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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“<BR />I know that Ms Bailey is passionate about this matter, however, it is important to clarify that policy and statutory responsibility for this area lies with DEARA and that responsibility for determining the vast majority of ammonia-emitting planning applications lies with council planning authorities. Therefore, while my Department is responsible for planning policy, we rely on DEARA, which has the expertise and policy lead when it comes to assessing the impact on our wildlife and our natural ecosystems. <BR /> <BR />A number of Members referred to compliance with EU requirements. I am aware of the importance for all competent authorities, including planning authorities, to comply with EU requirements.”
“First, I thank Clare Bailey and Rachel Woods for tabling the motion. I have listened with interest to the comments made and issues raised by Members. I appreciate and share all Members' concerns about the scale and complexity of the ammonia problem in Northern Ireland and the need to protect human health and our natural environment. <BR /> <BR />This is a complex issue, and the situation presents a significant challenge to finding a way to reduce the impacts of this air pollutant while supporting a profitable and sustainable agri-food sector, which is a point that the vast number of Members made. As planning Minister, I want to assure Members that I will do all that I can to ensure that our planning policies are evidence-informed and that our planning system works effectively.”
“I have committed to ensuring that payments for that scheme are out before Christmas, because I understand that people are finding it very difficult financially. The scheme for the bus-and-coach sector will open next week.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He will know that I was given new powers for the financial scheme on 3 November. Ten days later, I opened the taxi scheme; it opened on Friday, and, at close of play, there had been around 2,000 applications.”
“The Member does not need to persuade me of the merits of that; I can see it, and I share his enthusiasm. It is an issue of finance. My Department is currently working on the regional strategic transport plans, which will go out for consultation. That will be an opportunity for Members and members of the public right across the North to respond and share their views and ambitions of what public transport provision they would like to see in their local community. I encourage Members and their constituents to respond to that consultation once it is published so that I can be clear on their views.”
“I have not, to date, been able to give very active consideration to that. I am struggling to make sure that our public transport network remains viable under the current conditions, given that we have seen such dramatic falls in passenger numbers. As I have said, my job is to protect the existing public transport network in terms of bus and rail, but I also want to see it being improved and enhanced. I will continue to make representations to Executive colleagues to ensure that we get the finances that we need to see enhancements to the network, such as the one that the Member has, rightly, highlighted.”
“I know that disruption is being caused to learner drivers. I have taken the decision to further extend the validity of their theory test pass certificates to try to reduce the disruption to them. It is a public-facing service, and all public-facing services are being impacted by COVID. I assure the Member that it is not just a case of recruiting one or two additional examiners; we are recruiting 27 additional temporary and permanent examiners. We are looking at testing on a Saturday and Sunday to free up capacity as well. We will continue to look creatively at doing what we can to try to maximise the number of people who we can test, while being mindful of the public health advice and the need to adhere to the risk assessments that we have carried out.”
“Over 2,000 additional booking slots have been made available in November, December and January as the DVA increases capacity by recruiting additional examiners. Once all customers whose test has been cancelled recently have had the opportunity to rebook their appointments, the DVA will open up the booking service for all other customers in early December. The DVA will continue to offer driving tests on a Saturday. Following consultation with key stakeholders, it is planning to offer driving tests for HGVs on Sundays. The DVA will also use overtime to rota off-shift dual-role driving examiners to provide additional capacity and cover for scheduled driving tests where, due to a variety of unforeseen reasons, such as sick absence or the requirement to self-isolate, driving examiners are unable to attend work.”
“As the Member will know, driving instructors were included in the Executive's regulations on businesses that closed until 13 November to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and which have been further extended by the Executive to 20 November. Following that Executive decision, driving tests ceased over that period of increased restrictions based on public health and scientific advice. I assure the Member that we have work in order and that we will be recommencing driving tests on 21 November. We took a decision not to recommence on 20 November, because we are allowing a day for people to have their formal driving lessons, if they need to. <BR /> <BR />With regard to creating additional capacity, the DVA has opened up the booking system for February for the customers who were impacted by the recent restrictions.”
