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.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,494 lines we hold for Nichola Mallon, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 50.
“The DVA is also offering vehicle test appointments on Sundays and bank holidays at most test centres. Following the conversion of an adjoining building at the New Buildings test centre, additional testing capacity has been made available to meet demand in the north-west. <BR /> <BR />The DVA releases vehicle test appointments each day. Customers are encouraged to regularly check the booking system, as they are able to change existing appointments to a different test centre and time if a slot becomes available. We are also issuing reminders earlier than previously, which recognises the point that Mr Muir made. <BR /> <BR />The DVA's resourcing position remains fluid. The DVA has completed the recruitment of 37 full-time vehicle examiners, which will help to meet the demand for vehicle tests.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I outlined, we continue to recruit additional examiners. Since driving tests resumed, the DVA has conducted 4,320 driving tests from the Altnagelvin and New Buildings test centres in Derry. That number is over 33% higher than the five-year average. Of course I recognise the frustrations faced by first-time drivers, but we continue to put additional capacity in place to try to alleviate frustration and minimise disruption. <BR /> <BR />I will go back to vehicle testing, which is an issue that was raised by a number of Members. The DVA has steadily increased its vehicle-testing capacity by adopting a range of measures, including the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners, the use of overtime to provide cover for leave and sick absence and a reduction in the vehicle test appointment time.”
“The point is that some Members are of the view that we are conducting far fewer tests than previously. The facts that I stated demonstrate that, despite mitigations having to be put in place and despite the fact that DVA workers have been working long hours and additional measures are being put in place, we are conducting over and beyond pre-pandemic levels. We are not just accepting that and standing still. As I outlined, we have recruited additional examiners and are using off-rota deployment. We are providing additional capacity where we can, and we continue to do what we can to maximise capacity and minimise disruption.”
“That increased capacity across the network of test centres. From 1 September to 31 December, the DVA conducted 264,540 full vehicle tests, which is 8% more than the five-year average for those months.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is also important to point out that figures show that, for private car candidates who failed their first test between 1 October and 31 December, the average number of days that it took to book a subsequent test following an initial fail is as follows: from the first to the second appointment, the average waiting time was 21 days; from the second to the third appointment, the average waiting time was 19 days; and, from the third to the fourth appointment, the average waiting time was 17 days. Those facts demonstrate that the processes that DVA has been able to apply are having a positive impact on reducing the waiting times for drivers who fail their first driving test. <BR /> <BR />I will turn to vehicle testing. On Monday 26 July 2021, the DVA reinstated normal vehicle test times.”
“I recognise that nerves play their part for everyone who takes a driving test. It is important to point out, however, that a candidate must commit more than 15 minor driving faults or one serious or dangerous driving fault to fail a driving test. Generally, serious and dangerous driving faults are not caused by nerves but by poor driving due to the candidate either lacking concentration or not being properly prepared for the test. I therefore consider that prioritising driving tests for those who have already failed a test, particularly that minority who have failed to prepare properly, would be unfair to the many candidates who have waited patiently to take their first test.”
“Of the 46,525 driving tests that have been conducted since services resumed on 23 April, over 9,000 candidates who failed their driving test have successfully booked a second test and, of that number, over 5,000 have gone on to book a third or subsequent driving test. Those figures show that a significant number of candidates have been able to book a further test or tests in a relatively short time, because they have the same unrestricted access to the booking system as anyone else.”
“In addition to the recruitment of additional examiners, the DVA will continue to offer driving tests on Saturdays and, in certain centres, Sundays, where it is suitable to do so. Overtime is also being used to rota off-shift dual-role driving examiners to provide cover for scheduled driving tests where, due to a variety of unforeseen reasons such as sickness absence or the requirement to self-isolate, driving examiners are unable to attend work. <BR /> <BR />The DVA releases private car driving test appointments five months in advance on the first working day of each month, and additional test slots are released as resources become available. Due to the constantly changing position, customers are advised to check the online booking system regularly. They may also wish to consider booking a test at another centre.”
