Nichola Mallon
North Belfast · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I have had the very moving opportunity to meet families who have tragically lost a loved one on that stretch of road. That was an important opportunity for me to hear at first hand their experience and the experiences of the local community as they try to go about their everyday business while living in close proximity to a key transport…”
“I take safety on our rural roads very seriously. My Department continues to be actively committed to improving safety on our roads and to work closely with our road safety partners to deliver a programme of road safety education, engineering and enforcement activities.”
“I thank Mr Muir and all the members of the Infrastructure Committee for very constructive working relationships. At times, those working relationships were tense, but they were always very constructive — I mean that.”
“It was important to me to take forward the motor insurance legislation to try to protect people against a hike of up to £50 in their motor insurance premiums. Members will be aware that I took the decision to freeze any hike in public transport fares.”
“That commenced a consultation process that is open until 6 May. I encourage anyone with an interest in this significant project to make their views known during the consultation period. <BR /> <BR />In advance of the major upgrade, it is important that we do what we can to improve road safety.”
“I have announced my intention to extend the concessionary fares scheme to provide free travel for people with disabilities who currently pay half fare and to new operators who have already indicated or expressed an interest in joining. I am aware that many people with a disability have limited travel options.”
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“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Chair for her comments and questions. I absolutely agree on the importance of ensuring that as many citizens as possible can access open spaces. As the Chair of the Infrastructure Committee rightly points out, it delivers multiple physical and mental health and well-being benefits. That is one of the things that we have learnt the value of as a result of the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />The Member will be aware of the investment in our greenways that I announced. She may also know about the £5 million contribution that my Department made to the revitalisation fund, which was a joint venture by my Department, the Department for Communities and DAERA to support councils. My contribution is about ensuring that we can maximise open and accessible spaces for all our citizens.”
“Finally, I want to place on record my thanks to those ministerial colleagues across the BIC member Administrations who participated so productively in the joint ministerial meeting. I look forward to learning about the outcomes arising from the collaborative spatial planning forward work plan and associated ministerial meeting, which it was agreed should take place in 2023. I am happy to take questions from Members in respect of the spatial planning elements of the joint ministerial meeting.”
“As an Assembly, we have already acknowledged that we need to revitalise our town centres, and, as we start to emerge from the pandemic and the focus moves to a post-COVID recovery, an opportunity exists to consider how spatial planning can support our places to build back better and tackle the climate crisis. In this context, the British-Irish Council continues to offer an essential framework for sharing challenges and best practices across the Administrations.”
“The forward work plan identifies a number of areas of focus, including the contribution of spatial planning to the revitalisation of towns, the contribution of spatial planning to building better places in the context of COVID recovery, the continued sharing of best practice in relation to national and regional planning frameworks, and the promotion of expert learning and experience sharing across the member Administrations. <BR /> <BR />The agreement of this forward work plan is particularly timely and aligns with many of the ambitions of my Department to create better places in which people want to live, do business and spend their leisure time.”
“The booklet, titled 'Creating an Inclusive Future Vision for our Ageing Populations', focuses on the implications of the changing demography of the BIC Administrations and the potential impact of an ageing population on spatial planning and housing. It builds on a symposium event on ageing, which was held in Belfast in November 2019, and aims to provide key advice for those working in housing and spatial planning. It shares some best practice examples of how places, and the housing within those places, can be developed to meet the needs of our ageing populations. <BR /> <BR />Ministers also noted and agreed the content of a forward work plan for the collaborative spatial planning work sector up to 2023.”
“The British Government were represented by the Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Welsh Government were represented by Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government. <BR /> <BR />Ministers considered and reflected on papers from each of the work sectors that were presented at the ministerial meeting, which included a discussion on challenges and opportunities for the housing and spatial planning sectors. Ministers also endorsed a joint publication prepared by both work sectors on the key spatial planning and housing challenges associated with an ageing population.”
“The Government of Guernsey were represented by Deputy Victoria Oliver, President of the Development and Planning Authority. The Government of Ireland were represented Mr Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Mr Peter Burke TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Isle of Man Government were represented by the Hon Tim Baker MHK, Minister for Infrastructure, and the Hon Ray Harmer MHK, Minister for Policy and Reform. The Government of Jersey were represented by Deputy John Young, Minister for the Environment, and Deputy Russell Labey, Minister for Housing and Communities. The Scottish Government were represented by Mr Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.”