“I am sure that it seems bizarre to have an Infrastructure Minister say that she wants to see an infrastructure commission that deals with issues outside the Department and brings them to the Executive, but it is not about a power grab for the Infrastructure Minister. It is about ensuring that we have the right mechanisms for delivering our infrastructure projects strategically, minimising delays and doing it in the most efficient manner. We have to look at our competitors across these islands. We look to New Zealand and often cite it as an example of how you can do things much better. All of those places have an independent infrastructure commission because they have ambition. We should not have any less ambition.”
“I am, therefore, keen to see how that can be progressed with my Executive colleagues so that we can get into a better position with regard to long-term planning and the future delivery of strategic infrastructure projects.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He will know that I set up a ministerial advisory panel to look at that issue. I understand that the panel has reported to the Committee. I am sure that the support that the Committee had for the initiative when I went to discuss the matter, remains. I am keen to see that it is progressed with my Executive colleagues. I have already met the Finance Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and I am due to meet the Education Minister and the Communities Minister. There are opportunities to be more strategic in the planning and delivery of our infrastructure in its more holistic sense.”
“I am aware that the absence of footpaths to ensure that people can walk safely is an issue across the North. It runs counter to my ambition to have more people walking and cycling. That is why I have set up the £20 million blue/green fund. I have also been clear that I cannot impose solutions from on high. I do not know communities. That is why I am looking to councils to bring forward proposals that I can support financially, and on which I can work with them to try to progress. We have had a focus on cities in the initial roll-outs and pilots, but I am conscious of the fact that we need to see improvements across the North.”
“As the Member will know, we have allocated £10 million for the rural roads fund. That is being worked out across divisions. We are providing reports to all of the councils on the projects that have qualified for investment as part of the rural roads fund. Those reports are being made available on the councils' websites.”
“As the Member highlighted, the issue of airports cuts across a number of policy areas but also across the statutory responsibilities of a number of Ministers. I can assure him that, just as we did before, I am committed to working with the Minister of Finance and, given her responsibility around airlines, the Minister for the Economy as well. I believe that, if we work together, we can and should be able to support the industry through this incredibly difficult time.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Our local airports play an important role in growing our local economy and in connecting people and business. I am disappointed to learn about the reduced hours of operation at Belfast International Airport, but I understand how that reduction in operations will help the airport reduce its cost base in light of the reduction in scheduled services because of the COVID-19 measures. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right: my Department's remit on airports is limited. I have agreed previously to meet the airport, and I am committed to working alongside my ministerial colleagues, given the shared statutory responsibilities in this area, to explore what the Executive can do to support the industry through this challenging time.”
“He is giving updates to all parties on the shared-island unit, and I discussed with him the issue of Narrow Water and the multiple benefits that that project can deliver, which is news that I know the Member will be delighted by.”
“I am fully committed to improving connectivity across the island, and I am working with my counterparts in Dublin on a number of key all-island projects aimed at improving the lives of people across the island. This includes enhancing the rail network to create a spine of connectivity on the island, the A5 project, the Narrow Water bridge project and the Ulster canal project, all of which are commitments in New Decade, New Approach. <BR /> <BR />The Member will know that I have been engaging with Minister Ryan, and I know that she has an interest in Narrow Water bridge. I joined party colleagues in a Zoom meeting with the Taoiseach on Friday night.”
“I want to bring about change in active travel, and I want to make sure that people can be active and that they have better outcomes for their physical and mental health and in terms of the environment as well, but I share the Member's frustration. If I had much more money, I would be doing much, much more.”
“I thank the Member. I know that he is very passionate about his constituency. I do not believe that I am getting my priorities wrong. The Member will recall that, on taking up my post, I said that we needed to get the basics right, and that is why I have fully funded a 12-month repair scheme for street lighting and why I have invested £8 million in LEDs to replace our street lights. It is why I have maintained the structural budget for our roads and set up a £10 million rural roads fund as well. <BR /> <BR />It is not a question of getting priorities right; it is question of having the resource to be able to do what you want. The Member will know that the Barton report said that we should be investing £140 million per annum in our road network. I am not being allocated money to in any way touch the sides of that figure.”
