Cathal Boylan
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I also welcome Julie, wish her well in her role as a Foyle MLA, and extend my best wishes to Gary. <BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to highlight Autism Awareness Month. This year, Autism NI is using this month to celebrate the spectrum and colour and to highlight unique differences.”
“I agree with the reviewer, and what needs to be recognised across all Departments is that the changes needed to better support people with autism do not always cost a huge amount of money. However, the changes require a willingness to adapt.”
“However, it has been disappointing that, in my opinion, the Department of Health was not prepared for the establishment of the reviewer's office, even though it should have been aware of what was in the legislation. Had the Department been in a better state of readiness, the reviewer could have got down to work before now.”
“The delivery plan must see measurable targets that can be monitored and delivered to ensure that people with autism see impact on the services that they access. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to reading the reviewer's first annual report in the near future.”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. As the Minister is aware, one of the reasons why such schemes are so important is that nuisance parking can prevent emergency services or health and social care workers from accessing patients' properties.”
“I welcome the Minister's statement. <BR /> <BR />Minister, recent figures show that, in the last quarter of 2025, new house starts were at their highest level since 2018 and that the construction sector has hit a 15-year high, outperforming Britain.”
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“I appreciate what the Member says. We all know that this is a global crisis. The pandemic has not been to the fore of any of the contributions to the motion from the Floor, but it should be. If you read any of the statements, they are always about unforeseen energy rises. Talk to the other industries right across the economic sector or to the building trade: prices are rising no matter, whether it is wood or cement. No matter what it is in the construction industry, those costs are growing. This is a global crisis across the board, but I believe that some of the answers lie, and the onus lies, with Westminster. Other Governments across Europe and the world are tackling the crisis. They are engaging with energy companies and trying their best, so the responsibility lies with Westminster as well. <BR /> <BR />I will support the motion.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. It is quite interesting, with some Members talking about how we are living in unprecedented times. I know that Mr Frew is passionate about energy and knows the subject inside out. I will not profess to know about that issue, but what I will say is: I agree with my colleague John O'Dowd. When he spoke about where some of the answers for all of this lie, I saw the proposer of the motion nod his head. He talked about the £40 million. That £40 million is not going to wash here, folks. The interventions that we need to address these issues lie outside this place. <BR /> <BR />The first words that Mr Durkan used were "unprecedented times", and he then proceeded to go after the Executive. I have no doubt that the Executive will do their bit as best they can, but —”
“The Minister recognises the good and hard work that the hauliers and lorry drivers have done, especially throughout the pandemic. To follow on from that, I know that there is a 66% increase in testing. Is there any way to try to expedite that and see whether we can get more drivers in? What discussions have you had with the relevant Ministers, in the South and across the water, to see how we can expedite these matters to try to address the shortages?”
“I welcome the Minister's statement and the allocation to the Department for Infrastructure. Will he confirm whether the bids relating to road maintenance and encouraging people into the taxi sector have been met in full?”
“Absolutely. This is about the sustainability of rural communities. That is the first thing that PPS 21, 'Sustainable Development in the Countryside' says. Let us not turn this into an urban versus rural issue. These people contribute to rural communities, to the GAA and to everything associated with rural communities. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the Minister takes the time to engage, and no doubt the Committee has a responsibility to engage as well. After five years of councils and planners dealing with it at the coalface, let us have a broad discussion of the issue.”
“The mortgage company would not allow them, so there was a wee bit of flexibility about where they were built. That is what happened with single farm dwellings. That was the flexibility. <BR /> <BR />We cannot say that we will transfer powers to the councils and then, all of a sudden, say to the councils, "No, folks, you have got it wrong for five years, so on you go in a different direction". We have to work with councils. I would appreciate the Minister coming down and having —.”
“Well, Mr Beggs, I would prefer to speak about the PAN, because that is the most important thing. <BR /> <BR />What we are saying is that this is not an urban versus rural issue. I do not want to get into that. If you look at those caveats, we are talking about infill sites. We are not talking about open countryside or rural remainder into big green open fields. If that were the case and we looked at a local development plan, you would take four or five acres of ground on the edge of a town and build out. We cannot even afford the suit or all the infrastructure that people are crying out about over the last number of weeks. <BR /> <BR />You can get into the broader debate about it, but I am saying that, when you look at the caveats, we had a debate about farm dwellings that could not be built beside middens or anything else.”