“<BR /> <BR />The British-Irish Council collaborative spatial planning work sector is chaired by my Department on behalf of the Executive. The group provides a constructive forum for facilitating thematic evidence exchange and the sharing of best practice, and it promotes practical collaboration. The joint ministerial meeting on 25 February focused on the joint work that the collaborative spatial planning work sector has recently taken forward in conjunction with the housing work sector and considered how these work sectors can enable BIC member Administrations to continue to work together on the key areas of planning and housing, particularly in the context of the impact of COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />As I previously highlighted, Minister Hargey, junior Minister Middleton and I represented the Executive.”
“Given the joint nature of the meeting, I propose to make a statement on the spatial planning elements of it. I understand that Minister Hargey will make a similar, separate statement on the housing elements of the same meeting. Members will note that to ensure appropriate community representation at the meeting, junior Minister Middleton was also in attendance, and he is aware that I am making this statement to the Assembly today. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that the British-Irish Council, established in 1999, is a forum for its members to discuss, consult and use their best endeavours to reach agreement on cooperation on matters of mutual interest within the competence of its member Administrations.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, and in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make the following statement to the Assembly in respect of a joint British-Irish Council (BIC) ministerial meeting of the collaborative spatial planning and housing work sectors, which was held virtually on 25 February 2021. <BR /> <BR />I co-chaired the joint ministerial meeting with the Minister for Communities, Minister Hargey.”
“Mr Allister may always look for conspiracies and misgivings. I can assure him that he can look for conspiracies all that he wants but he will find none. <BR /> <BR />There was a single-item agenda because the post had been filled on an interim basis since April 2019, and it was imperative that the NSMC appointed, without delay, the candidate who had been selected through an open recruitment competition. The previous sectoral meeting was held in November 2020, so it would have been inappropriate to hold a full sectoral meeting so soon. It would also have been inappropriate to wait and make the appointment at the next sectoral meeting, scheduled for May 2021. The only other option was to have a sectoral meeting with a single-item agenda to appoint the successful candidate to the post of chief executive officer.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He utilises language and terminologies that I would choose not to. However, if I may use his own word to answer, Brexit has "trashed" things. That is why none of us wanted it.”
“As the Member points out, Mr John McDonagh was in the role on an interim basis and, through an open recruitment competition, he was selected to fill the post of chief executive on a four-year contract. Mr McDonagh was involved in the development of the corporate plan and has been leading on the 10-year strategy that will encompass many of the issues that are in focus. I have been in correspondence with Mr McDonagh since he took up the post, and I am firmly convinced of his commitment to ensure that we maximise our natural assets to the benefit of all our citizens.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Given that the meeting had a one-item agenda, that issue was not discussed. The Member will be aware of my commitment to the Narrow Water bridge project and the fact that it is a New Decade, New Approach commitment. I share her frustrations. I am firmly of the view that had we had a functioning Assembly and Executive, the project would be much further advanced. <BR /> <BR />Of course, as we continue to engage with all stakeholders, we will take the views of everyone who has a clear interest in the project. We want to be sure that we get the right outcome and that we can deliver it at the earliest opportunity.”
“I believe that it is time for all of us to get back to that shared agenda, particularly as we seek to build our shared home place. <BR /> <BR />I am also very mindful of the importance of democratic accountability and scrutiny, and when Ministers make statements to the House, it is important that all Members have the opportunity to hold them to account.”
“I thank the Member for his very pertinent question. I share his ambitions for more collaborative working across this island and, indeed, across all these islands. It is a fact that, in Ireland, in Northern Ireland and in Britain the challenges of COVID, the disruption of Brexit and the crisis of the climate emergency are shared areas that Governments and communities need to address. It is my view that the bodies of the Good Friday Agreement that were to increase cooperation and collaboration are as important as ever. It is vital that all of us in this place seek a way to work through our challenges for our citizens, working in partnership, given that, as I said in my response to Mr Muir, challenges know no borders and neither should their solutions.”
“The committee has an independent chair and two external members and has unrestricted access to the internal and external auditors. The committee has access to the work of internal audit, and it approves the internal audit work plan and receives reports on various aspects of internal control. <BR /> <BR />The Member will be aware of my commitment on the Newry southern relief road. We continue to engage with stakeholders, and there is a very clear view emerging locally that the preference is for a lifting bridge, so we are factoring that into the options.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Waterways Ireland is accountable to the Department for Infrastructure, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the North/South Ministerial Council. Ministers discharge their oversight responsibilities in respect of Waterways Ireland through the NSMC. That includes consideration and agreement of the budget and corporate and business plans and progress towards agreed business targets and project milestones. I assure the Member that quarterly monitoring meetings are also held, chaired by senior civil servants from both Departments. Moreover, the chief executive officer and appropriate directors attend to account for business performance and corporate governance. <BR /> <BR />Waterways Ireland's audit committee also meets quarterly.”