“I am aware of that fatality, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the person who lost their life. I agree with the Member that one of the best ways of encouraging people to cycle and ensure that they can do so safely is by providing cycling-only infrastructure. I am very keen to work with councils on that. I have to be honest: as someone with very little patience, I would like to see a much faster pace of change, but we are trying to do what we can. <BR /> <BR />As part of my consideration of safe active travel, I have asked officials to look at what we can do to review the Highway Code. I am keen to provide updates to the all-party group on cycling, which I know the Member is on.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I agree with his assessment that there has not been enough funding to encourage and provide opportunities for citizens to walk and cycle. I am committed to addressing that. <BR /> <BR />I advise him that I am actively considering an active travel Bill. I have asked my officials to prepare a submission that sets out a range of options for how I can move that forward with policy changes, resources and what we might be able to do on the legislative front.”
“My September announcement indicated a total capital grant for the six greenway projects of £1·4 million this year and £2·3 million next year. Capital funding for those increased grants could be made available from blue/green infrastructure funding.”
“The Executive have not agreed the Budget for next year; therefore, I do not know what budget my Department will have. However, I can confirm that I am committed to investing in active travel and encouraging walking and cycling. In demonstration of that commitment, I have appointed a walking and cycling champion in my Department and invested in a £20 million fund for the development of blue/green infrastructure, which will support the connection of communities and active travel. I expect to make further investments in active travel next year. <BR /> <BR />Already this year, I have completed the new Blaris greenway and pop-up cycle lanes on the Dublin and Grosvenor Roads, and I continue to develop more opportunities to put walking and cycling at the front of a green recovery for all our towns and cities.”
“I thank the Member for his question; I know that this is an area he is very passionate about. My Department does not identify spend on walking and cycling separately but includes funding for both in active travel. The attribution of spend to active travel is also not a precise exercise, as some projects have benefits for active travel even if they are not carried out specifically for that purpose. Other Departments, councils and other agencies provide additional funding for walking and cycling promotion and infrastructure development. For example, we have had recent commitments of many millions of pounds by a number of councils for walking and cycling as part of their contribution to the greenways that they are developing. <BR /> <BR />I am not in a position to provide guarantees for active travel in 2021-22.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Unfortunately I do not have the detail of that specific road to hand, but I am content to speak with officials after Question Time and ask them to look into the matter and report back to you.”
“I thank the Member for his question. My Department has a staff sickness contingency plan in place which ensures that, initially, efforts are directed towards motorways and trunk roads before moving on to other main roads. Even with all of our available resources, it is unknown what impacts COVID-19 will have on our winter service. The traffic information control centre is operational 24 hours, 7 days a week, and will advise the public through the TrafficwatchNI website and social media of any routes not salted due to staff sickness. I want to assure the Member that this is something that we are very conscious of and that we are keeping our contingency arrangements under constant review.”
“I would very much like to be in a position to do much more salting and gritting, but I have to operate within the policy and, particularly, within the financial constraints facing my Department.”
“I thank the Member for his question; I am aware that, with his colleagues, he has been raising this issue. Under the present policy, 28% of the road network is gritted, which covers 80% of the volume of traffic, and that has an average cost of £7 million. If I were to extend that to cover, say, 90% of our traffic, it would double the cost of the winter gritting service to £14 million. If I were to extend it further to cover 100% of traffic, we would be talking about an annual budget of £28 million for the winter gritting service. My Department has to operate within the policy to ensure that it is fairly applied across the board in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />The average cost of providing the winter service is £7 million, but it can be as high as £10 million in more severe winter conditions. I have already allocated £3 million from the opening 2020-21 resource baseline budget as a contribution to funding for the winter service, and a recent COVID bidding exercise provided a further £5 million in funding for winter gritting services. I was disappointed that my further bid for £2 million in the October monitoring round was not successful. However, funding for the winter service will be reassessed as part of January monitoring, and any bid that is required will be submitted by my Department.”