“If you are saying to me that there should not be a wee bit of flexibility because planning policy is down to subjectivity and interpretation, and you are saying to me —. I forgot to say at the start that I welcome the Minister withdrawing the PAN. I think that there is a broader discussion to be had, however. Whether or not I agree with Mr Muir that we will bring forward another PAN is a slightly different issue, but I will not fall out with the Member today.”
“Fair play to the Member who moved the motion on behalf of the party for outlining the interpretation of every one of those things. I am not arguing that it is the case that they did not change the policy. This is about a change of direction. <BR /> <BR />We cannot be in this situation, having transferred planning powers to local authorities five or six years ago and giving them the autonomy to make decisions. I accept that there are provisions in the 2011 Act that relate to the Department having to adhere to guidance, if it brings guidance forward, but, in most cases, the councillors, planners, architects, the Ulster Farmers' Union, the Rural Community Network, applicants and all those people are on the front line and at the coalface of all this. They deal with these people day and daily.”
“<BR /> <BR />When it comes to PPS 21 and the SPPS, there are a number of caveats in the policy that facilitate single dwellings in the countryside. If you ask anybody in the countryside, they will say that it is very difficult to get planning permission in the countryside. They have been saying that to us for a number of years. I accept some of the arguments around evidence in relation to the PAN. If a number of houses were being built in the countryside and we were overwhelmed by that, I would accept the debate being brought to the Floor. We had a good debate in Committee the other day. <BR /> <BR />I want to get back to the PAN. The PAN attacks three elements of the policy: CTY 2a, which is clustering; CTY 8, which is gap and infill; and CTY 10, which is farming and "Dwellings on Farms". That is what the PAN attacks.”
“Beidh mé ag labhairt i bhfabhar an rúin. I speak in favour of the motion. I welcome the debate. To be fair, I am glad that Mr Muir came out with what he came out with, because he opened the debate up to where we are at, which is that there needs to be a broader discussion about rural planning. I want to concentrate on the PAN today, because that is the subject of the debate, but I agree on the need for a broader discussion. I listened to Mr Muir. <BR /> <BR />Mr McGlone and Mrs Kelly were there when we debated PPS 21. My recollection of what the Member said and of what happened are two totally different things. Her starting point was PPS 14, which was a poor starting point for bringing forward a rural planning policy. I want to give some detail about that, because it is vital.”
“I thank the Minister for her intervention on the issue. Given the volatile cost of building materials, it is important that we keep building houses where they are needed. Can she give us an update on her overall housing plan?”
“I know that we are waiting for a paper on that from the Assembly's Research and Information Service. I am glad that the Health Minister is here for the debate. It is a cross-departmental issue, and it should be resolved in a collective manner. <BR /> <BR />As vice chair of the all-party group, I thank the sponsor of the Bill and the group for their hard work on this. I look forward to the debate in Committee and at the Consideration and Further Consideration Stages and to seeing what comes out of that. I support the Bill at Second Stage, and I hope that it gets the Assembly's full support.”
“Like I say, there is no point in us talking about training, and there is no point in us running back to the Department of Education, if that is not going to be implemented in the way that Mr Lyttle said in an earlier intervention. If we are serious about getting this right, each of those Departments has to play its part. There were conversations about that in Committee. Mr Deputy Speaker, you have been on the Committee and sat through all the debates. <BR /> <BR />I have raised and will continue to raise the fact that, when the Act first came in, we hoped and the sponsor of the Act thought at that point that there would be a funding stream to deliver on the Act and to deliver services for those across the spectrum. The funding issue still comes up.”
“I have a couple of issues. Obviously, I want to pick up on the issue of strengthening the consultation pool. If we are to formulate a proper strategy, we need to consult properly. In the original Act, that was not there. As Mr Lyttle will know, at our monthly APG meetings, the issues that come up, month after month, are data; the consultation pool; how we will formulate the strategy; and, more importantly, how, once we formulate that, we will hold people to account. That relates to clause 1. <BR /> <BR />The other issue that I want to pick up on is the training element, which is dealt with in clause 2, and on which we have had debates in the Chamber. Training has been a big element for the APG; there is no doubt about that.”
