Mark Durkan
Foyle · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“That review involved an extensive engagement exercise with charities, regulators and funders, aimed at creating a more modern and proportionate regulatory system.”
“When the review was commenced in 2021, many organisations were still in the midst of responding to the pandemic. Since then, they have faced a succession of new and evolving challenges. The ending of European funding programmes, on which so many in our communities relied for decades, has left a significant gap.”
“<BR /> <BR />The broad principles behind the Bill are sensible. The changes will modernise charity regulation, strengthen the Charity Commission's ability to intervene where misconduct or mismanagement occurs, improve information sharing and, importantly, reduce unnecessary red tape, particularly for smaller charities with limited adminis…”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak today. Before turning to the detail of the legislation — there will not even be that much detail in the debate today at Second Stage — I pay tribute to our charity sector. Across every constituency, charities provide support that changes and saves lives every single day.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst the SDLP supports legislation that removes unnecessary bureaucracy, we should not kid ourselves that administrative reform alone will secure the future of charities and organisations in the voluntary and community sector.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. Like other Members, I welcome the fact that we have reached this point. There seems to be consensus among Committee members and, I am sure, all Members that the introduction of these measures will save lives, which begs the question of whether the 10-year delay in introducing the measures had an opposi…”
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“Alban Maginness said that we should celebrate and, indeed, exploit the renewable energy sources at our disposal. This will boost not only our environment but our economy. He spoke of the community involvement, as did Mr Agnew, and referred to the project in Slaughtneil, which is a tangible example of how community benefit can and should work. <BR /> <BR />Mrs Overend, too, made some very interesting points, particularly in expressing the view that this subject causes division and polarises communities. It is strange to have a case where you have not just Nimbyism but "Imbyism". There are people who do not want them in their backyard, and there are others complaining that they are not in their backyard and someone else is getting the economic benefit of hosting a turbine.”
“I will see how I get on and maybe let you in during my last minute, thank you. <BR /> <BR />Lord Morrow spoke of the four major considerations throughout the drawing up of this report. We have touched on safety. There is still a debate about the noise. Is there noise? Is there not noise? How much of an impact might the noise have on individuals? How much of an annoyance might it cause to households? I suppose that it would be difficult to be subjected to a constant drone for hours on end; I am sure that the Speaker could sympathise with that. I have touched on the impact on property values and, indeed, the landscape impact. According to Lord Morrow, people are a bit sceptical. He called for a more strategic approach to dealing with wind energy applications. <BR /> <BR />Cathal Boylan raised some interesting points as well.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. Anything that I bring forward will be balanced. However, I am not sure that it will reflect the concerns that the Member has expressed there. It will consider them, but it will be balanced, and I am not sure what side it will come down on. <BR /> <BR />I have acknowledged and do acknowledge that improvements can and should be made to PPS 18. While we have placed a lot of stock in the SPPS, it is more of a vehicle to consolidate existing policy. I have used the opportunity to improve policy in some regards. However, I can give a commitment to the House that this policy and some others that might require further or more serious surgery, shall we say, will be reviewed in full, subsequent to the transfer of planning to councils. Lord Morrow spoke about the four main considerations —”
“There were some other interesting points raised by Members throughout the debate. Ms Lo referred to the transfer to councils of planning and responsibility for the vast majority of wind energy applications. We will all be interested to see how councils deal with the metamorphosis that they are undergoing from poacher to gamekeeper and how that might influence some of the very vociferously expressed views that they have had on wind energy to date. <BR /> <BR />There is more to be done on the economic considerations. I have touched on that and vowed to bring forward more detail on it. A point was also raised about the inadequacies of the current planning policy. Like beauty, inadequacy is in the eye of the beholder. If policy and systems do not give you the outcome that you want, they will be viewed as inadequate.”
“I do not think I would go so far as to describe it as idiotic, as Mr Frew did, but it certainly warrants further investigation. <BR /> <BR />There are, however, recommendations that fall outside the responsibility of my Department and may require consideration by other Departments and bodies. For example, there are recommendations in relation to community benefits, which is an important issue that was highlighted by Lord Morrow. Lord Morrow also raised the issue of the potential for property values to drop as a result of nearby wind energy development. The Committee report recommends that the developer gives consideration to providing compensation where there is clear and compelling evidence of that. While this is outwith the remit of my Department, I support that recommendation.”