“We will continue to ensure that we maximise all efforts, but, given the significant input and impact that European Union funding has had in the North, that will be a challenge. However, we will continue in all our roles to seek to maximise funding opportunities wherever they occur.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I would like to put on record my support for the Member regarding the disgusting abuse that she has had to put up with. It is an issue that is affecting an increasing number of women right across political and public life, and we should not countenance it or give it solace in any way. <BR /> <BR />In respect of funding, as the Member points out, there will be challenges. The new chief executive is very much focused on the 10-year strategy for Waterways Ireland. Part of that work will ensure scoping and maximising the funding opportunities available. There is funding provided by my Department and the corresponding Department in the South.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We hear a lot of discussion about the Good Friday Agreement, and there is a lot of focus on it. That is absolutely correct, but, as the Member will know, there are three strands to the agreement. It is the responsibility and obligation of all of us to ensure that we live up to our responsibilities and duties under all the strands. Be it COVID, Brexit or the climate emergency, we face all those challenges. They know no borders, so the solutions should not be restricted to borders. I urge all MLAs and all Ministers to continue to work in partnership so that we can collectively and collaboratively address the challenges that face all our citizens across these islands.”
“Sadly, EU funding will no longer be available in the North, with the exception of PEACE PLUS, which the EU has committed to continuing to allocate.”
“I thank the Member for her question. She raises an important issue, given how Brexit has impacted on our lives right across this island. As I indicated in my response to Mr Boylan, there were no day-one issues in Waterways Ireland, and the organisation continued on a business-as-usual basis. Going forward, EU directives will no longer apply, which could lead to an incremental divergence in legislation and in compliance with procurement directives that will not apply. That may see rules change. In the short term, however, rules are likely to remain the same. Any additional procurement regime will bring added administration, but Waterways Ireland has considered the implication of the need to migrate to a new tender advertising portal platform.”
“The annual socio-economic value of improved health outcomes from local population access to 200 kilometres of greenway for walking and cycling is estimated at €14·4 million. That is an agenda that we are committed to advancing. <BR /> <BR />I can advise that, as a result of preparations carried out by Waterways Ireland, there were no issues on day one of having left the European Union, and it has been business as usual. Of course, as we proceed, there may be some divergence in directives, but Waterways Ireland continues to work hard to keep the situation closely monitored.”
“I am happy to give the Member an update on the Ulster canal greenway. Waterways Ireland, in collaboration with Monaghan County Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, and East Border Region Ltd took the lead in submitting an application for INTERREG funding for the project. The application was successful, and just under €5 million was allocated towards the cost of the greenway. The Ulster canal greenway strategy, devised by Waterways Ireland in collaboration with local authority partners along the Ulster canal corridor, identified 12 potential greenway routes, totalling almost 200 kilometres in length. This project comprises two of them: Smithborough to Monaghan and, as the Member highlighted, Monaghan to Middletown.”
“We appointed Mr John McDonagh as chief executive officer of Waterways Ireland for a term of four years, with effect from 1 March 2021. We agreed to hold our next NSMC inland waterways meeting in May 2021.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make a statement regarding the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) inland waterways meeting that was held in the North/South Ministerial Council joint secretariat headquarters in Armagh and by videoconference on 3 February 2021. The Executive were represented by me, as Minister for Infrastructure, and Gary Middleton, the Executive Office's junior Minister. The Irish Government were represented by Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Minister Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform. This statement has been agreed with junior Minister Middleton, and I am making it on behalf of us both. <BR /> <BR />I chaired the meeting, which had only one item on the agenda.”