“I am not denying support to any child, but, among the most vulnerable in society, that child needs access to support. <BR /> <BR />I hope that, by passing the Bill at Second Stage today, we can go forward and provide support for those who need it. I wish the Committee well in its deliberations. The Committee Chair mentioned questions that were raised at the Committee briefing. I hope that the Bill is fully interrogated and that the Committee invites all the departmental officials who may have responsibility for addressing the issues in it to interrogate them. I think that better outcomes lie in doing that as well.”
“If we do not get that right and there is not ownership and responsibility, we will not get any further with it. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is good. It has been interrogated by the Committee over the past number of years with each question that has been asked of the Department and the Minister, and I thank the former Minister for providing updates in that time. <BR /> <BR />Bringing the Bill forward today will enhance the Act and lead to better outcomes. Members mentioned personal experiences; we have all had them. In my constituency, there is a young single mother with a three-year-old who is waiting on a statement. She said, "Three-year-olds in normal society go into school and everyone talks about the 'sponge years' and giving them all the support, and here is the most vulnerable child who needs all the support".”
“I speak in favour of the Bill, as vice chair of the all-party group, having been there for 13 years along with some Members who are still here. I want to take the debate back to the premise of the original Act. While we hope that this Bill will enhance the Act and the services for all those across the spectrum, I have to recognise the fact that the Act, in principle, was a good starting point. I pay tribute to the members of the Committee who worked on it. <BR /> <BR />It is interesting to hear conversations about the Education Minister and the former Minister, who is in the Chamber, but the Bill will not work unless we get buy-in from all relevant Departments. The autism strategy for 2013-20 and the 2013-16 action plan outlined the key roles and responsibilities of each Department in developing all that.”
“I welcome the Minister's answers. Minister, you know that NIW received a budget of £344 million for the one year. You mentioned regional imbalance, and we need to avoid a regional imbalance in sewerage infrastructure. There are 100 areas of constraint for sewerage infrastructure. Do you have any indication of what areas will have those capacity issues and constraints addressed over the next year?”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. In light of the motion that we have discussed today, will the Minister commit to working with the Committee? That is important, because, as she knows, while she will have discussions with the taxi industry, if its representatives do not get enough from the Minister or the Department, they will run to us. I suggest that we close that communication gap; otherwise, they will keep coming back to the Committee. That is all that I ask the Minister to commit to today.”
“They are looking for support by way of regulation and financial support to ease their way back in and increase their numbers so that they can deliver the service and play their part in the economic recovery. I support the amendment and the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to work with the Minister and the Committee, but, more importantly, we need to support the industry. When the night-time economy opens up again as, hopefully, it will shortly, we will need the taxi industry. I say that only in the context of having gone through the Taxis Act for a number of years, as have other Members, with a fine toothcomb to try to get the right solution. Sometimes it has worked, and sometimes it has not. That was a key element and a key argument, but my point is that the taxi industry has a big part to play in the economic recovery, especially in the cities. <BR /> <BR />I heard somebody use the terminology "town criers". The taxi industry are not the town criers in an urban setting.”
“As part of her response, maybe the Minister will give us some detail on her thinking around that. <BR /> <BR />Turning to the financial side of things, I know that the Minister previously stated that it would take roughly £6,000 over a two-year period to support some in the industry. Others have intimated that certain schemes were run by different Ministers but some in the industry were not facilitated and could not get moneys. So, there is the £6,000 that was reported over a two-year period, and I believe that she has given out the £1,500 grant twice now — I stand to be corrected on that. There have been so many grants and funding streams and so many applications have been made, and I would like the Minister to comment on that as well. Online access has also been an issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />I appreciate what is in the motion. I want to expand on it, however, because, if we are serious, we now have an opportunity to address the whole of the industry and look at taxi provision. The key element of the motion is economic recovery and fighting back after COVID. The industry made a number of points to us. Fare structure, which the Chair outlined, is definitely one. That issue goes back a number of years. It seriously needs to be looked at. The Committee will work across the board on that. We need to see some of the reports and some of the figures that have been produced. <BR /> <BR />There needs to be a review of the Taxis Act. People have been talking about class A, class B and class C, and there are issues across the board.”