“<BR /> <BR />The DVA continues to work hard to increase its capacity to meet the high demand for driving tests for all customers, including those who are required to take a further driving test. In the first full eight months since driving tests resumed on 23 April, the DVA conducted 46,525 driving tests, which is 39% higher than the five-year average for that period. <BR /> <BR />The DVA currently has 42 full-time driving examiners and 43 dual-role examiners who conduct vehicle and driving tests and can be utilised across the network of test centres to meet driver testing demand. The DVA is completing an external recruitment competition for 16 new full-time driving examiners to be assigned across the network of test centres. That will increase the overall full-time driving examiner capacity by approximately 40%.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are still in the midst of the pandemic, and the DVA continues to put in place measures to maximise capacity and minimise disruption while keeping customers and staff safe. The challenge of delivering the services remains, and my officials monitor closely the impact of omicron on staff absence levels, particularly where absences may impact on the delivery of front-line services such as driving tests and vehicle tests. I thank all the DVA staff, who are working so hard and flexibly through the pandemic to provide services to customers whilst keeping themselves and customers safe. They certainly have not been doing nothing; in fact, they have put in a series of measures and continue to do so.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Committee for Infrastructure for tabling the motion and for its positive framing, which recognises, as Members have, the incredibly hard work that our DVA staff have been doing over a sustained period and after significant disruption to what is a high-volume, public-facing service. <BR /> <BR />As Members will know, driving tests and vehicle tests are high-demand public services that have been badly disrupted as a result of the unprecedented pandemic. Driving tests have been suspended for a total of around 10 months, and vehicle tests have been delivered at a significantly reduced capacity to comply with public health advice and guidance. Like all public-facing services across these islands, DVA services are experiencing high levels of demand that are unprecedented.”
“I beg to introduce the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill [NIA 53/17-22], which is a Bill to amend retained EU law relating to compulsory insurance for the use of motor vehicles; and for connected purposes.”
“People want us to get on with doing the job that we are elected to do with the time that we have left, and we should use every minute that remains in the mandate to get the remaining legislation through, be it on climate change, organ donation, violence against women, period poverty or the many other issues. Rather than playing into this self-serving stunt, we should put our people first, address the cost-of-living crisis —”
“This DUP drama has been concocted by Jeffrey Donaldson as a last, desperate attempt to resuscitate its flagging poll numbers ahead of an Assembly election. The SDLP is ready for an election, but we can also see the trap that the DUP has, in its desperation, set. It wants an early election so that it can manipulate and scare people to the polls. The SDLP urges other parties not to fall into that trap. Do not give the DUP the toxic backdrop that it so desperately needs for the election: put people first. There are key Bills at key stages working their way through the Assembly, and they should not be put at risk for party self-interest.”
“Resigning from government when people face a cost-of-living crisis tells you all that you need to know about the DUP: for it, the party will always come first, and ordinary people come last. Yet again, it is trying to treat the people of Northern Ireland as if they are fools. The people of Northern Ireland are not fools. They watched Brexit unfold; they know who helped to deliver a hard Brexit; they know who owns the protocol; and they deserve better than yet another manufactured political crisis. The party political interests of the DUP cannot be allowed to eclipse the interests of people waiting for hospital treatment, those in need of welfare mitigations, children in need of special educational needs support and people who expect and should be able to access good public services.”
“The people of the North deserved to have politicians working for them for the full five years of this mandate, but what did they get? They were already robbed of three years when Sinn Féin collapsed the place, and now the DUP is intent on robbing people of the little time that is left. At a time when people are struggling to feed their families and to heat their homes and when businesses are struggling to recover from a pandemic, the actions of the DUP leadership represent a gross betrayal of people here. Whatever community you are from and whatever your background or beliefs, no one benefits from this. It is a cynical and totally predictable electioneering stunt.”
“Given that we are at such a late stage in the financial year, it has not proved possible to make a bid this time round. However, I have asked my officials to continue to review that to ensure that, where we can, we make bids and do what we can to maximise the effort being made on our roads.”
“I thank the Member for his question. From memory, I think that I was allocated £56 million in resource in January monitoring and £3·6 or £3·8 million for the A5. Subsequent to that, I have made additional bids that are under consideration by the Finance Minister and the wider Executive. <BR /> <BR />In respect of January monitoring, given the legal challenges that have come into play, it has not been possible to make an additional capital bid for roads at this late stage. We did that during the year. Unfortunately, not all were successful.”