“That is an important point. In addition to my previous answer, I make the point that, if Members have constituents who have mobility and disability issues, they should encourage them to apply to the Department for Infrastructure to be included in the blue badge scheme. That will not address the overriding problem, but it may bring some easement and comfort to constituents who find themselves in that difficult situation.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He is right. Evaluation work was carried out on the back of that pilot scheme, and I await the submission detailing the evaluation and analysis. I have not as yet received it, but I hope to receive it shortly. I have already given a commitment in the House that I will publish that report, because I am cognisant of the fact that Members have an interest in the issue and of the fact that residents across Northern Ireland have a keen interest in it, given the difficulties with parking in their areas.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We need to first establish the facts. We need to be very clear on what the wedding car industry representatives and members have been able to avail themselves of. I understand that they have been able to avail themselves of a number of schemes at UK Government level and at Executive level. I am not responsible for administering the Department for the Economy's part B scheme, but I have had it confirmed in writing that taxi operators are eligible. It would seem to be fair and only right that the wedding car industry, which is also being impacted by the current restrictions, should also be eligible for that scheme. I am happy to write to the Minister for the Economy to establish whether that is the case and to share that correspondence with the Member.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I have engaged with representatives of the wedding car industry. I am aware that a number have been able to avail themselves of support schemes to date through the Department for the Economy. Individual drivers within the industry will also have been eligible for the taxi driver financial assistance scheme that I have brought forward.”
“As I said, there are multiple benefits to be had from the project, working through to its completion. One is around efficiencies, and, no doubt, one will be on the issue of smell that the Member referred to. When we provide you with the written update, I will make sure that we also address that issue.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I assume that he is referring to the Power to X project, which is a collaborative piece between the Department for the Economy and Northern Ireland Water. As he said, it is an innovative project. It is about seeing whether we can drive forward the opportunities and the potential within our economy for hydrogen. If it proves to work, and I have no doubt that it will, it will also be able to deliver efficiencies for Northern Ireland Water. Multiple benefits are to be had from it. Work on that continues, but I am happy to provide the very latest update on that project for the Member in writing.”
“I also encourage Members, in engagement with their elected representatives and communities, to raise awareness of the issue. The Minister of Health and the Minister of Education, understandably, can point very emotively to the challenges that their Departments are trying to deal with. When you turn on your tap, you get water. When you get showered, you get water, but you do not realise how much of a challenge it is. I look to Members to help me and Northern Ireland Water in raising the importance of the issue.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The Member may know that Northern Ireland Water has been engaging in an extensive consultation and information exercise with all the councils to make them aware of the challenges within their own areas. That is particularly important as councils develop their local development plans. All councils, in developing their local development plans, recognise the importance of ensuring that they provide housing for their citizens. They also recognise the economic multiplier that is derived from that, particularly for the construction industry. Northern Ireland Water will continue to engage on that front, and my Department is also working closely with the councils as they develop their local development plans.”
“If we do not invest in our water and waste water infrastructure, we will not be able to build the many social and affordable homes that we need, we will not be able to stimulate our economy, we will not be able to create the employment that our citizens need, we will not be able to tackle the climate emergency and, in fact, we will not be able to achieve the objectives that we have all signed up to in the Programme for Government.”
“I thank the Member for her question. She raises a very important issue. Members will be aware that a £2 billion investment is required in our water and waste water infrastructure for the next price control period. That reflects a capital requirement as well as a resource requirement. Members will be aware from the draft Budget that the proposed resource budget for my Department has been cut. <BR /> <BR />I absolutely recognise the importance of building many more new social and affordable homes. I have supported the Communities Minister in her representations on that issue to the Executive. The truth is that 116 locations across Northern Ireland are now either at or beyond their developmental capacity.”
“I set aside £12 million for a road recovery fund, £10 million of which is for rural roads, because I am very much committed to tackling regional imbalance. I have bid throughout this financial year for additional moneys for structural maintenance. In fact, we have seen an 11% increase in the money being allocated. Again, I take that issue seriously because I recognise that it is important to residents right across Northern Ireland.”
“To address the first point, Mr Givan, I did not stop driving tests. The Executive, of which your party is a member, took the decision to stop driving tests, because they are a close-contact service, to keep citizens safe. Ever since, my Department and the DVA have had plans in place to reinstate driving tests as soon as the restrictions end. Given that the Executive have rolled on those restrictions, we have adapted accordingly, and we have published our plans. I take the situation very seriously, and we continue to do all that we can to fully reinstate services in a safe way as soon as possible. <BR /> <BR />On the issue of finance, I set aside £75 million for the structural maintenance fund, which was the same as last year.”
“<BR /> <BR />The DVA continues to increase its capacity by recruiting additional examiners and will offer appointments on Saturdays and in the evenings as we move into spring and the brighter nights. The DVA will also use overtime to rota off-shift dual-role driving examiners to provide further capacity.”