“For example, several Members emphasised the need to review separation distances between wind farms or turbines and occupied properties, both from an amenity and a safety perspective. I agree that that needs further urgent consideration. I, too, was shocked and concerned about the recent collapse of the wind turbine in County Tyrone. I will ensure that any implications for my Department's renewable energy policy are fully addressed. <BR /> <BR />The Chair of the Committee, along with Lord Morrow and others, raised concerns that are also addressed in the Committee's report about the use of the ETSU-R-97 guidance. While I recognise that ETSU is currently the established UK-wide standard, having read the report and listened to the views expressed today, I am minded to investigate further the use of ETSU in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Other report recommendations can be taken forward through forthcoming renewable energy guidance that I intend to have in place in time for the transfer of planning powers to councils. For example, the guidance will help to address recommendations on community engagement, the liaison between my Department and councils on wind energy development, information to be submitted with renewable energy applications, assessing cumulative impact and the use of appropriate conditions when considering such developments. <BR /> <BR />As I recognised earlier, there is more work to be done. Further recommendations are likely to require additional research, policy development and public consultation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ms Lo and Mr Boylan also raised the importance of effective community engagement, which also features in the report. I agree wholeheartedly, and it is an essential part of the new reformed planning system. The final SPPS will also advise on those issues, including pre-application community consultation and the minimum requirements to be placed on a prospective applicant in relation to consultation with the community for major and regionally significant applications. <BR /> <BR />Another issue that was raised is the importance of safeguarding our sensitive landscapes. I will ensure that the final SPPS brings forward a cautious approach to renewable energy developments in designated landscapes.”
“I will shortly bring the final SPPS before the Executive in time for the transfer of planning powers to councils next month. <BR /> <BR />Returning to the wind energy report, I would like to address some of its recommendations and some of the comments made today. The recommendations set out in the report are wide-ranging and complex, and several will require further examination. However, where appropriate, I have been able to address some of the recommendations in the final SPPS. For example, the Chair of the Committee, Ms Lo, referred to the importance of properly defining how economic considerations are dealt with in determining planning applications. I deal with that in the final SPPS by setting out further detail on how economic considerations can and should be taken into account.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am aware of the strong and contrasting views — we heard some of them today — on renewable energy development. Indeed, they have been reflected here today and through the responses received following the public consultation on the draft SPPS. I recognise, going forward, that it is important that the right balance is struck between facilitating development in appropriate locations to meet renewable energy targets and protecting the exceptional quality of our natural environment. These are matters and issues that I am addressing in finalising the SPPS. <BR /> <BR />As Members will be aware, the SPPS is a radical new approach to preparing regional planning policy. It will result in a shorter, simpler and more strategic policy framework for all users of the planning system.”
“With five years to go and if all consented proposals are developed, that represents a significant contribution to the 40% target, which would be further supplemented by other forms of renewable energy development. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland produces in the region of 19·6% of energy requirements from renewable sources, the majority from wind energy. Existing planning policy for that form of development is set out in Planning Policy Statement 18 on renewable energy — PPS 18 — which is supported by its supplementary best practice guidance. Following the publication of PPS 18 in August 2009, my Department experienced a significant increase in planning applications for wind energy. For the period 2002-03 until the end of 2014, 89% of planning applications for wind energy development were approved.”
“I will return to those recommendations later, but I first wish to say a little about renewable energy development in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland has significant renewable energy resources and a vibrant renewable energy industry that makes an important contribution to achieving sustainable development and is a valuable provider of jobs and investment across the region. Making appropriate use of renewable energy sources is supported by wider government policy, including the regional development strategy 2035. <BR /> <BR />I turn to an issue raised earlier by Mr Wilson. DETI’s strategic energy framework for Northern Ireland sets a target of 40% energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020, which is equivalent to 1,600 megawatts of energy. To date, DOE has consented in excess of 1,100 megawatts from wind farms alone.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I have been allocated 15 minutes; I would happily give Basil five or 15. <BR /> <BR />I begin by thanking Anna Lo, Chairperson of the Environment Committee, for proposing the motion. I also acknowledge the work of the Committee, its research team and all those who provided evidence during the wind energy inquiry. This very useful report is evidently the product of an extensive and thorough inquiry process that is to be commended. I am also grateful to Members for their contributions today. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Committee’s report and, although I have only recently seen it, I am content to consider further and address the Committee’s recommendations that fall within my Department’s remit, subject to normal due processes.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I was listening intently to the Member and wondering whether he was saying that there is a three-party agreement that there was no four-party agreement?”