“There are online portal issues, among others. It is also the case that a lot of people have carried out work throughout the pandemic to support key workers and deliver essential workers to their work. There are people out there who have carried on through all of this. I praise the drivers out there who have kept going. <BR /> <BR />The Chair mentioned a drop in a number of significant figures over a number of years. He went back to 2013. Commitments were made to look at the fare structure, which is vital. Driver numbers have been declining since 2013 for a number of reasons. The industry has said that it wants there to be a review of the Taxis Act 2008. There are a number of things in it. It has been tried and tested. No matter whether you go to single operators or taxi operators, they talk about the single tier and everything else.”
“I welcome the opportunity to debate the issue. I support the motion and the amendment. The Chair has left little for the rest of us to say, but I will try to make some key points. The most important thing is that the motion and the amendment are supported by the entire Committee. It is a Committee motion. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate what the Chair said about the principal argument, which is that responsibility lies with DFI. We do not mind working with the Minister and other Ministers to deliver. There needs to be a swathe of things done to facilitate the industry. The representatives from the industry who came to us most recently were the operators. That is fair enough, but a number of single taxi drivers also came to us with key points and asks. Driver numbers are down, and there are difficulties with testing that are plain to be seen.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I ask for some clarity on the issue of mutual recognition of qualifications. Was it a data transfer issue, or was that a separate issue? It was discussed last year at the North/South Ministerial Council. There have been recent developments in both jurisdictions on special educational needs programmes. Will the Minister provide an update on what is taking place there?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I ask him to give a commitment to what is in 'New Decade, New Approach' about the protection of those rights. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister undertake to meet the further education staff who are on strike over pay and conditions and commit to securing a deal for them?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas. I thank the Minister for her statement. I know that she is keen on green and blue infrastructure. Waterways Ireland asked the Infrastructure Committee for additional funding for the Ulster canal greenway. Will the Minister give us an update on that and on what action she has taken to resolve the issue? As COVID restrictions ease, we are trying to encourage people to get back out and use the facilities.”
“I thank the Member for his answer. Has the Commission engaged with environmental organisations to ensure best practice in any of the programmes that it has brought forward?”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire. I welcome the Minister's statement and the fact that there will be an investigation. Will she give the House an assurance that the process will be open, transparent and fair? Will she ensure a zero-tolerance approach to the mismanagement of public spending on these types of contracts? Will she also indicate how much has been spent on legal fees for disputes up to this point?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I, too, lend him my support in the light of the commentary over the weekend. I appreciate the answer, but will the Minister commit to working with Departments on introducing the Bill? He will know that Organ Donation Week is scheduled for September, and the Bill is badly needed. We will support the Minister in his working with others to introduce the Bill by September.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire. I welcome the Minister's statement. I go back to the section on forensic science. Has Forensic Science's capacity or capability been disrupted by the post-Brexit justice and security arrangements? Has the operating protocol had to be used because of loss of capacity since it was signed this year?”
“We have definitely made some progress, but people think that, if there is a bond, there is no problem: the system is working. That is not the case, because very few bonds are enacted. I think that one bond has been enacted in all the years that I have been a councillor and representative. I stress to the Minister that there is an opportunity in the planning review to introduce that as the condition of a planning application. I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />Another issue that will be vital as we move forward into an economic recovery is that many of these developments will need to be brought forward and play a part in that recovery. We need to tighten up the system. I advise the Minister to go back and look at some of the recommendations in the 2012 report. <BR /> <BR />A review of bonds is ongoing. Perhaps the Minister will touch on the terms of reference for that review and suggest how we can work together, even as a Committee, to try to address that issue. We are going through a planning review. Everybody says that this is developer-led and the responsibility of the developer. Absolutely. However, in some cases, that does not happen. Recently, I have been talking to councils.”
“The Chair mentioned the voluntary exit scheme. When I wrote to the Minister about that, she wrote back and said that there had been 43·5 full-time equivalents; that the number of staff is now down to 22. Looking at it from the outside, we see a reduction of nearly 50%. Perhaps the Minister will comment on that and its impact on delivering services. <BR /> <BR />I do not think that it was the case that, when the Committee approached the subject, members were against the developers. However, we must remember that the hard-working individuals who are buying houses, paying their fees, getting solicitors' advice and everything else are not being treated properly either. That needs to be at the forefront.”
