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.”
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“No, I know that. I have question 3, and then my notes go to question 5. It is a technical difficulty.”
“I do not have question 4 here. Sorry, just bear with me for two seconds. <BR /> <BR />During this financial year, NI Water has been — sorry, I have not been provided with question 4. Apologies: it has been missed off my list. <BR /> <BR />Can I come back to the Member? I am really sorry about that.”
“I have had no specific engagement with the Executive Office on that, but I hope to have such engagement in the coming weeks and months.”
“At the conclusion of the review, officials will provide me with a final report of their findings and recommendations. At that stage, we will know better the next steps and share them with Members.”
“I am not aware of specific barriers, but we are developing broader transport plans that will feed into that issue. I am happy to look at that in more detail for the Member to understand where the challenges are. It is my understanding that the 10B permit is being reviewed, but I can look at section 19 permits in more detail.”
“There are no plans to replace the section10B permit for community transport operators with section 19 and section 22 permits, which are used in Britain. However, my officials are reviewing the operation of the section 10B permit scheme as part of the overall review of community transport.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The bilingual signage will include wayfinding signage for passenger movements; passenger information, including all safety, welcome and customer service signage; and platform IDs. The signage will be installed later this year.”
“OK. The Irish language is for everyone and reflects the culture across this island. The transport hub is not just for the people of Belfast; it is for all people across our island. There is nothing to fear. The important point is that the Irish language is protected in law, and Belfast is one of the most thriving areas in the North, if not in Ireland, for the Irish language. I am committed to delivering equality for everyone across that area.”
“I am committed to the visibility and promotion of the Irish language across public services and in our society. <BR /> <BR />Grand Central station is not just for the people of Belfast; it is a transport hub for people from across the island. It is important, therefore, that it is reflective of all citizens. I have therefore taken the decision to install bilingual signage at Belfast Grand Central station and on all Translink ticket vending machines. As we have just come out of Seachtain na Gaeilge, that is an important and positive development to demonstrate my support for the Irish language as a living language used daily by citizens across the North and the actions being taken by my Department.”
“Water quality is an issue for the NIEA. I do not have the exact figures on enforcement in front of me, but I am happy to come back to the Member on that in writing to make sure that we have the most accurate figures.”
“As the Member will know, we have had discussions in the Chamber on that matter since I came into post. Again, my officials and I have been engaging with NI Water as frequently as we can to try to move it forward. There have been challenges, and it will continue to move at a much slower pace than we would like. However, by going back to the overall approach of trying to increase the investment to enable those upgrades and the work to happen, my priority and focus are on bringing in the funding that is needed to deliver on all those issues.”
“As I outlined, I continue to build on the three-pronged approach that is already in place. That includes working with Executive colleagues to increase investment in waste water; exploring the options for developer contributions with the consultation that launched last Friday; and introducing a water, flooding and sustainable drainage Bill to the Assembly. My Department has provided NI Water with £500 million this year to enable it to deliver essential water and sewerage systems. NI Water has advised that 18,500 properties can be connected, if developers design, fund and construct alternative solutions such as storm water offsetting, and a further 19,000 properties require NI Water capital upgrades. If NI Water's price control 21 investment plan were fully funded, connections would have been limited to 4,500 of those 19,000.”
“I appreciate the issues that the Member has raised about rural communities. It is important. I engage with NI Water frequently on all the issues. The approach that I outlined and that I am taking on the whole is to look specifically at unlocking capacity where we can at the earliest possible stage. Bearing that in mind, specific work on rural communities needs to happen, and I am committed to working on that with all parties to address the issue.”
“Unfortunately, that may lead to negative planning responses for developments in those areas. However, each application will be assessed individually depending on the location and level of capacity constraints in the area. Where possible, NI Water will work with developers to identify solutions. I will continue to work with Executive colleagues to secure funding for the capital investment programme through 2024-27.”
“During 2024-25, NI Water invested £1·8 million at Grange waste water treatment works in North Antrim. The Grange waste water treatment works is located to the south of Taylorstown village, and construction is due to be completed in May 2025. The Grange waste water treatment works upgrade builds on the £1·1 million sewer network improvements that NI Water completed earlier in price control (PC) 21. However, the fact remains that there are several waste water treatment works in North Antrim that have no available capacity for development. Those are the waste water treatment works at Armoy Bush, Dervock, Mosside Ballymoney and Stranocum. <BR /> <BR />Capacity issues have also been identified in parts of the waste water network in Ballycastle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Bushmills, Portglenone and Rasharkin.”
“It was not an issue for the meeting, as Madam Principal Deputy Speaker has outlined. However, I have committed to meeting residents and the community there in relation to the issues. I am sure that that will come up at that engagement.”