“In the absence of regulations, councils will have to set their own standing orders and determine their own processes for call-in and how QMV will operate. <BR /> <BR />Meanwhile, it appears that we will have to go back to the drawing board and possibly look at changes to primary legislation if we are to achieve consensus. It has been outlined by one of my party colleagues that this is a backward step. That should not be lost on anyone here today. While we seek to get consensus, councils will still be required, as set out in the Local Government Act, to operate a call-in process and introduce qualified majority voting. <BR /> <BR />I am disappointed at the outcome today, but I thank the Chair of the Committee and other Members for their support for the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />Equally, other councils could decide to exclude certain decisions from the call-in process, for example, around flags, council name and language policy. That would run counter to the council's responsibility to represent everyone in that local government district and to the objective of providing protections for the interests of the different communities within that district. <BR /> <BR />Mr Boylan asked what many people will be asking: where do we go after today? It seems that the House has failed to agree these regulations. As a result, it is not serving local government and communities well. The 11 new councils are still finding their feet and were looking to the Assembly to provide certainty in the mandatory elements of the standing orders.”
“As I said already, that will also lead to different approaches being taken by different councils on the decisions that must be taken by a qualified majority and on the process to be followed when a decision is called in. The lack of a clearly specified process will result in some councils providing for all decisions, including those to do with planning and licensing applications, to be subject to the call-in process. That could prevent the council acting effectively as the local planning authority if decisions are constantly delayed because of the call-in process. There is already a well-defined mechanism for challenging planning decisions through the Planning Appeals Commission.”
“<BR /> <BR />The regulations would add important detail to new governance arrangements for councils provided in the 2014 Act and would ensure that a consistent approach was adopted by councils to protecting the interests of minority communities in their decision-making and to the sharing of membership of committees across political parties and independents. The failure to approve the draft regulations today will leave the councils without a clear direction on the provisions that they must include in their standing orders on those very important matters, less than six weeks before they take on their full responsibilities on 1 April.”
“The irony should not be lost on anyone — I know that it was certainly not lost on Mr Eastwood — that a petition of concern has been deployed today to thwart a mechanism that would protect minorities. I wonder whether today's use of a petition of concern would have got through any filter mechanism. <BR /> <BR />Call-in has not really been thwarted, though, and Mr Weir has pointed that out. Call-in and QMV are enshrined in legislation and, in the interim, before we agree on regulations, and hopefully we can, councils will be left to their own discretion — in some cases, their own devices, I fear — as to when the mechanisms should be used. That is far from satisfactory. To use Mr McCallister's term, it is a recipe for dysfunction.”
“It would allow consistency across councils and not create the carte blanche system that Mr Weir fears may be created. <BR /> <BR />Mr Elliott also made the perfectly valid point that different legal professionals will inevitably have different opinions and that, occasionally, councillors may think that those opinions are wrong. It would take a brave or foolish council to disregard legal advice and plough on regardless. <BR /> <BR />Mr Eastwood queried whether there might be more to the opposition from the DUP than meets the eye, or the ear. I guess that, as we dust ourselves down after today's debate and attempt to negotiate new regulations, the real issues may come to the fore.”
“Those are matters that could be blocked with the support of the regulations, and people could be protected.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Committee Chair and others who contributed to the debate today. Ms Lo gave a detailed account of the Committee's consideration of and support for the regulations, albeit she raised slight concerns and asked some questions around such issues as the criteria for call-in. <BR /> <BR />I listened intently to Mr Weir and wondered what his old friends in NILGA might think about decision-making powers being taken off councillors and given to legal professionals. I am now even more intrigued as to the use of the petition of concern by the DUP today, particularly given recent decisions made by councils that have caused such outrage and hurt. Mr Elliott raised one and Mr Humphrey raised another.”
“<BR /> <BR />I ask the Assembly to approve the draft regulations.”
