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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“I intend to discuss with the Minister of Environment how we can take that issue forward. In the absence of the Assembly, the forum was jointly chaired by the permanent secretaries of both Departments, so I am happy to work with my ministerial counterpart to try to move the issue forward.”
“A draft coastal forum work programme has been developed. As part of that, a project is under way to provide a comprehensive coastal survey and vulnerability assessment. The survey, which is led by DAERA, will provide a comprehensive data baseline for our coast, and subsequent surveys — perhaps every three or five years — and will develop a picture of how and when the coastline is changing. Other work progressed includes a position statement to assist councils with their consideration of coastal change when preparing local development plans. <BR /> <BR />The Member established the coastal forum when she was Minister for Regional Development and remains committed to the issue. I assure her that I am supportive of the coastal forum and the collaborative work that is progressing to devise solutions to the problems facing our coastline.”
“My Department has been working collaboratively with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on coastal erosion risk management issues. The two Departments commissioned ‘Baseline Study and Gap Analysis of Coastal Erosion Risk Management NI’, which was published in January 2019. The study collated existing data relating to coastal erosion and undertook a high-level vulnerability assessment. The primary conclusion from that assessment was that there is currently insufficient data to reliably inform coastal management decision-making. <BR /> <BR />The study identified a number of key issues for consideration in determining the way forward. The coastal forum, whose membership includes DFI, DAERA, the seven councils with a coastline, and the National Trust, is working collaboratively to address those issues.”
“I recognise the crucial need for the completion of the A6, and I am 100% committed to its delivery. Unfortunately, there had been slippage due to COVID-19, but I am pleased that the project is back on track and that we are due to see similar completion rates and date to those we expected pre-COVID.”
“I am keen to try to do more, and I look to colleagues to help me make the case to the Finance Minister to ensure that we receive additional funding to enhance our services.”
“I receive many requests of that nature, and I recognise the seriousness with which Members put those queries to me and how sincere they are. <BR /> <BR />At present, we salt 28% of our total road network, and that carries 80% of traffic volumes. That costs between £5 million and £7 million annually. If we were to increase that to salting 90% of traffic volumes, that cost would double, to between £10 million and £14 million. If we were to increase that to salting 100%, the cost would increase further, to around £28 million. We fund our winter gritting services, annually, through monitoring round bids. I have submitted a bid to the Finance Minister for this year's winter gritting services.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It is fair enough to say that there are significant challenges when you are a single Member from a party on the Executive. That having been said, I have provided robust detail to Executive colleagues and to the Finance Minister on the importance of ensuring that we invest in our infrastructure, for the reasons that a number of Members have highlighted in examples of streets and other places in their constituencies but also to assist our recovery from COVID. I recently submitted an Executive paper in which I set out the case, which I believe is compelling, for ensuring that infrastructure is front and centre of our recovery from COVID and in order to face the challenges of Brexit. I will continue to make the case, and I hope that the same fate does not befall me as did Danny Kennedy.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although the Department targets the limited resources available for gritting at the busier through routes, on many other routes that do not qualify for inclusion in the gritting schedule, salt bins or grit piles are provided for use by the public on a self-help basis. <BR /> <BR />Subject to the availability of funding, a full winter service will operate from 19 October this year until 5 April 2021 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 the wintry conditions.”
“Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to some initial delays in the commencement of the 2020-21 road maintenance programmes, those are now well under way. It is envisaged that a significant proportion of the resurfacing programme will be delivered before the onset of the winter period. Prior to the start of each winter season, my Department carries out a significant amount of pre-planning to ensure a state of readiness for the coming winter. That planning includes ensuring that adequate staffing arrangements are in place; 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.”
“What I can commit to, when I go back up to the office, is to ask officials to meet you on-site to try to address the issues that you have raised, where we possibly can. I do not know whether you requested the site meeting with me in the Chamber. As a Department, and I include myself in this, as a result of the COVID restrictions, we certainly have not been able to have as many face-to-face meetings as we would have liked, but I am happy to take the Member's issue away.”
“One of my commitments as Minister is to tackle regional imbalance. That is why I have set aside £10 million for a rural roads fund to address the very issues that the Member has highlighted.”