“From reading up on some of the report and its terms of reference for what it did at that time, I found that it came out with very good recommendations. Will the Minister outline, either in the Chamber or in writing, what recommendations have been adopted over those years and what she is using? It is vital that those are outlined. <BR /> <BR />The Chair mentioned some of my points, but I want to turn to the Private Streets Order. At the time, the previous Minister said that it was suitable. I do not think that the Minister at the time was keen to go down the route of looking at that legislation. In light of what has happened, will the Minister indicate whether she will look at that legislation to see whether we can tighten things up to move some of those developments on? What are her views about that?”
“Ba mhaith liom labhairt i bhfabhar an rúin. I will speak in favour of the motion, and I welcome the opportunity to do so, as it is an important subject for the Committee. It is an equality issue too, because some developments are not finished, and the likes of raised manhole covers mean that services do not go in. I raise equality in the provision of services because the likes of bin lorries and so on do not go into some of those developments. I want to put that on record. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the motion will speed things up and that we will address the issue. The Chair has outlined many of the things that, I am sure, many others will mention, but I want to take the timeline back to 2012. There was a good piece of work by the previous Committee.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an ráiteas ón Aire. I welcome the Minister's statement. I am delighted that greenways were mentioned, but I am a wee bit disappointed that the Middletown to Smithborough greenway will not meet its 2021 target. In light of that, will the Minister undertake to work with the NSMC and others who are involved in the project in order to deliver it as soon as possible? She knows how important the project is for that area.”
“There are complaints about traffic-calming ramps in particular, and speed indicator devices are an alternative measure. Will the Minister undertake to have a conversation with the Infrastructure Minister to ensure that speed indicator devices are rolled out where necessary and appropriate?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. The Minister has kind of answered the question, but she knows that the electric-charging network is worsening and definitely needs upgraded. Can the Minister clarify whether or not she will support ESB with funding to repair and upgrade that network? It is important that we encourage people to use electric vehicles.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does the Minister agree that there is no place for violence against the PSNI? Under democratic accountability structures, the Policing Board is the correct place to raise concerns about policing.”
“I thank the Minister for her answers. I understand that vacancies have affected the delivery of services, including in Roads. At a Committee meeting recently, you said that you recognised the importance of improving rural roads. A 2019 audit report called for the structural maintenance budget to be more fairly allocated across the rural road network. Will the Minister commit to greater coverage of the rural roads network in the structural maintenance budget, and will she cover those vacancies to deliver that programme?”
“Minister, the pandemic has clearly highlighted the deep-rooted disadvantage and deprivation across many parts of our community. Can the First Minister assure us that addressing social inequality will be at the core of any recovery strategy?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. The Minister will be aware that the community renewal fund was launched by the British Government as a main plank of the Shared Prosperity Fund. Can the Minister provide any information on that fund and whether there will be a consultation on trying to protect rural communities and giving them opportunities to access that scheme?”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire. I welcome the Minister's statement. Minister, I believe that you are serious about tackling waiting lists, but I will ask my question in this context: in the statement, you talked about taking a regional approach to the prioritisation of surgery and the use of the independent sector to restart services and reduce waiting lists. If we are serious about waiting lists, does that regional approach include the utilisation of cross-border services? What discussions have you had with your counterpart in the South about a regional and cross-border approach to addressing the issues?”
“I agree with the Minister and appreciate her answer. Will the Minister agree that gender-based violence leads to gender-specific issues that require gender-specific interventions? A strategy to deal with violence against women and girls would complement existing strategies and the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act.”
“Minister, one of the essential projects is the A5, and there is a lot of disappointment with the announcement last week about the delay. Why were the issues such as flood risk and the alternatives not raised during the first inquiry? The project has been on the go for 15 years, so we cannot understand why those issues were not raised earlier.”
“I welcome the Minister's commitment to building better homes. Will the removal of the historical debt and exemption from corporation tax enable the Housing Executive to begin building much-needed homes again?”
“In keeping with that sentiment, I want Members to remember where the true structural problems lie when scrutinising our budgets and to look towards real solutions and alternatives, such as employing our domestic powers so that we can have better control over our own destinies.”