“I am pleased to advise that my Department started the delivery of its winter gritting service on 19 October. Gritting on selected routes in the northern and western divisions has already been undertaken, and 330 tons of salt has been used to date. As part of planning for the winter gritting programme, my Department ensures that adequate staff are available, that all winter service equipment is in satisfactory working order, and that there are adequate supplies of salt. There are also arrangements in place to supplement stocks of salt during the winter period, if necessary. A full winter service will operate from 19 October until 5 April and will have approximately 300 staff and 130 gritters available and ready to salt main roads in order to help drivers across Northern Ireland deal with wintry conditions.”
“I am always very mindful of the impact on our environment of the decisions that we all take.”
“The Member makes an important point. We, as leaders, always weigh up the environmental aspect and the economic aspect. I have been very clear in the conditions that are being placed on this particular development. That is to ensure that we do what we can to protect our environment. However, the Member is also right to point out the contribution that it makes to the construction sector, in particular. As someone who is very mindful of our housing shortage, I am very conscious of the need to build more homes. We have to make sure that we are in a position to be able to do so. We have to consider all those things in the round. I hope that anyone who has been following this situation closely will take some reassurance from the fact that we have placed conditions on this.”
“I thank the Member for her question. As I outlined in the supplementary response to Mr Carroll, there are a number of conditions attached. Monitoring is one, and my officials and I, as Minister, will take it very seriously.”
“<BR /> <BR />Given the importance of maintaining the integrity of the designated status of Lough Neagh, my final decision will issue only when the section 76 agreement with the applicant and relevant parties has been concluded to my satisfaction. The conditions and section 76 cover matters such as the area that can be subject to dredging and the amount of dredging that can take place and when it can take place. They also cover the system for monitoring those aspects of the operation. The conditions and section 76, between them, will limit the number, size and operating times of the barges and restrict the hours of operation of the downstream processing facilities.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am an advocate for protection of the environment, particularly a special one such as Lough Neagh. The decision to grant planning permission for sand dredging on Lough Neagh was taken in line with current planning policy. The environmental effects of the development have been the subject of rigorous assessment including environmental impact assessment, habitat regulations, appropriate assessment and a public inquiry hearing. I have come to the view that no adverse effect will be caused by the development on the lough in terms of its integrity or other aspects of its designated status, provided that suitable conditions and agreed measures are put in place.”
“Those other material considerations include the regional development strategy 2035, the strategic planning policy statement, the planning strategy for rural Northern Ireland, retained planning policy statements and supplementary planning guidance. This application was subject to environmental impact assessment, habitats regulation assessment and a public inquiry before the Planning Appeals Commission. My decision to grant planning permission was taken after consideration of all of the above, and I am content that it properly considers any impacts on climate change.”
“<BR /> <BR />Where an application is made for planning permission, my Department, in dealing with that application, must have regard to the local development plan, so far as it is material to the application, and to any other material considerations.”
“Climate change is the single biggest environmental challenge that we face today, so it is vital that we work together towards a zero-carbon future that delivers better outcomes for our people, our economy and the environment. There is an urgent need to reduce emissions in order to tackle the climate emergency that we face and reach net zero as quickly as possible. As Infrastructure Minister, I have a clear agenda on climate change. My focus is on using available resources to create greener infrastructure and to deliver sustainable transport that connects people, unlocks our economic potential, protects our valuable environment and improves the health and well-being of all in our community.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It is clear from the amount of correspondence that I have had that Members across Northern Ireland feel passionate about greenways. The Member will be aware that I announced £20 million of capital funding for blue/green infrastructure. I am keen to work with councils to see the further development of greenways. I am funding a number of greenways that are ready for construction in this financial year. We have also written to councils to encourage them to develop their proposals so that we can get as many as possible to the stage where we can move them on to construction. I am keen to work with councils on the development of greenways across Northern Ireland, including, of course, one in Carryduff.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He was an active campaigner on the issue of the crossing; indeed, he shared with me a petition signed by a number of residents. <BR /> <BR />As I said, my Department has established a steering group, with agreed terms of reference, to consider the matter. As I stated in my previous answer, the next meeting is scheduled to take place on 9 December. Councils' wider powers in respect of community development, health and well-being puts them in a better place to develop greenways as community assets. I am very open to exploring whether the three councils might capitalise on those opportunities, and that includes the option of transferring ownership to them.”
