Liz Kimmins
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I do not know how it will have affected North Antrim specifically unless the Member is referring to something in particular. We all have a responsibility in climate change and what we do to try to mitigate its impacts.”
“As the Member rightly said, removal of the zero-detriment policy is for the AERA Minister, and I have engaged with the Minister on that, as well as on the removal of the statement of regulatory principles and intent. I recognise that removing that would have detrimental impact on future development.”
“In response, we recently developed and introduced new appraisal guidance, which represents a significant and deliberate shift in approach. Under the previous arrangements, schemes were largely determined by a monetised cost-benefit ratio threshold where, typically, projects that fell below a ratio of one did not progress.”
“A number of significant issues have led to that scenario. I assume that the Member is referring to waste water capacity. I have said that NI Water has suggested that it needs between £3·5 billion to £3·6 billion for the next price control period.”
“Recruitment is a key challenge faced by all Departments. In questions to the Minister of Health, my colleague from Newry and Armagh referred to the recruitment issue that recently impacted on Daisy Hill. The challenge is not unique to DFI. I want to put a focus on ensuring that we build our internal capacity and improve staffing levels.”
“The Executive and the Assembly agree that the Executive's Budget is not adequate, which is why we are in that negotiation. When it comes to the capital budget, we have to factor in a timeline for the legal challenge that we are going through. It is unlikely that we will get a decision from the court on this side of the summer recess.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,530 lines we hold for Liz Kimmins, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 17 of 51.
“It is responsible for a number of key functions, including working with other organisations to ensure that emergency preparations are as good as they can be and providing knowledge and expertise to help inform the actions of any multi-agency response to severe weather emergencies. To support that multi-agency response, mock deployment exercises are held to train staff and test equipment that is used during a flooding emergency. That has resulted in ongoing, continuous improvement to my Department's emergency response to flooding. That is an important point. The Alliance Member for South Down said that there were no protocols, but I challenge that point, because we are continually learning and are willing to learn to see what else we can do.”
“My Department is a statutory consultee in the planning process. Advice on flood risk matters is provided to planning authorities to inform their local development plans and the determination of planning applications. If the Member has examples of where we have contributed to flooding issues, he should bring them forward, because I certainly know that we are continually lobbied by applicants who potentially cannot get their applications approved because there is an identified flood risk. That is part of the Department's work to mitigate risk, so that we do not see developments destroyed through flooding in the future. <BR /> <BR />Following the restructuring of central government Departments in May 2016, my Department assumed the lead role in the strategic coordination of the response to all severe weather emergencies.”
“For example, approximately 45,000 properties here, which is approximately 5% of all properties across the North, are currently identified as being at flood risk from rivers, the sea or surface water. When climate change is taken into consideration, the number of properties that will be at risk increases by approximately 14,800. <BR /> <BR />I am confident that my Department has been proactive in managing flood risk from rivers and the sea in recent years. Flood risk management plans were published in 2015 and refreshed in 2021. Those plans identify the measures that need to be implemented to manage flood risk here. Managing flood risk involves numerous interventions, and the most effective method of doing so is to prevent, as far as possible, the risk occurring in the first place. <BR /> <BR />Members mentioned planning.”
“However, it has to be said that, as Members will be aware, like all Departments, we are limited in resources and funding, and, no matter how many times people try to dispute it, that is a result of year after year of underinvestment and austerity by successive British Governments. That is not an excuse; it is a fact and a reality. That has led us all to a place where we are constantly trying to play catch-up and get our houses in order so that we can deal with not just the challenges that face us now but those that we have been trying to tackle for many years. <BR /> <BR />Without continued and adequate investment in infrastructure, many of the services that we provide will continue to be under strain.”
“I have been focused on doing what I can to improve the lives of people here, and an important part of that focus is my Department's flood management activities. Unfortunately, from listening to the debate, you would think that nothing is happening, but a huge amount of work is happening. Some of that will take time, because such incidents and their frequency are still relatively new to us when it comes to how they impact on our constituencies across the North and how we deal with that effectively so that we are not just firefighting all the time. <BR /> <BR />The activities that the Department is focusing on are aimed at reducing the potential adverse consequences of significant floods, primarily those that relate to human health and safety, economic activity and the environment.”