“The DVA opened its driving test booking system for all customers on 5 October, but, since then, the service has been significantly disrupted due to further COVID restrictions introduced by the Executive. Following the announcement of the Executive's post-Christmas restrictions, driving tests have ceased from 28 December to 5 March. To help to mitigate the impact on customers who are waiting patiently to take their driving test, I brought forward legislation to extend the validity of theory test pass certificates. When driving tests resume again, the DVA is planning to reopen the booking service in phases, based on the expiry date of theory test pass certificates to give priority to those who have been waiting the longest time.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) resumed driving tests for private cars from 1 September 2020, prioritising tests for key workers and those who had had their tests cancelled between March and June 2020.”
“I thank the Member for her question. A request for additional funding was examined by my Department and by the Department for Communities, as I understand it. The issue of increased financial support is one that has to be pictured in the round. A number of councils have seen an increase in income, for example, as well as outgoing costs. Therefore, if any work were to be taken forward on that, it would need to look at all the factors. It is something that I will look at, but, as far as I am aware, the Department for Communities has replied that it would not be in a position to increase funding at this time.”
“The Member may recall from a recent Assembly debate on ammonia that I had written to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, who advised that the work on the ammonia strategy, including a review of its operational protocol, is in its final stages of preparation prior to public consultation. While that has led to delays in determining a number of applications for agricultural development, I hope that future DAERA advice, based on up-to-date scientific data and consistent with recent case law, will see councils in a position where they have confidence to make such determinations.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I fully appreciate the concern about the scale and complexity of the ammonia problem in Northern Ireland and the need to protect human health and our natural environment. It is an issue of regional significance and presents a significant challenge to planning authorities in determining applications for ammonia-emitting development proposals. DAERA, as the statutory nature conservation body, has policy responsibility in relation to the impact of ammonia nitrates on the environment and acts as a statutory consultee to the planning system. Its statutory consultation input is informed by an operational protocol relating to ammonia and nitrates deposition. DAERA accepts that its protocol needs to be revised.”
“I assure the Member that I have worked extremely closely with DAERA, the Department for Transport, the Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK to understand the up-to-date picture for road hauliers at a local and UK-wide level. I keep the situation under close examination. The most recent logistics performance tracker report from December 2020, provided by Logistics UK, shows that only 1·2% of HGVs are parked up and that only 1% of drivers are currently furloughed. <BR /> <BR />I agree wholeheartedly with the Member that hauliers are being impacted by Brexit, and that is why I continue to work with all my Executive colleagues in our representations to the British Government and others to ensure that we get the easements that are required and work with the industry as a cohesive Executive.”
“I continue to keep financial support for the industry as a result of COVID-19 under review. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that hauliers faced additional impacts arising from Brexit in January. However, those difficulties and financial costs relate in the main to trade and customs matters, many of which need to be resolved by the British Government working with other Departments. Everyone working in the haulage industry has rallied to take on the challenges of COVID-19, and I am thankful for everything that they are doing to keep supply chains moving in these difficult times.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I understand the pressures that have faced road hauliers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Northern Ireland needs haulage drivers and all other logistics professionals to keep supply chains moving. To ensure the continuing flow of goods into and out of Northern Ireland, last year I put in place a range of regulatory measures, including a suspension of all MOT tests for commercial vehicles and relaxations of other requirements. I also considered the evidence provided by the sector of the financial pressures faced by haulage operators because of the impact of COVID-19 and recognised that some sectors have been impacted more than others. However, the exceptional circumstances threshold required by the Financial Assistance Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 has not been met.”
“As Minister for Infrastructure, I never set out with the intention to hand money back; in fact, in this financial year, the return from my Department is, I believe, 0·27% of its budget. That is an achievement for which I place on record my appreciation to staff, because we were operating in difficult circumstances, given COVID and the impact that that has on construction works through the mitigations to ensure that workers are kept safe. I assure the Member that, at every opportunity, I will bid for money and, at every opportunity, ensure that we spend it in a way that delivers maximum benefit for our citizens.”
“I thank the Member for his question, and I agree that, for politicians, it can be difficult to resist the temptation of playing party politics with any issue. The A5 is certainly an issue that unites representatives from all political parties and people from all backgrounds who live in its vicinity, use it and have lost loved ones on it. I ask that we continue to stand together and work together to ensure that we deliver on that crucial infrastructure project at the earliest opportunity.”