“The Member raises an extremely important issue. I do not think that the infrastructure that was built was the right type of infrastructure in the first instance, and action should have been taken before now. The challenge here has been piloting to make sure that it works so that, if it is proven to work and achieves those objectives and acts as a deterrent, we can roll that out in other areas. The focus has been on making sure that we get the pilot right and we know what works, and, hopefully, we can see that rolled out to other locations.”
“I thank the Member for her question. That is a really important issue across the North but particularly in the constituency of North Belfast. On that particular project, my Department, through its consultant partner, has completed initial design work for suicide prevention barriers for pilot sites at the Divis and Clifton road bridges. <BR />The Department is commissioning test panels on the material, and, once that work has been completed and assessed, the current schedule is that installation works will commence by the summer of this year. I assure the Member that it remains a priority for me, so I will continue to push to ensure that we get progress made as quickly as possible.”
“One of the objectives of the blue-green infrastructure fund is to ensure that we have much better active travel facilities for citizens that are safe and that more people are encouraged to use. So, from a policy perspective, it would fit with the fund. <BR /> <BR />Rather than impose change from on high, we have been working with councils and asking them to identify active travel schemes that they could bring forward for funding from the blue-green infrastructure fund. I am sure that the Member will make representations to his local council, if he has not already done so, and I will speak to our active travel branch as well.”
“I do not have the specific details of that request, but I am happy to go back to officials to ask them to assess that and provide you with an update in writing.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Translink was allocated significant funding during the pandemic. When that is compared with the funding that was provided to transport in England, Scotland, Wales and the South, however, it falls short. It is at the bottom of that table. <BR /> <BR />While I am Minister for Infrastructure, I will continue to prioritise public transport. The difficulty that we will have is that our ambition to expand it will be curtailed if sufficient allocation is not brought across to the Department, but I will continue to make that case, and I hope that other parties will join me in that endeavour.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I know that his party is very supportive of the public transport network and has made many calls for it to be expanded across the North. He is right to point out the issue of efficiencies. He may be aware that, during the pandemic, Translink made savings of £20 million. I suppose that, up to this point in time, the focus has been on ensuring that we can maintain our existing public transport network, given the dramatic reduction in passenger numbers. I will continue to press Translink to ensure that it is as efficient as possible and make the case at the Executive for investment to expand the road and rail public transport networks.”
“There is always room for improvement. That was one of the reasons behind increasing the funding to the roads recovery fund and the rural roads initiative. I recognised that it was an issue. I am hopeful that, with multi-year Budgets going forward, we can review policies that were implemented as a result of historical underfunding of the Department. I remain committed to doing what we can to fix potholes across the North.”
“The Department's current standards specify a range of response times for the repair of road defects. The response time depends on factors such as their severity and the volume of traffic on the road. Response times range from one calendar day to fix the most serious defects to periods of between five working days and four weeks for less serious defects. If it becomes apparent that the relevant response time cannot be met, my Department has the option of installing signs to warn road users of a possible danger. Officials on the ground endeavour to repair potholes as quickly as they can, however.”
“It is important to point out that, to date, all customers who have contacted the DVA in those circumstances have been offered an earlier appointment slot.”
“Vehicle excise duty or motor tax is, as the Member will know, an excepted matter that is administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea on behalf of the Treasury. The DVA in my Department has no authority or influence over those matters. We have, however, been providing advice to customers who require an MOT to tax their vehicle and cannot secure a date before the MOT expires. That advice is to book the earliest available appointment and keep checking the booking system for an appointment before the MOT expires. If people get to within five days of their MOT expiry date, they should contact DVA customer services. Its dedicated email address is dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. The DVA will do its best to secure an urgent appointment for their vehicle.”
“The DVA is also offering vehicle test appointments on Sundays and bank holidays at most test centres. Following the conversion of an adjoining building at the New Buildings test centre, additional test capacity is now available to meet demand in the north-west. The DVA is monitoring the applications received and tests carried out. It expects waiting times to reduce over time through the actions that it has taken to increase vehicle testing capacity across the network.”