“I thank Diane Forsythe for initiating the debate. As you said in your introductory remarks, Diane, the issue unites us all. As an MLA and resident of Newry and Armagh, I share the concerns about the issues that all the MLAs here have articulated. I, too, want to see solutions, not just sticking plasters. I want solutions that will have real impacts for the people whom we all represent and the communities that we all live in. <BR /> <BR />I have listened intently to the contributions and the issues that have been raised by Members, and I have heard loud and clear the concerns about flooding in South Down. I have heard those concerns directly from the people in South Down whom I have met over the last number of months since being appointed as Minister.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“Absolutely. At the first look at it, at a time when we are trying to encourage more people to transition to electric vehicles, it is understandable that concerns are raised if costs will increase. At this point, I am keen to get more information on what the British Government propose, what that will look like and what it will mean for people here. I will then be better able to provide a rationalisation of what we can expect.”
“I have not had any engagement with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. As I am sure that the Member will appreciate, it is, largely, the Finance Minister who is involved in such direct negotiations. As we await further information, I imagine that there will be engagement with the British Government and their relevant Ministers on what that will mean for people here.”
“I am happy to accept the invite. As a parent, I am so keen that we do our best to maximise road safety at all costs and to encourage our children to walk, cycle or whatever it may be to get to places that are close to them, including school or the local youth club. I am very conscious of those issues, and, when the Department carries out the assessments, they are all factored in. If you want to write to the Department, I will be happy to accept the invitation.”
“I do not know what may be in front of it: we could have someone else complaining that a site that scored as higher priority had its funding overridden; that is also important to remember. Given that it has been identified as a high-priority site, we can get more detail from officials, if that would be helpful.”
“I am aware of that site. As the Member alluded to, a full site survey and assessment has been completed. The site has been scored, with that indicating that it is considered to be a high priority in the council area. As you mentioned earlier during Members' Statements, it is, ultimately, down to budget and where it fits in with what we can deliver. It is on the Department's prioritised list for inclusion in the future works programme. I do not have a timetable in front of me, but I am happy to come back in writing if there is any idea, particularly now that we have additional funding through December monitoring, of what that may look like. I am happy to keep you updated, because I recognise how important it is.”
“The idea behind developer contributions was to look at how we could do that more equitably, whereby we invest in our system with people feeling less impact. That was the desired outcome, and I am very conscious of that in making my final decision.”
“The opposition was not a surprise. As I think the Member will understand, none of us wants any additional costs, but it is important to look at what the outcomes will be and what we can actually achieve. We are trying to finalise what it would look like, and I am very conscious that we do not want it to have a further negative impact in other ways. In particular, the possibility of its having an impact on house prices has been mentioned. Obviously, I do not want to see that. However, it is also important to recognise that, for housebuilders or anyone else who is building and who needs a waste water connection, there is already a cost. In many cases, the cost is quite significant if a new connection is needed.”
“The consultation was heavily responded to, as the Member will be aware, so we are considering that and looking at what the next steps will be. It is important to recognise that this is a good opportunity to look at how we can bolster our waste water infrastructure funding, while recognising the need for an equal and fair approach. I will update the House when I go through that and finalise those plans.”
“Absolutely. The seriousness of that incident and the danger on that road cannot be overstated. I reiterate my commitment to ask officials to review that situation. If he prefers, I will arrange to come back either to the Member personally through the Department or to his successor.”
“I send my condolences to that lady's family. That was such a devastating incident, and I cannot imagine what they are going through. As I said, many families have, sadly, had similar experiences this year. I will ask my officials to review that again, because I know that we have looked at it in the past, particularly in light of that most recent incident. I travel on that road myself quite a lot, and I am very familiar with it. As the Member said, there are a lot of junctions. The junction at Gosford Park, which is not far away, is a very busy junction. I am very conscious of that, and I will be happy to ask officials to look at that situation and reassess it.”
“Mutualisation is water charges by the back door. The Member is shaking his head, but he clearly needs to do a wee bit of research on that. Mutualisation is water charges by the back door, and that is something that I am not prepared to do, even though he may be.”
“Again, I have outlined the plan for my three-pronged approach on many occasions here, as well as the approaches that we are taking in different areas of work, which have made and continue to make a difference. I am of the view, however, that the funding model works. It is the right one for NI Water, because it ensures that the Government still have a level of control, which protects it for the people whom we represent. I have said it very clearly, and I will say it once again: I do not intend to introduce water charges. For me, that seems to be the only other option that people are bringing forward. The Member is shaking his head, so if he has another solution to that —.”
“That will not deter me from doing the work that I need to do to ensure that we keep this place moving forward and deliver for the people whom we all represent.”