“Yes, I will make additional bids in the October monitoring round. I have said before on the Floor of the House that the Department for Infrastructure touches on people's everyday lives, from street lights to potholes and from bridges to how people get to and from work. I would like to be in a position to do a lot more and will continue to make the case. I have always argued that if we, as an Executive, are to have the ambition of winning people's hearts and minds, we need to get the basics right. That very much involves the level and maintenance of our roads network.”
“As the Member will be aware, the Department for Infrastructure has suffered from a funding deficit for many years. In fact, when his party colleague held the Ministry, a significant amount of money was taken from the Department and, in all honesty, it has not fully recovered. We have had to scale back services such as gully cleaning and so forth, but we still try to do what we can and I was pleased to be able to maintain the maintenance budget with my allocation this year. I would certainly like to be in a position in which I could do so much more, but, unfortunately, due to funding constraints, we are delivering the maximum service that we can at this stage. I will continue to make the case to Executive colleagues.”
“I do not have the specific details at hand, but I am happy to write to the Member and to engage with her and with residents.”
“I am pleased to confirm that my Department's programme of planned road resurfacing schemes is under way in the north Down area and includes schemes at Church Drive, Bangor; Cultra Avenue, Holywood; Main Street, Conlig; and Tower Road, Conlig. Clearly, many more schemes and programmes are being developed across the north Down area. Those will be included in council reports that officials are preparing and intend to issue to councils in due course.”
“It means that ordinary people will have a secure supply of energy for their home, and it means that businesses will have access to a secure supply of energy. We are working against the predicted backdrop of a deficiency in energy supply by 2025, so this is a big strategic project of great importance. That importance is at a high-level economic level and on an all-island level, but it will also have a hugely important impact in people's homes.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It has been confirmed that it will maximise our potential to draw down and utilise our renewable energy by building capacity and ensuring the free flow and connectivity of energy. <BR /> <BR />The Member raised other issues. The job for me, as the Minister for Infrastructure, is to give very careful and detailed consideration to the planning application; that is, the planning policy considerations and other material considerations. He may wish to direct his questions to other parties.”
“I agree with the Member. This project is of strategic importance at an international, national and regional level. As I said, it is about improving the security of our energy supply and about improving our ability to maximise our renewable energies and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and it is a strategic all-island project. As I said, I recognise local concerns about this issue, but we could see the reaction yesterday right across the island, where people recognised the strategic and economic importance of this project and, as the Member rightly points out, its importance in tackling the climate emergency.”
“That is consistent with previous energy policy.”
“The call-for-evidence document assumes increased interconnection and makes specific reference to the benefits of the new North/South interconnector in security of supply, facilitation of renewables and downward pressure on costs for consumers.”
“I thank the Member for his question. His passion on this issue is clear, and I know that it reflects a passion felt by many in his community. I can deal only with the planning application that is before me, and this application was for overhead lines. <BR /> <BR />The new energy strategy is unlikely to be published until late 2021. Decisions on these planning applications must be taken within the prevailing policy and strategic context. Also, the Department for the Economy advised that the need for the second North/South interconnector has not changed. It is still considered a vital piece of energy infrastructure.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Executive Committee agreed that a Bill be brought forward by accelerated passage before the summer recess to address the implications of the Buick judgement. The Bill received Royal Assent on 21 August. Now that Royal Assent has been received, according to the clear legal advice received by my Department, I, as the Minister, can take planning decisions without referral to the Executive Committee and prior to the updating of the ministerial code. <BR /> <BR />A number of other applications are being considered. For sound decisions to be reached, we have to ensure that all due processes and statutory processes are completed.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Member will be aware that I have to give very careful consideration to the planning application that is before me. He will also be aware that this application has undergone a rigorous process and was subject to detailed examination at the public inquiry. I do believe that there has been a rigorous process and that all the statutory processes that are required have been completed. <BR /> <BR />The departmental tweet was, obviously, tweeted from the press office in my Department. I do not suspect that there is any difficulty with that. I cannot say whether that is always done but I can provide that information to you.”