“The Member will be aware that, on 26 July 2021, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) reinstated normal vehicle test times, which has increased capacity across the network of test centres. From 1 September to 31 December 2021, the DVA conducted 264,540 full vehicle tests, which is 8% more than the five-year average for those months. The DVA has confirmed that, as of 31 January 2022 — yesterday — just over 55,000 vehicle test appointments were available across its network of centres up to 31 May 2022. <BR /> <BR />The DVA has steadily increased its vehicle testing capacity by adopting a range of measures, including the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners; the use of overtime to provide cover for leave and sick absence; and a reduction of the vehicle test appointment time.”
“I am happy to provide detail in writing to the Member. I have asked officials to do exactly that so that I can provide an informed response to the community association. I am happy to provide you with the same information.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Officials and I met members of the community association to discuss the issue. My officials subsequently attended a public meeting about it; I am sure that the Member was there. I have made it clear to my officials that it needs to be progressed quickly. It encapsulates a lot of what the blue-green infrastructure fund is about. I am bewildered that the village does not have a footway running through it. I have made it clear to my officials that we need to work hard to address that. A number of statutory processes have to be completed. The community association representative wrote to me recently on the matter, and I hope to write to him to provide him with a further update.”
“The Member will know that I am keen to expand our public transport network in terms of its frequency and extension to locations. Often, these are operational matters for Translink, but, if the Member is content to write to me and provide further detail, I can certainly pass that to Translink, or he may wish to raise it with Translink directly and, if necessary, come back to me afterwards.”
“My Department has undertaken a review of the pop-up cycle lanes that were installed as part of our response to COVID, but I am happy to pick up on the individual issues that the Member has raised and come back to him in writing.”
“They include engagement with our partner consultant, revisiting the most recent flood study for Omagh town; the feasibility study for the Strabane significant flood risk area; and the design of proposed flood alleviation schemes for both Drumahoe and Eglinton. My officials have also completed a feasibility study for the Derry city area. <BR /> <BR />I have funded a number of transport projects west of the Bann since January 2020, including phase 2 external works of the north-west transport hub; the replacement of bearings for the Bann bridge in Coleraine; and the Bellarena permanent way storage and stabling facility. <BR /> <BR />Those projects are in addition to investment in a zero-emission bus fleet in Derry. There has also been significant investment in our water and waste water infrastructure.”
“<BR /> <BR />A number of other strategic road infrastructure projects west of the Bann are being developed by my Department, including the A4 Enniskillen southern bypass; the A29 Cookstown bypass; the A32 Omagh to Enniskillen road upgrade; and the A2 Buncrana Road improvement scheme. In addition, my Department continues to progress roads and active travel investment in those areas, including schemes on Dublin Road and at O'Kane Park in Omagh, as well as a junction improvement scheme at Bells Park Road and Orchard Road near Strabane. The long-sought weight restriction through Clady came into effect with the placing of signs this week. <BR /> <BR />Flood alleviation schemes continue to progress.”
“There has been significant investment by my Department west of the Bann. My Department is investing in the construction of two very significant dualling schemes on the A6: the 15 km Randalstown to Castledawson scheme, which was fully opened to traffic in May '21; and the 25·5 km Drumahoe and Dungiven scheme, which is very well advanced and on course to be completed later this year. <BR /> <BR />The most significant road scheme that is under development west of the Bann is the flagship A5 project, for which my Department is working at pace on the publication of a new environmental statement addendum. I remain fully committed to progressing that project as quickly as possible.”
“My officials have had several meetings with the Lough Neagh Partnership about the future management of Lough Neagh. Discussions continue with various stakeholders, and they included a meeting in late January, which I referenced. I am clear that my officials will continue to engage with stakeholders in order to address any specific barriers that have been identified to dredging and maintaining water levels and navigational markers. I also reiterate my offer of potential funding from my blue-green fund. <BR /> <BR />I have to be honest with Members. The issue is that my Department's powers are limited when it comes to Lough Neagh, as it is in private ownership. In saying that, I have engaged with Minister Poots on it, and my officials will continue to engage with stakeholders.”
“As I said, my officials met stakeholders just last week as part of ongoing discussions on a potential way forward. I have also indicated that I am willing to consider part funding suitable projects from my blue-green fund should an appropriate business case for funding be forthcoming. I assure the Member that my officials will continue to closely engage with stakeholders and that I will continue to closely follow that engagement. My offer of potential funding from my blue-green fund stands.”