“Indeed, the steering group that was established between the three councils and my Department will meet on 9 December, and I hope that we can, in partnership, continue to make progress on improving that asset.”
“I cannot give the Member a definitive time frame at present. As I said, we are working through a design, and it will have to go out to consultation. As someone who uses the greenway frequently, the Member will know that a number of properties back on to it and that bats are present in the area, which will have to be factored into the design. I assure the Member that I am committed to the roll-out of the improvement of existing greenways. They bring huge physical and mental health benefits. As the Comber greenway has demonstrated, greenways can be a solution to a multiplicity of problems. I reassure her that I want to advance this agenda and am keen to work with the councils.”
“As you will be aware, a number of Members have raised the issue recently. I recognise the importance of lighting, and this is key to enhancing greenways and making people feel safe when using them. I also understand that, during the dark evenings, we still want to maintain the levels of walking and cycling on our greenways that we have seen, particularly during COVID. Lighting of the Comber greenway will require a public consultation, and the design will need to be sympathetic to the environmental sensitivity of the route. My Department is currently carrying out preliminary design work for lighting the Comber greenway. Following completion of an outline design for a lighting scheme of the greenway, a public consultation will have to be conducted. This will inform a decision on whether or not lighting should be installed.”
“I recently met the Finance Minister, the Economy Minister and the AERA Minister to see what we can do to maximise the environmental and economic benefits of positioning Northern Ireland as a leader in the world of hydrogen.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He is right that in early February the United Kingdom Government announced that they were bringing forwards their plans to ban the sales of diesel and petrol vehicles in the UK from 2040 to at least 2035. The ban will also include hybrid vehicles for the first time. My Department is liaising with the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to consider what we need to do to meet the challenge. The Member will also be aware of the actions that we are taking to increase the uptake of electric vehicles. <BR /> <BR />On the issue of the hydrogen hub, the Member will know that, shortly, we hope to bring online three hydrogen-fuelled buses. With the hydrogen hub, that will be the first on the island of Ireland.”
“It will also use overtime to provide additional capacity and cover for vehicle tests, if, due to a variety of unforeseen reasons such as sick absence or the requirement to self-isolate, examiners are unable to attend work. I am conscious of the disruption being caused to those who are trying to access public-facing services, but the COVID-19 restrictions mean that the DVA has had to adapt its services to ensure that they can be provided safely. We ask customers for their patience at this difficult time. Vehicle testing capacity will increase as restrictions ease. Risk assessments are continually updated until such times as normal service delivery can resume.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We have been aware of the issue of customers having to wait outside the test centres. We are conducting a number of risk assessments, and we are providing local arrangements at each of the MOT centres to facilitate customers. We will be providing masks and are asking them to be mindful of social distancing and the use of hand gel to help address that. <BR /> <BR />The current capacity for vehicle testing at our MOT centres is approximately at 30% in comparison with the levels prior to the pandemic and the lift issues. To meet increasing demand, the DVA is in the process of recruiting additional examiners.”
“We are looking to autumn 2022 when we will see the new depot at Hydebank that will include this facility, and I would be keen to see this rolled out across further depots in the coming years.”
“I agree with the Member that the issue has been going on for a long time. I inherited the current network of vehicle test centres, which is over 40 years old and cannot support the introduction of a fully compliant diesel emissions test without significant capital investment. The DVA introduced a diesel emissions test for cars, light and heavy goods vehicles and buses in 2006, in compliance with the roadworthiness directive. However, for health and safety reasons related to the build-up of fumes in the test halls and in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, the emission test for cars and light goods vehicles was suspended in June 2006. I assure the Member that, on taking up this post, I wanted to address the issue, which is why I have allocated the capital funding.”