“<BR /> <BR />When the 2014 Act was being considered by the Assembly, Members agreed that provision should be made for the procedure for appointing councillors to committees. That is to ensure that the membership of a committee reflects the political balance of the council, and it was agreed that that should apply across all committees, if a council appoints more than one committee at the same meeting. Such an approach ensures that political parties with lower levels of representation on a council, and independents, would thereby have the opportunity to serve on a committee. Part 4 of the schedule to the regulations specifies the procedure that must operate in those circumstances. It follows closely the provisions in the Assembly's Standing Orders on the membership of Statutory Committees.”
“<BR /> <BR />The third aspect of the new governance arrangements for which provision is made in the regulations is to do with the operation of either the d'Hondt or Sainte-Laguë method for filling positions of responsibility. The regulations provide the timescales for the relevant steps in the process specified in the 2014 Act. The provisions should ensure that the process for filling positions of responsibility by one of those methods, at the first meeting of a council following a local election, is not prolonged unnecessarily. The provision of the ability of a council to extend that time frame ensures that there is the flexibility necessary to accommodate exceptional circumstances, should the need arise.”
“Those include decisions where there is already statutory provision for an appeal against the council's decision; for example, the granting of an entertainments licence or, from 1 April this year, a planning application. Decisions where an undue delay would result in the breach of a statutory duty by a council, or where such a delay would be prejudicial either to the council's interest or to the public interest, are also excluded from the reconsideration process, as are decisions that simply note a report from, or the actions of, an officer. The final category of decisions that will not be subject to the reconsideration process concerns decisions that must be taken by a special resolution of the council, as such decisions are required to be approved by more than a simple majority.”
“To do otherwise could result in processes being adopted by individual councils that may not provide appropriate or adequate protections. <BR /> <BR />The process specified in the regulations was developed with the direct input of a number of senior officers from local government and is designed to strike an appropriate balance between the administrative procedures of a council for the preparation and publication of the minutes of a meeting of a committee, and the need to ensure that the business of the council can be transacted in a timely and effective manner, allowing for the facility for members to request the reconsideration of a decision. <BR /> <BR />The regulations provide that a small number of categories of decision will not be subject to the reconsideration process.”
“The main provision in the regulations is the prescription of the detailed process to be adopted by a council for the reconsideration of a decision in response to a request for such reconsideration being submitted to the clerk of the council. The process covers decisions taken by a council, a committee of a council and decisions taken under executive arrangements. This will ensure that a consistent approach is adopted by all councils to this important new feature of the governance arrangements for councils. <BR /> <BR />I wish to underline that the call-in of a decision is already provided for in primary legislation through the 2014 Act. It is, therefore, very important that councils are now provided with a consistent methodology for operating call-in.”
“Provision for this process is made in section 41 of the 2014 Act, which provides that a council's standing orders must make provision requiring reconsideration of a decision if 15% of the members of a council present to the clerk of the council a requisition on either or both of the following grounds:”
“A council may not, however, suspend the mandatory standing orders specified in these regulations under any circumstances. The specification of these additional decisions will provide further support for the protection of the interests of minority communities in council decision-making. <BR /> <BR />A key mechanism for providing protection for the interests of minority communities in council decision-making is the introduction of a call-in process. Importantly, this was agreed by the representatives of the five main political parties on the strategic leadership board's policy development panel on governance and relationships.”
“The Act provides that a decision on the adoption of executive arrangements by a council, a decision to use a method other than d'Hondt for the filling of positions of responsibility on a council, and the use of droop quota rather than quota greatest remainder for appointing councillors to committees must be taken by a qualified majority. <BR /> <BR />The regulations specify decisions that must be taken by a qualified majority, in addition to those already provided for in the Act. The regulations provide that a decision on a call-in made under section 41(1)(b) of the 2014 Act — in other words, a call-in on the grounds of disproportionate adverse effect on any section of the inhabitants of the district — must be taken by a qualified majority, as must a decision to suspend a council's standing orders.”
“The Assembly, when it agreed many of the provisions of the Local Government Act 2014, accepted the need for a legislative framework to be in place to ensure a consistent approach to the governance arrangements of the new councils. <BR /> <BR />The 2014 Act, which was passed by the Assembly on 8 April last year, introduced mechanisms to provide protections for the interests of minority communities in council decision-making as an integral aspect of the new governance arrangements. Provision is made in that Act that a council's standing orders must specify decisions that are required to be taken by a qualified majority. In relation to a decision, a qualified majority means 80% of the votes of members present and voting on the decision.”