“I thank the Member for her question. There is still very much a need for this interconnector. It is of huge strategic importance in not just the area of energy security but in enhancing our ability to maximise our potential from renewable energies. In addition, it will provide an important boost to the construction sector during the construction phase, and, subsequently, we should be able to see an increase in employment opportunities in the area of renewable energy. I think that that has been confirmed by the level of support across all sectors, including the renewable energy sector, following the announcement yesterday.”
“I very much share the Member's frustrations. We could be much further advanced on applications and policies to improve the lives of our citizens if we had been doing our jobs for the three years that we were suspended. There are planning applications of various levels of interest to all parties. I have no doubt that all would be at a more advanced stage if we had had a functioning Assembly and an Executive.”
“I am the Minister for Infrastructure, and part of my responsibilities is to take decisions on strategic planning applications. As I outlined in answer to the original question, processes were correctly followed in this instance. I cannot speak or be held responsible for the actions of any other Minister in the House.”
“As I outlined, at 12.25 pm, my official telephoned the Infrastructure Committee Clerk to advise that a letter on the issue was coming. At 12.45 pm, my private office issued a letter to the Speaker, to the Chair of the Committee — her good self — and to the Business Office for all MLAs. There is a long-established process for doing that. My predecessor, Chris Hazzard, took two planning decisions: one to approve a major mixed-use development in Comber, and one to refuse a mixed-use development at Crescent Link in Derry. In both cases, he issued the relevant letters, and no announcement was made in the Assembly. The same process was followed in this instance, and it has been followed by all former Ministers.”
“A development of this nature is such that it cannot be delivered without some impact. However, that has to be balanced against the imperative need for the development. I maintain my position that the need for the development outweighs any potential impacts and that, on balance, planning permission should be granted, subject to appropriate conditions to protect the surrounding environment.”
“I acknowledge the concerns of residents and the local community. Interested third parties were given the opportunity to present evidence to the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) and have all issues debated at the public inquiry. The PAC carefully considered and reported on the issues raised but concluded that the various objections raised by third parties had not all been sustained. All issues were addressed in the PAC report. The Department has also independently considered those issues as well as all new representations made since the applications were remitted to the Department in the light of the Buick judgement, and it considers that a grant of planning permission is the correct decision. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the strength of feeling in the community and the concerns around the proposal.”
“At 12.10 pm and, again, at 12.15 pm, my official telephoned the Business Office to advise that a letter was coming for immediate issue to all MLAs; at 12.25 pm, my official telephoned the Infrastructure Committee Clerk to advise that a letter was coming; at 12.45 pm, letters were issued from my private office to the Speaker, the Chair of the Committee and to the Business Office, for all MLAs; and, at 1.22 pm, I announced the positive news via social media. As that timeline sets out, the process was correctly followed.”
“The Member may not be aware that planning decisions have never been announced in the Assembly in the past. The long-established procedure is that, once the Minister has fully considered the application and taken a decision, it is normal practice for a letter indicating the outcome of that decision to be issued to the Speaker, the Chair of the Committee and all MLAs. That is the process that was followed, and my officials went over and beyond that to give early indications.”
“Yes, I thank you for your latitude. I just want to end on that point, and to say that, even during those distressing scenes, I took great heart from the strong sense of community spirit and pride in Newcastle.”
“You are absolutely right, the level of the water was like something out of an action film. Also apparent was the strong sense of community spirit in Newcastle. In even that distressing situation, people were doing what they could. When even their own homes were flooded, they were helping their vulnerable neighbours.”
“The reality of the climate emergency, coupled with significant underinvestment in infrastructure over many years, has presented us with the reality that, unfortunately, flooding incidents have occurred and more and more homes will be affected. As the Minister for Infrastructure, I am saying clearly that this is a priority for me, and I hope that it is a priority for the Executive. We have a collective effort to make here in policy changes, in investment and in our action. I am giving my clear commitment to this project and to see the scheme delivered so that residents in the area do not have to undergo that horrendous ordeal again. <BR /> <BR />I want to end on the point that was raised by Mr McGrath and Ms Bradley. It was a horrendous scene, Ms Rogan.”