“I recognise the importance of the river as a gateway to Lough Neagh, and I am keen to do what I can to address any specific barriers to dredging and maintaining water levels and navigational markers that have been identified as impeding the lough's potential to contribute to the local community. My officials will continue to liaise closely with local stakeholders. I have asked to be kept informed of progress as we seek to work together to further the aims of the project.”
“My Department is not under any statutory obligation to carry out dredging at the mouth of the River Blackwater. Any work undertaken or contributed to by my Department would be on a purely discretionary basis and would need to demonstrate clear benefits for the community and value for money. That said, my officials are investigating what my Department would be in a position to do to facilitate progress on the issue. To that end, officials have been engaging with key stakeholders on dredging the mouth of the River Blackwater, meeting them on 10 December and again on 27 January. Conversations about what is required and how my Department can assist are ongoing. That will need to be informed by preliminary investigative work, such as the bathymetric and wildlife habitats surveys, to determine specific requirements.”
“Two such Bills are making their way through the House, with differing targets, and that will have to be factored in. There is no doubt that the climate crisis will significantly alter how we do business as a Government. It will have an impact on where and how we invest. It will require much greater investment in active travel infrastructure and in our public transport network. I have laid out before to the House the actions that we are taking as a Department on the electric charging infrastructure as well. It will certainly have an impact and will be one of the biggest challenges facing the new Executive and parties across the House.”
“All those issues will, of course, be given consideration as part of the all-island strategic rail review, because it is about setting out a strategic and evidence-based approach to investment in our rail network. I have no doubt that the issues that the Member described as "low-hanging fruit" will be given consideration as part of that, and that will be informed by the investment decisions that are made by Ministers, North and South, on rail connectivity across the island.”
“The all-island strategic rail review looked at the rail network across the island. We had, I think, over 7,000 online responses alone to the public consultation on the review, and I have no doubt that the Armagh to Portadown issue has been raised in them and will be given consideration. The Member will also know that, in addition to that, I offered part funding for a feasibility study into the Portadown to Armagh link. My understanding is that Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has appointed consultants and expects findings to be published in the spring.”
“I will, however, continue to press the Executive and colleagues to ensure that we can get sufficient funding to maintain and improve our road network across the North.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As a long-standing member of the Infrastructure Committee, he will be very aware of the Barton report, which, if I remember correctly, identified annual expenditure of £140 million at 2018 prices to maintain our road network. Obviously, allocations to the Department have fallen significantly short of that year-on-year. We have a concerning situation with the road network in certain parts of the North. To try to address that, I have allocated the highest ever level of funding specifically to a rural roads initiative. We have allocated £17 million this year to the roads recovery fund, £15 million of which is specific to our rural roads. That is a 50% increase. The Member will also know that emergency works are carried out.”
“I am not particularly familiar with the layout of the road, but, as the Member said, I am pleased that we are making some improvements. As always, I press my officials to make sure that we maximise our efforts to improve our road network, with road safety being a key aspect of that.”
“The scheme is programmed to be awarded and constructed during the 2022-23 financial year, subject, of course, to funding being made available.”
“My Department intends to take forward a scheme for the resurfacing and widening of the A3 Portadown Road, Armagh, starting at the climbing lane section from the Drumman Heights roundabout heading out of Armagh and extending approximately 1·3 km eastwards towards Portadown. The widening of the existing main trunk road to current design standards will improve safety by providing right-turning facilities into the Tirnascobe Road — I hope that I have pronounced that correctly — and other accesses into residential properties. The scheme incorporates substantial resurfacing and drainage improvements of the carriageway and the installation of vehicle restraint systems where needed. The scheme tender documents are being prepared for procurement and will be advertised in the coming weeks.”
“The project is working off the 2012 design, which will set out the cycling provision as well as the transport provision. With regard to construction potentially commencing in 2023, I caveat that by saying that it has to follow all the statutory processes. I am confident that there is a strong wind at the back of this project. We have the funding commitment from the Irish Government, and every effort is being made to ensure that we get to construction at the earliest opportunity because of the value of the project. As the Member rightly identified, it will bring employment opportunities to the area at a time when we are seeking to expand our economic recovery from COVID.”