“<BR /> <BR />The purpose of the regulations is to prescribe provisions for the governance arrangements of a council that must be incorporated by a council in the standing orders it makes for the regulation of its proceedings and business: in other words, the specification of mandatory standing orders. These add to the governance provisions in the 2014 Act. <BR /> <BR />The specification of certain mandatory standing orders for the transaction of council business will ensure that a consistent approach to the relevant matters is adopted across all 11 new councils. Whilst each council is a locally elected body answerable to its electorate, it is elected to represent all the people who reside in the relevant local government district.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. The regulations are being made under section 38 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014. Section 127(3) of the Act provides that the draft regulations must be laid before and approved by a resolution of the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />I remind the House that the principles set out in the regulations are already enshrined in primary legislation. The House voted for call-in and qualified majority voting (QMV) as part of the Local Government Act 2014. Furthermore, the regulations were widely consulted on and passed through the Committee without challenge. I find it difficult, therefore, to understand why a petition of concern has been tabled at this very late stage and look forward to hearing an explanation.”
“— just as I have almost run out of time. We would very much like to leave here today with a clear message for people out there on how we are driving the Magee issue forward together.”
“There is a commitment from the subgroup to develop the north-west economy, and Magee's expansion is pivotal to that. I am at a loss, therefore, as to why the DUP would attempt to dilute that commitment through its amendment. <BR /> <BR />To deliver this expansion, we will need more than the Minister for Employment and Learning's best intentions. He will need the support of the Executive, and I include myself in that. The SDLP will support any bid to secure the resources required for this vital project. I will also happily support any bid to finance the building of the new learning block, for which I granted planning permission last year. In the near future, I believe that that might at least allow the Minister to signal his intent and the Executive to signal theirs. This issue has run on for too long —”
“That is why we cannot support today's amendment, which weakens our motion. While we seek to affirm the commitment to the One Plan targets, the amendment seeks to note it — to note it. This has been an issue for 50 years. It is a time to act, not a time to note. The amendment also gives sole responsibility for driving the issue to the Minister for Employment and Learning, absolving Executive colleagues. <BR /> <BR />At the recently and probably belatedly established Executive subgroup or task force on the north-west, there was a clear recognition of the benefits to be derived from increasing and enhancing skills in that area. Better courses and qualifications will do more to attract investors than any new rate of corporation tax. That applies anywhere, but as much, if not more so, in the north-west.”
“The expansion of Magee has been delivered; the expansion of Magee probably will not be delivered; the expansion of Magee will be delivered, and we will back any bid to expand Magee. People in Derry who are outside the loop genuinely have trouble keeping up with these developments and subsequent lack of development. Was it in the last Programme for Government? One of the reasons why the SDLP voted against the last Programme for Government was its explicit omission, although we were told at the time that a wee nod to the One Plan would suffice. Now, the very omission of Magee from that Programme for Government has been used as an excuse for not having progressed the issue with any real intent. <BR /> <BR />People need to know what is happening, and we would very much like to leave here today with a clear message for them.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention, but I do not believe that the abuse and suffering that all parts of the North suffered at the hands of terrorists of all hues during the conflict here should be replicated or repeated by government through neglect. Unfortunately, there are still groups that, to this day, are only too willing to exploit the feeling in Derry and those other areas that you mentioned that government is neglecting them. They can point up here and say, "What has really changed?", and that as-yet-untreated wound in Derry's psyche makes it very easy for nefarious groupings to do just that. <BR /> <BR />There is also quite a degree of confusion out there as to what is happening with Magee. It is a kind of, "Now you see it, now you don't".”
“<BR /> <BR />Even to those who do not fully understand the vital contribution that a university makes, the cavalcade to Belfast all those years ago is synonymous with the campaign for civil rights, and the fact that we are not much further on with the building of a motorway to Belfast, never mind the building of a bigger university, gives rise to the suspicion among people in the north-west that they are still being treated as second-class citizens.”