“However, when we look at what we have achieved in the past year, albeit with a constrained budget, we see that, while NI Water had indicated that the target was just over 4,000 houses for the PC21 period, over 5,000 houses have already been built due to the work that has happened across Departments, around the Executive table and with other partners across the sector using innovation to unlock waste water capacity. I hope that that shows my commitment to finding solutions. It may not always be funding. Funding is the key issue, but looking at the British Government's Budget, or lack of a decent Budget, last week, I do not think that that money is going to drop out of the sky any time soon.”
“I thank my colleague for his warm wishes and wish him the same. I hope that he gets a good break over Christmas and gets time to enjoy it with his family. We are all looking forward to it at this stage, and, hopefully, we will get to enjoy it, along with many others. <BR /> <BR />I have probably answered that question in some of my responses today about waste water infrastructure. There is no doubt that it is a significant challenge. It has not just arisen since my predecessor, John O'Dowd, or I came into post. It has been a characteristic of the Department for many years.”
“In addition, the road safety partnership was allocated half a million in sponsorship, which brought the total budget to almost £2·5 million. That, in itself, shows my commitment and dedication to ensuring that we do more and do as much as we can. We recently announced the drug-driving campaign, which the Member may be aware of. We have been working across Departments on a number of other areas, including with her party colleague the Education Minister on school bus safety. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to the road maintenance aspect, anything that improves our road surfaces and network will improve safety. I am very conscious of that, and I want to achieve that. There are a number of things that we can do here, and I am always looking for more ideas for how we can improve driver behaviour and make our roads safer for everyone.”
“I also offer my best wishes to my constituency colleague William Irwin. We have always had a very good relationship, and I appreciate his work over many years. I wish him all the best in his retirement, which is, at this stage, well deserved. The best of luck with that, William. <BR /> <BR />On the Member's question, we are doing a number of things. As I have talked about before, I am continually looking at ways that we can narrow those gaps. Road user and driver behaviour is one of the key areas, which is why I wanted to increase road safety advertising. I was able to approve an allocation of £1·9 million — almost £2 million — for road safety promotion for this financial year, which is an increase of over £1·5 million.”
“That is a specific focus that Members will potentially have seen through some of the more recent road safety advertising campaigns and awareness-raising work that we have been doing.”
“Whilst not all those interventions will specifically target rural or high-risk roads, any intervention to improve road safety has the potential to have a positive impact on any type of road and on road safety in general. The interventions will include, amongst others, a consultation on a number of speed-related matters; a local transport and safety measures programme; working with Translink on public transport and school bus safety in rural areas; a new tranche of part-time 20 mph speed limits at schools; continuing work on impaired and distracted driving policy and legislation; and targeted awareness campaigns. <BR /> <BR />It is important to remember that the majority of collisions are caused by human error, so road user behaviour must also be addressed.”
“Road safety remains a major priority for me. This year, more than 50 families have already received the devastating news that their loved one has been killed in a road traffic collision, and many more have learned of life-changing injuries. My Department continues to collaborate with blue-light organisations and other Departments through the road safety strategic forum to steer the road safety strategy action plan. The plan will address the latest and emerging needs in road safety, with interventions that are based on sound research and success in other jurisdictions. <BR /> <BR />The forum is finalising a new action plan of high-level interventions.”
“I am sure that the Member will appreciate that, at this point in time, it would be remiss of me to go into any level of detail. However, I will say that, as the work on the appeal has been ongoing, my officials have also been looking at a contingency plan as to what other options there are for us to take that forward. When the time comes and when I am able to do so, I will keep all Members updated.”
“In anticipation of when resources permit, my officials have been working closely with Translink to resolve any operational challenges, particularly those associated with the major upgrade of Translink's ticketing system. I am firmly committed to enhancing social inclusion by improving access to our public transport network through the extension of free public transport to people with disabilities, and I have met a number of representatives and organisations from across the sector to hear their views and hear why it is so important. I really appreciate and am grateful for their input to date.”
“Yes. I am glad that the Member raised that question as it is an issue that I have been quite vocal about for many years. I fully acknowledge the significant societal and economic benefits that free public transport can deliver for people with disabilities. As well as that, increasing the use of public transport is a vital step towards reducing congestion, improving air quality and achieving our climate objectives, which will bring benefits to all our society. <BR /> <BR />As part of my ongoing review of budget allocations, I am carefully considering the funding available for the concessionary fares scheme, including the option of extending free travel to disabled people, who currently only receive the half-fare discount.”
