Since then, my Department has finalised the detailed specification for the vehicles in conjunction with Translink and the manufacturers, Van Hool. The process included engagement on accessibility with the disability and elderly sectors through IMTAC. The BRT vehicles will be 18-metre, diesel-electric hybrid, articulated buses with a capacity for around 100 people. They will provide a high-quality, accessible environment for passengers in terms of comfort, space, security and on-board information. The first Belfast rapid transit vehicle is being assembled by Van Hool. Once completed, it will be subject to extensive road testing before being delivered to Belfast in 2017. Subsequent vehicles will be delivered prior to the system going live in September 2018.”
“The new peak hour bus lanes support a more reliable and attractive bus service for passengers using these busy arterial routes. Since the introduction of the new peak hour bus lanes, there have been substantial increases in passenger numbers and improvements to journey times. <BR /> <BR />The detailed specification for the BRT vehicles has been finalised. This process included engagement with the disability and elderly sectors through the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC). The diesel-electric hybrid BRT vehicles will provide a high-quality, accessible environment for passengers in terms of comfort, space, security and on-board information. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to say that the BRT system remains within budget and on target to become operational in September 2018.”
“I am fully committed to the delivery of Belfast rapid transit (BRT), including not only the current phase, which connects east Belfast, west Belfast and the Titanic Quarter via the city centre, but future extensions to the north and south of the city. I regard Belfast rapid transit as a transformational public transport project for the city. It represents an exciting opportunity for Belfast going forward, and it is a major commitment for my Department in support of an Executive flagship project. <BR /> <BR />The implementation of Belfast rapid transit is progressing well. To date, my Department has completed the new Dundonald park-and-ride facility and sections of the routes on the Falls and Upper Newtownards roads, including the introduction of new peak hour bus lanes.”
“I thank the Member for her question. It is probably better to ask Translink what discussions it has had with the City Airport. I point the Member in that direction.”
“Work on the regional strategic transport network transport plan will begin in the very near future. That will be followed by a series of local transport plans, including the Belfast metropolitan transport plan, which I mentioned earlier. The plans will be developed to coordinate with the delivery of local development plans. Local transport plans will be developed in my Department but working closely with council officials.”
“As I stated previously, I am commencing work to refresh the full suite of my Department's transport plans.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Belfast hub is a flagship project for the Executive. I look forward to working with Belfast City Council colleagues in delivering what I think will be a transformative project, not just for the city of Belfast but for the entirety of the North. It is key to developing our public transport network, and I very much look forward to doing all that I can in the years ahead. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that Brexit and the EU referendum result is a huge challenge. The Belfast transport hub is one project that would likely have benefited from up to 40% funding from the EU, and that is money that will now have to be found from elsewhere. It is a challenge that I am up for meeting, because, as I outlined to the Member, the project has a transformative effect.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I understand it, the airport provides an on-demand shuttle bus service between the airport terminal and the railway halt at Sydenham.”
“It does not necessarily follow that, if you have a train halt, you will provide a better service for business and investment. A very successful bus service runs to and from the airport, and many investors who come in and out of the city use it. Indeed, I have used it. It is very reliable and a very welcome service for those who want to invest in the city and the region.”
“My immediate railway priorities must be to maintain and improve passenger capacity and remove bottlenecks on the existing rail network. However, that does not preclude new halts where passenger demand justifies it and additional finance is obtainable. <BR /> <BR />I have started preparations for the development of a new Belfast metropolitan transport plan. The plan will provide an opportunity to consider the roles that private cars, trains, buses and taxis can all play in connecting Belfast City Airport. However, linking the airport more directly by rail may not necessarily be the best way to serve this important gateway in the shorter term, particularly as it is currently served by a very frequent, recently upgraded bus service to and from the city centre.”
“We are reliant on our airports and seaports to access key markets and destinations, whether that is for pleasure, business or education, or simply to visit families and friends. The connections to our airports and ports will be increasingly important in creating the conditions for prosperity and will be key to our ability to compete in a global, skills-based and innovative economy, not simply for markets but for investment and talent. The City Airport has an important role to play in providing that access and already has a significant market share of short-haul domestic services, aided by its accessibility to the city centre. <BR /> <BR />There are currently no plans to provide a new rail halt at George Best Belfast City Airport.”
“— takes a lead role with regard to speed. Of course, we need to be more strategic as we go forward. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to draw my comments to a close with that.”