“I can confirm that Flood Re, a UK Government scheme, applies to Northern Ireland. You are right about the exclusion of development after 2009. My understanding of that, and it is a UK Government scheme, so we have not been involved in its design, is that that decision was taken after more-detailed information about flood risk emerged, so planning and development have responded. <BR /> <BR />I want to reassure you that planning policy in relation to flood risk in Northern Ireland is strong. It supports my Department's work in prevention and managing flooding. I encourage Members to raise concerns about the scheme with the UK Government and I would be happy to support those and make representations. <BR /> <BR />Andrew Muir and Mr Beggs mentioned the climate emergency.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The scheme is due to commence next summer. I have asked for that to be expedited. We expect that the works will take around 12 months to complete. I will be very keen to be on site to cut that ribbon, not for the photo opportunity, but because this is a long-term solution to preventing this from happening again to the residents of Newcastle. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to points that were raised by Members. Mr Wells mentioned the system of controls that people had shared with you. That is not the case. There are no systems of controls to divert flows, but there is a water-level alert system, which is what prompted and informed my Department's swift action, and that of our multi-agency partners. You rightly asked about Flood Re.”
“That work is ongoing. When I was with the residents, I gave them my commitment — in front of officials — that we would do everything that we could to expedite that scheme and to get delivery on it at the earliest opportunity.”
“The scheme, which was due to start on site in the 2020-21 financial year, has encountered some slippage in the programme, not least due to protracted land agreements. However, my Department intends to use its powers of entry under the drainage order to proceed with the scheme, and it had commenced that process prior to the flooding. The flood defences will be 1,400 metres in length and will require some £6·5 million of investment. The scheme will include a back-drainage system that will allow surface water to drain to the river at suitable outlet points. <BR /> <BR />Ms Rogan asked why we cannot have the scheme up and running now. Why can we not make it happen today? I understand that, and I understand residents' frustrations, but we have to follow processes with detailed design and contractors going out to procurement.”
“However, that was due to floodwaters depositing debris on top of gully gratings, which restricted the flow of water into the drainage system. The majority of gully pots were not blocked prior to the flooding and, other than the surface gratings being covered, they were generally clear of obstruction. <BR /> <BR />Ms Rogan is right to point out that this is not the first time that residents in Newcastle have had to endure such flooding. In 2008, there was a flooding incident. Mr Wells asked me what I am going to do to try to make sure that this does not reoccur. We need to move to a long-term solution. That is why I have committed to delivering on the Shimna flood alleviation scheme. The detailed design of the scheme commenced in September 2017 and is now complete.”
“My Department is mindful of the need to provide and maintain its infrastructure. Unfortunately however, it is not always possible to ensure that all flooding can be avoided as, during severe weather events, the volume of rainfall can exceed the design capacity of drainage infrastructure and, on occasion, flood defences. At this stage, a partial blockage to a bridge on the Bryansford Road that occurred as a result of the high water levels in the Shimna river carrying debris down the watercourse is also thought to have been a contributory factor to the flooding. That debris was removed around 6.00 pm on Tuesday 25 August. It was removed after the PSNI closed off the road because it was a significant operation. Once the flooding began to subside, many gullies were blocked.”
“I understand why Members, including Ms Rogan, have asked, but the thousands of sandbags and pumping equipment required to respond to the flooding in Newcastle could not have been deployed well in advance of the flooding. That is because the severe weather warning covered all of the North, and to pre-deploy to one area could significantly disadvantage another if the flooding does not occur as anticipated. Therefore the approach of my Department and our multi-agency partners is to be in a state of readiness to deploy to any area that may be affected. We believe that that is appropriate. <BR /> <BR />Given the prolonged period of intense rainfall that fell in the Mourne mountains and Newcastle area, the run-off, as Mr McGrath pointed out was, by all accounts, excessive.”
“It is important, given the tireless efforts of staff in this incident, to say that staff were on site even before we received the first flood call for assistance. They distributed 4,000 sandbags and, with four pumps, provided assistance to property owners. It is believed that approximately 40 millimetres of rain fell in just under six hours. That is roughly 50% of the monthly average. As a number of Members have highlighted, it was unprecedented. It was very difficult for anyone to foresee the level of flooding that occurred in such a short time.”