“This legislative action complements wider engagement efforts, such as our recent inclusive transport and travel conference, which brought together almost 140 people from various areas of that sector. Key messages included involving users from the outset, future-proofing infrastructure and improving parking enforcement. Stakeholders also called for better payment systems, real-time information and a more joined-up approach to public and community transport. <BR /> <BR />To ensure that there is a central and continuous focus on the diverse needs of the people who are using our services, all DFI senior civil servants, along with other lead policy officials, have completed a disability equality training programme, which is delivered in partnership with Inclusion London —”
“<BR /> <BR />We are actively working to remove obstacles for older people and those who are deaf or disabled while addressing how active travel can feel intimidating for women and girls and how racial and ethnic minorities face risks when using public transport. We work very closely and collaboratively with the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC). Building on that commitment to accessibility, I recently announced my intention to bring forward legislation to tackle inconsiderate pavement parking across the North. <BR /> <BR />A vehicle parked fully on a pavement creates serious and often dangerous barriers for pedestrians, forcing people to step out on to the road into oncoming traffic. That poses a safety risk, particularly for people with disabilities, older people, children and people pushing prams.”
“The Inclusion Foundation, which is also known as Including People, is about creating an infrastructure system that works for everyone, including older people, those with disabilities and those with sensory impairments. <BR /> <BR />Accessible transport is not just about ramps or designated seating; it is about dignity, equality and enabling people to participate fully in society. By removing barriers, we open opportunities for employment, education and community life. Our initial focus has been on understanding the barriers that people encounter when accessing our services. That has enabled my Department to review existing functions and identify areas where programmes can be strengthened to better reflect individual needs.”
“Then we had COVID, and we are gradually seeing a recovery from both those really difficult situations. During that period, the majority of motorists were acutely aware that it was their responsibility to ensure that their vehicle was roadworthy. That continues, regardless of whether your car has just been through its MOT or is two weeks out from an MOT. That is a really important point, particularly from a road safety perspective.”
“As the Member will know, we have done a consultation on biennial testing. The responses are with my officials, who are finalising a detailed paper that will come to me for consideration on the future of MOT testing here. I will update Members in due course when that is available. From a road safety perspective, it is important to remember and to remind people that the condition of your vehicle is your responsibility. Regardless of when your MOT is due, it is your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle is fit for purpose and fit for the road. <BR /> <BR />Over the past number of years, we have seen some of the issues that we have had with the testing centres. Back in 2020, we had issues with the lifts, which also had an impact on MOT testing.”
“Once both those test centres are fully operational, they will provide capacity for over 200,000 additional vehicle tests per year. Both centres are expected to open in 2026. That will be a marked difference from the experiences that we have seen in recent years. <BR /> <BR />It is important to pay tribute to the staff who have worked extremely hard doing overtime and putting in extra shifts. We have also been able to recruit new staff, which has made a really positive difference.”
“It absolutely did. In May 2024, the average MOT waiting time was approximately 100 days. I am pleased that the waiting time for an MOT is now down to 32 days. That has been achieved by increasing the number of tests that are conducted and managing demand through the use of TECs. The Driver and Vehicle Agency has increased its testing capacity by recruiting additional vehicle examiners. It has also been offering appointments on Sundays and bank holidays, when testing has not normally been available, and has increased the number of vehicles that each examiner tests. <BR /> <BR />As I mentioned, TECs were first introduced in June 2024, and I was able to extend their use for certain five- and seven-year-old private cars for another year to help manage waiting times further until the new test centres at Hydebank and Mallusk open.”
“I appreciate the Member's raising that. I am happy for you to provide more detail on that specific issue to my private office, and we can look into it and try to get it rectified. I have outlined how that process works, but if there are issues, I am keen to make sure that they are addressed.”
“From 1 June 2025, private cars that were first registered between 1 June 2020 and 31 May 2021 or that were registered between 1 June 2018 and 31 May 2019 and have a valid MOT certificate will be given a temporary exemption certificate. The TEC means they will not need a vehicle test — MOT — for 12 months from the date that their current certificate expires. If a vehicle meets the eligible date criteria but does not have a valid MOT certificate, an MOT test will need to be conducted and passed. A TEC for 12 months will be automatically applied from the expiry of the latest test certificate.”