“I therefore call on the support of all Members, particularly members of the Committee for Infrastructure, to do all that they can to ensure that my Department receives the resources that it requires to provide a better infrastructure, from which we can all benefit. <BR /> <BR />Turning specifically to a couple of points that were raised, Mrs Overend raised the issue of slowing traffic as it comes through villages and mentioned Desertmartin specifically. I would be more than happy to meet or correspond with you in future on that issue. There is no doubt that you are well aware of course that the PSNI —”
“<BR /> <BR />Given the budget allocation available to me, additional capital for one area, such as roads, means that there is less available for other functions. However, I continue to make the case for increasing my Department's budget, both through the in-year monitoring process for this year and as part of the Executive's Budget 2016 process. The role of roads, public transport and water infrastructure is vital in improving social inclusion and underpinning the region's economic growth. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, I, as Minister, along with all Members, fully recognise the need to invest in world-class infrastructure if we are to realise our shared ambition of transforming our economy and society.”
“In addition, work is ongoing to carry out feasibility studies on improvements to the A29 Dungannon to Cookstown road and the potential to extend the rail network to Dungannon. <BR /> <BR />Of course, all this activity depends on the appropriate resources being made available. My Department has a capital budget of some £387 million, the largest of all the Departments. However, as I have explained in previous debates, this is required to provide funding across a wide range of functions for which I have responsibility. These include not only roads but water and waste water, public transport, flood alleviation and waterways, all of which could utilise further funding if it were available. As such, I have to prioritise funding across all my Department's functions in order to achieve a balanced outcome within the available resources.”
“are focused on reducing the infrastructure deficit, particularly in the west, in order to mitigate key barriers to balanced regional growth. <BR /> <BR />Excellent transport infrastructure is a prerequisite for growing the local economy and attracting inward investment; it enables communities to access jobs, education and leisure opportunities and allows businesses to connect to their markets. I am therefore determined to enhance connectivity and to increase transport capacity across the region. <BR /> <BR />My delivery plans contain a number of new initiatives in addition to the existing flagship road-dualling schemes that will also positively impact on the Mid Ulster region, including looking at the potential for more freestanding bypasses of towns in order to address pinch points on the roads network.”
“Over the summer, my officials engaged with other Departments and a wide range of representatives from all sectors to develop an action plan to help to deliver this indicator. The delivery plan contains my initiatives for a generational programme of investment and change over a number of budgetary periods. I have ensured that my delivery plans for this indicator, and my other key indicator:”
“<BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that the Department continues to face budgetary pressures on resource funding for day-to-day road maintenance services. Thankfully, an additional £5 million was allocated as part of June monitoring to enhance road maintenance activities, such as pothole repairs and grass cutting. <BR /> <BR />I now want to briefly provide a more strategic overview of how my previous comments extend into the bigger picture. Members will be aware that Departments have been working on the delivery plans associated with the Programme for Government. My Department is no exception. <BR /> <BR />A key Programme for Government indicator that I am leading on is:”
“I am pleased to say that work on those schemes is now well under way and that about one third of the identified roads have been dealt with. <BR /> <BR />The current structural maintenance budget for the Mid Ulster District Council area is some £8 million, including approximately £1·5 million allocated as part of the rural roads initiative. This will see a significant number of smaller schemes delivered on the local road network across the council area. <BR /> <BR />In addition, in the Mid Ulster District Council area, my Department has delivered an extensive resurfacing programme, including schemes on the A6 Glenshane Road; the A4 Ballagh Road, Clogher; and the A29 Northland Row, Dungannon, as well as surface dressing 1·1 million square metres of road across the area.”
“This may provide my Department with an opportunity to relook at scheme prioritisation and, indeed, at new schemes. <BR /> <BR />Up to now I have spoken about new and proposed schemes. I now want to turn to maintenance of the existing network. Maintaining our roads and footways is essential to the social and economic well-being of the North and continues to be one of my Department's highest priorities. I am pleased to say that additional capital funding was prioritised by the Executive for road maintenance as part of June monitoring. As a result, and in recognition of the particular deterioration in rural roads, in June I announced a £10 million rural roads initiative to target maintenance measures at around 1,000 locations.”
“Following the public consultation on the new draft statutory orders and environmental statement, a public inquiry into the A5 scheme was announced, and this remains on schedule to open on 4 October 2016. <BR /> <BR />A 3·4km bypass of Fivemiletown identified in the strategic road improvement programme will alleviate congestion in the town. Progression of this scheme is subject to future budgetary settlements. <BR /> <BR />The upcoming revision of the regional strategic transportation network transport plan and the development of local transport plans in conjunction with councils’ local development plans provide a good opportunity to refresh the strategic roads improvement programme in line with the latest technical evidence, local development pressures and the Programme for Government priorities of economic growth and social equality.”