“Fifty years on from the publication of the Lockwood committee report, Derry's status as a university city has still not been realised. While the Magee campus has punched above its weight in academic excellence as well as achievements in many other spheres across society, no one would or could argue that there is not a long, long way to go. Across the world, people recognise the contribution made by universities in driving cites forward, allowing them to become vibrant hubs of employment and culture, driving the economy and enriching society. People in Derry and across the north-west recognise that, too, and that is why the failure thus far to rectify that wilful decision all those years ago to deny Derry a university still causes so much hurt, anger and plain despair in our part of the world.”
“I thank the Member for giving way, and I again welcome the commitment from the Minister. However, will the Member accept that people have had commitments made and heard them before? He referred to commitments from his party colleagues on the bedroom tax and, indeed, to the commitment from the deputy First Minister on bedroom tax. Does the Member agree that this is not the first commitment that the deputy First Minister has given on bedroom tax? At his 2013 ard-fheis, he gave a commitment to deploy a petition of concern to block the bedroom tax.”
“Unlike the Members on my right, Mrs Kelly does not jump to DUP demands. The Member said that the issue on clause 69 could not be clearer. He refers to the mitigation measures that we have received commitments on, and I welcome them. However, they are not clear in what we are here to debate today. We are here to debate and shape legislation, and those mitigation measures are not clear in that.”
“Last year actually saw an increase in road deaths. Fortunately, although it is very early this year, the awful start that we had to last year has not been mirrored. However, from the fatalities last year, we can see that speed remains the biggest single causation factor of fatalities on our roads, and, therefore, it is often at the centre of our advertising and information campaigns reminding people of the need to kill their speed before they kill someone.”
“However, this year, my discretionary spend across the Department is somewhere in the region of £1·5 million, which is less than we actually spent on road safety advertising last year. Therefore, it is imperative that we look at more creative ways of spending that money. I certainly will not be forgoing the television route altogether, but it is important that we are more creative in how we use that money and we continue to support television advertising with enhanced education programmes, better use of social media and enhanced work with our road safety partners, both in other statutory agencies and in the PSNI, and also in the voluntary and community sector, where we have very good working relationships with the likes of the GAA and the Ulster Farmers' Union.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am aware of the Member's keen interest in road safety. I know that we will be debating his private Member's Bill next week on 20 mph speed limits in residential areas. <BR /> <BR />The Member quite rightly identifies the effectiveness of television advertising in promoting road safety and driving down the number of collisions that result in fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. However, it is with great regret that, due to budgetary constraints, the amount that we will be able to spend on that will be dramatically reduced this year. <BR /> <BR />Last year, £1·8 million was spent on television advertising. All the evidence is there to show that television advertising has proved to be very effective and has a huge impact on the viewer.”
“I have asked the agency to progress with urgency the positive steps that it has begun with Newry and Mourne to deliver a secure and sustainable future for Narrow Water Keep and other sites in the area to increase its contribution to the area's heritage tourism potential.”
“I believe that local engagement is vital. To that effect, I have instructed my officials to explore new and different ways to develop increased access opportunities at all of our heritage sites. As I said, I believe that local engagement is the key to the partnerships that we require for the future at sites like Narrow Water Keep, Dundrum Castle and so many others across the North. Officials are keen to work with local stakeholders and community groups and to enlist support from local authorities in particular. Current partnerships with other local authorities, such as Derry, Fermanagh and Cookstown, exemplify how positive and beneficial for the local heritage that can be.”
“<BR /> <BR />It will be a challenge to retain the opening of both those buildings and, indeed, other sites in the area, as it is challenging at present. NIEA officers met local councillors and council officials from Newry and Mourne District Council in December to discuss the opening of Narrow Water Keep in particular. The meeting considered the potential for working in partnership to open the site. My officials are continuing that positive dialogue with the aim of a proactive arrangement for opening and improved access in 2015 and beyond.”
“Narrow Water Keep and, indeed, Dundrum Castle are two of over 190 monuments in state care that are managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on behalf of my Department. My Department has spent over £45,000 on the maintenance of the historic fabric of Narrow Water Keep since 2012, and I am committed to improving the presentation of the structure for its many visitors. That will not be easy as that particular building suffers from water ingress, possibly as the result of bomb damage in the past. My officials are investigating that issue and have been trialling solutions. The NIEA craft workforce plans to undertake a comprehensive grouting regime to the core of the walls, should the trials prove that that is required.”