“To answer his question on the Mineral Products Association and today's December monitoring outcome, yes, there is £13·2 million. There was a £20 million ask, but we have also been allocated money from overplanning, so there is room for flexibility in my Department. I will do my best to ensure that we meet as much of that as possible and deliver as much as we can in the rest of the financial year.”
“As the Member takes plenty of pictures of potholes, maybe he should listen to his own advice.”
“I recognise that it does not go far enough, but I hope that the public that we represent will see and feel a real difference in the coming weeks and months.”
“I have met the Mineral Products Association on a number of occasions since coming into post, and I am acutely aware of the concerns that it continues to raise. That is why I focused in the December monitoring round on putting in a specific bid for structural maintenance. I said that I wanted to do that and that I would press for funds, and I was pleased to have been awarded £13·2 million in today's monitoring round, which will go a long way. I give credit to my officials, staff on the ground and contractors, who are members of the Mineral Products Association, who can turn the money around quickly so that we can see real results. I look forward to further engagement with it on the outcome of the monitoring round.”
“The process will use advanced AI, HD imaging and roadscape-modelling technology to capture a digital twin of every road in the North to an extraordinary level of detail, generating billions of data points that will provide a detailed insight into the condition of all our carriageways and footways. It will map the extent of every visible defect, from minor cracks to large potholes. It will not only identify and prioritise urgent maintenance but perform life-cycle modelling that will provide clear, long-term projections of how the road network will perform under different investment scenarios. That will help my Department to plan investments more effectively, reducing the carbon impact of its maintenance and optimising the safety and lifespan of its road assets.”
“As I have mentioned, the new strategy will focus on delivering higher-quality repairs instead of spreading resources too thinly. That will ensure a more reliable and safer road network and that our interventions prove to be more effective, so that we are not having to come back time and time again to the same areas. As part of the strategy, my Department is taking forward the development of digitally supported procedures for the inspection and repair of roads to inform decision-making. The first step in that work is to get a complete understanding of the condition of our entire road network. We are already over halfway through that process. It will help to give us a full picture of the deterioration on our roads and ensure that we can properly target the areas of greatest need and continually build resilience.”
“We are taking a different approach to try to address all of the issues that you have just outlined. Let us see what happens; let us see how this beds in. I am positive about it. I think that it will make a real difference. It will ensure that we make more efficient and cost-effective decisions that build the resilience and sustainability of our road network.”
“I am not for one second questioning the intelligence of any of my staff. That was a disappointing remark. <BR /> <BR />We are using the digital technology available to us to make smarter decisions so that we can free up our workforce to do the work that needs to be done and ensure that we are not sending staff out to the same locations time and time again. The Member will be fully aware that the issues that we have are a result of underfunding; there is no denying that. It has been going on for well over a decade, and we are constantly playing catch-up. <BR /> <BR />I fully concur with the Member on the issues that he has raised. If you come to my constituency and look at some of the roads around Newry and south Armagh, you will see that we have the exact same issues.”
“That will provide a much greater understanding of road condition and allow officials to take a more data-driven approach when they are making decisions and to deliver more focused maintenance interventions. The value of deeper, more accurate information to support an intelligent road maintenance strategy is widely recognised. We are world-leading in that approach. It is a landmark initiative, and, in just six months, we will have an unprecedented understanding of the road infrastructure to better target maintenance, reduce costs and react quickly to future opportunities and innovations.”
“As I have said in the House previously, that means that, instead of workers filling one or two potholes and walking past a number of others, there will be more patch resurfacing. When that is done, the repairs last longer, because they are of higher quality. It will mean filling more potholes, where that is needed most, and ensuring that we are not sending the same resources back to the same spot on a number of occasions. Through the new strategy, my Department will ensure that the road maintenance function is organised to improve day-to-day effectiveness and enhance our ability to respond to incidents and weather events. <BR /> <BR />Along with the strategy, my Department is investing £1·3 million in the provision of a full digital survey of the entire road network in the North, which is almost 27,000 kilometres.”
“As the Member will be aware and as I have mentioned today, my Department has been operating in a difficult financial environment for many, many years as a result of underfunding and underinvestment by British Governments. That has created significant challenges in our ability to maintain the road network in a safe condition. As Members will be aware, last week — on 2 December — I was pleased to launch the new road maintenance strategy, which is now open for public consultation. The main objectives of the strategy are to make our roads better by enhancing safety and quality through the delivery of a targeted programme of intelligent maintenance investment and a sustainable maintenance regime.”