“We are always very willing to learn from experiences, and our analysis has shown that the systems worked well during the recent flooding. Following the weather warning issued by the Met Office, my Department's operational teams and multi-agency partners were in a heightened state of awareness from Monday 24 August and were ready to respond to the threat of flooding. My Department also carried out its usual preparations, including placing staff on standby throughout the North, to ensure that we were in a state of readiness and able to respond quickly. Subsequently, on the Tuesday morning, a multi-agency response in Newcastle was quickly established, with operational teams present from the early morning.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department continues to work with multi-agency partners in the recovery phase following the flooding. In relation to support for those impacted by the flooding, which a number of Members raised, the Department for Communities' scheme of emergency financial assistance was activated. Under the scheme, which is administered through councils, householders could potentially receive £1,000. That financial assistance is to help to make a home fit to live in as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />I thank Ms Rogan for acknowledging the tireless work of Roads and Rivers staff and Members for their acknowledgement of the efforts of those in our emergency services. <BR /> <BR />My Department has developed very effective emergency planning arrangements.”
“Without continued investment in infrastructure, as Mr Muir pointed out, and in the face of the climate emergency, which Mr Beggs and other Members referred to, many of the services that we provide will continue to be under extreme strain. For example, approximately 45,000 properties here, which is equivalent to 5·2% of all properties, are currently identified as being at flood risk from rivers, the sea or surface water. Investment in flood risk management expertise and infrastructure is required to reduce the risk of flooding. <BR /> <BR />As Jim Wells pointed out, I was in Newcastle, on Tuesday 25 August, with party colleagues and others. I visited homes and met residents, and I could see for myself the extent of the flooding, the damage, the disruption and the very understandable upset for people.”
“I thank Ms Rogan for bringing the debate to the House, and I have listened with interest to the comments made and the issues raised by Members. A number of Members addressed issues of a similar type, so I will address them generally, and then I will drill down into some of the specific questions and Members' concerns. <BR /> <BR />Since I was appointed Minister for Infrastructure nine months ago, I have made it clear that my focus is on doing what I can to improve the lives of people here. An important part of that focus is the flood risk management activities of my Department. Those activities are aimed at reducing the potential adverse consequences of significant floods on human health, economic activity and the environment.”
“So what has changed, Chancellor? Will you stand by those words? Right now, in the absence of a Government support scheme, unemployment is not unavoidable, it is inevitable. You do have the power and the resources to make it avoidable, but not by sitting back and doing nothing. <BR /> <BR />We know that Boris Johnson has already ruled out an extension of the furlough scheme. However, this is a Prime Minister who is well used to U-turns. So I am not resigned to the end of the furlough scheme becoming a reality in October. In fact, as an Assembly, we should be determined to avoid this disaster by making our position very clear. Let us speak with one united voice and send a message, loud and clear: extend the furlough scheme.”
“The Chancellor told the House of Commons:”
“It does have underlying strength, and I am confident that, in time, our economy will recover. There is a time ahead of us when our streets will be busy, our pubs open and full, our entrepreneurs will be exporting goods and services and our theatres and cinemas will operate normally. That time will come, but we are not there yet. We need to plan to deal with the situation we face in the immediate future. <BR /> <BR />Let our Assembly add its voice to that of Nicola Sturgeon and Scotland. Let us join those businesses and political leaders in Wales who have made the same call. Extend the furlough. Do not abandon entire sectors and the hundreds of thousands who work in them. In announcing the scheme back in March, Boris Johnson was explicit, he said:”
“That has been recognised and acted on across Europe. In France, a version of the scheme, flexible and targeted, will run for a full two years initially. In Germany, their short-time working scheme has been extended to 21 months due to the impact of COVID impact. The Spanish Government has committed to delivering its support scheme until the end of this year and, if necessary, into 2021. The Italian Government is actively considering a similar extension. <BR /> <BR />A lot has happened since March this year. We will never forget this year, and we all fervently hope that we never have to experience anything similar in the future. This was the year when everyone made enormous sacrifices to help each other out. I know that none of that was easy. <BR /> <BR />Our business community in the North is resilient.”