“The scheme entails the construction of approximately 4 kilometres of new single carriageway from the Dungannon Road roundabout south of Cookstown to a proposed new roundabout on the Moneymore Road at the north of the town. The scheme will also include sections of two-plus-one and differential acceleration lanes to facilitate safe overtaking opportunities. Development of this significant project had been deferred owing to financial constraints, but, as Minister, I am keen for my Department to progress the scheme. I am engaging with officials about progression to the next stage, the publication of the draft statutory orders and environmental statement. <BR /> <BR />The southern section of the A5 western transport corridor between Ballygawley and the border at Aughnacloy is also in the Mid Ulster area.”
“In August, I was delighted to announce my decision to proceed with this substantial £160 million scheme. However, on 27 September 2016, papers were lodged with the High Court to apply for leave for a judicial review in relation to the project. While I am disappointed that a scheme set to benefit some 18,000 vehicles and their passengers every day has been challenged, with any project of this scale there is always the possibility of a legal challenge from those who are dissatisfied with the Department’s proposals. It is too early to determine the impact on the progression of the scheme and any knock-on delay to the commencement of construction, which had been anticipated to be later this month. <BR /> <BR />The preferred route for the A29 Cookstown bypass was announced in 2010.”
“<BR /> <BR />The A6 Derry to Belfast corridor is also of strategic economic importance, providing an essential road link between the Belfast metropolitan area and the north-west. My Department is progressing two separate projects on the A6 route to improve connectivity: the Derry to Dungiven and Randalstown to Castledawson dualling schemes, the latter, of course, being in the Mid Ulster area. <BR /> <BR />The Randalstown to Castledawson scheme comprises two distinct sections of dual carriageway located either side of the A6 Toome bypass: a 7·3 kilometre section from the end of the M22 to the eastern end of the Toome bypass; and a 7·4 kilometre section from the western end of the Toome bypass to the existing A6 Castledawson roundabout, so linking to the new Magherafelt bypass.”
“My Department is taking forward a balanced programme of improvements to the strategic road network that will make a significant difference to all communities in the North and greatly benefit the wider economy. Recent levels of funding have allowed the Department to advance a number of schemes through the various development stages to construction, including a number in the Mid Ulster area. <BR /> <BR />I am delighted to say that the construction of the £35 million A31 Magherafelt bypass is now substantially complete. The scheme comprises approximately 6 kilometres of two-plus-one carriageway, to facilitate overtaking, and single carriageway extending from the A31 Moneymore Road to the Castledawson roundabout on the A6. I look forward to officially opening this scheme later this week.”
“I take the opportunity to thank the Member for securing the debate and wish him well in his time as a Member. I also welcome the opportunity to speak on the issue, which is important to the people of Mid Ulster. <BR /> <BR />As Minister for Infrastructure, I, along with my Executive colleagues, work hard to support and drive economic recovery across all parts of the North, and I am particularly keen to redress the infrastructure deficit west of the Bann. The debate rightly highlights the importance of transport infrastructure, which, in the North, is very road-oriented, be it bus-based public transport, freight, commuting, leisure travel or cycling.”
“Absolutely. We are not simply talking about a piece of infrastructure that will stand with its back to the communities. It will be open just as much to the rear, to the Grosvenor Road and Sandy Row communities, as it has to be in order to be successful going forward. I was recently in Rotterdam, where the central transport hub is a centre of community activity, and there is no reason why, through working with Belfast City Council, we cannot have something very similar in the newly envisaged living quarter in Belfast.”
“Absolutely. As I outlined to your colleague, the transport hubs in Derry and Belfast are much needed. If we look at the Europa bus centre, we see a transport hub that has stood the test of time and done a fantastic job but is coming to the end of its life — I do not think that it is out of place to say that. Translink is getting the best value that it can from the site that it has, but we are coming to a time when we need a modern, fit-for-purpose transport hub. I am certainly determined to help to deliver that in the years ahead.”
“Let me reassure the Member that that will no longer be an excuse. When I came into post, residents in Derry made exactly the same complaint: that their scheme was being held up because we could not get agreement in Belfast. We decoupled the schemes straight away and were able to launch a pilot in Derry. I want to judge each case on its merits. It should not be a case of one town being held up because of another town when there is absolutely no resemblance to the case in hand.”