“The work along the A5 is about saving lives. That is why that work is happening, as the Member will be aware. There are lots of things that we can do in relation to biodiversity. It is important to look across the whole transport sector, not just here in the North but in the South, across the water and, indeed, worldwide. There are lots of good examples from which we can draw, and we will continue to do that.”
“I have outlined the four key areas. They relate to the transport plans that my Department is working through currently; active travel and the improvement and enhancement of the cross-border greenways and connections; our work together, on an all-island basis, on the decarbonisation of our transport fleet; and the broader projects, which I mentioned in response to my colleague Áine Murphy, relating to alternative fuels and EV charging points. Those are the four main areas, at this stage.”
“That did not come up at the meeting, as it was a cross-border, all-island meeting, but I am happy to come back to the Member on it. We are keen to move ahead and see progress on that. The Member will know better than I do the long history of that issue. We can take that up again.”
“Translink has also conducted a number of feasibility studies linked to the recommendations which are due to report in the spring or early summer, so we hope to see the next steps on that at that stage. I will then have to consider which projects to prioritise as funding opportunities become available. The outcomes from the EIB work and the feasibility studies will help to inform that. <BR /> <BR />The work is ongoing. We have to do it right. As we have said before in the House, whatever we do on this will leave a legacy. It will be there for many decades to come, so it has to be done not only at pace but in a sustainable way so that it will be there for future generations.”
“I disagree with the Member, which will be no surprise. Rail services on the island are already being developed towards the report's vision. It is ambitious, and we have discussed in the Chamber the fact that it will take a huge amount of money and work to achieve, but I am committed to doing that and to doing as much as I can within the mandate to move it forward. There has been ongoing engagement with the Irish Government on how we develop that further. Officials continue to work with their counterparts in the Department of Transport, supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB), to consider the recommendations of the review and identify the rail interventions that could be well advanced or delivered over the next decade to 2035.”
“I am committed to continuing that work, to listening to Derry City and Strabane District Council's case for supporting City of Derry Airport and to working with the rest of the Executive to identify ways to enhance support for our airports.”
“As Minister for Infrastructure, my powers relating to the three main airports in the North are limited to the Airports (NI) Order 1994, which includes powers around land acquisition and airport management. Aviation management matters in the North, including airline safety whilst on board an aircraft, are the responsibility of the British Government's Department for Transport, but I am committed to continuing to work with Executive colleagues and our local airports to ensure that we protect the connectivity that we, as an island, rely on. My officials, along with officials from the Department for the Economy, are engaging with airports to improve relationships and explore ways to improve communications.”
“I will have to come back to the Member in writing on that one, because I do not have all the details of who is involved. As I said, it is in its early stages. I will be happy to write to the Member when I have more detail on it.”
“As I said, the wider piece around decarbonisation is an all-island piece of work. We have to work together as one unit. My officials are working with officials in the Department of Transport on a Shared Island project on green hydrogen. There is also Shared Island funding for an EV charging scheme for sports clubs. Projects are already taking place to look at alternative fuels, other methods of transport and decarbonisation on an all-island basis.”
“I did not catch all the questions. We had a brief conversation about Narrow Water bridge, which, as the Member will know, is progressing really well. The fact that it is moving at pace suggests that it is going according to plan.”
“Something that really struck me while coming out of the professor's presentation was that, in many cases, people make a conscious decision not to use their mobile phone while driving, but we are in the habit of using them for everything; it is not just about making calls or sending text messages. On many occasions, people use their phone while driving without even realising. It is about trying to change that culture and make people think twice before doing that. It is also about driving home the impact and consequences of that behaviour. We will see how we can use that to better inform what we do in that regard.”
“I thank the Member for raising the issue. I spoke to Davy Jackson last night. He does fantastic work, as do Monica Heaney and Tricia O'Neill, who are from my local area and were also present last night. They do phenomenal work with young people right across the board and wider society in increasing their awareness of road safety. <BR /> <BR />The presentation was fascinating. We have asked for it to be forwarded to us. It was about mobile phone use. We are all guilty of over-relying on our mobile phones in every aspect of life. We need to ask how we use the presentation to better inform people of the real consequences of simply lifting their mobile phone while driving. Perhaps we can put mitigations in place to prevent that natural reaction.”
“A lot of work is ongoing. The specifics in the statement were about cross-border cooperation. Work remains ongoing at a very high level. I am due to receive a further update today. I can come back to the Member in writing to provide him with the most recent update. You will be aware that legal proceedings are also ongoing. The court hearing is next Tuesday. We hope to be able to press ahead, after the court decision, at the earliest possible stage. I have said to officials that we need to be ready to move as soon as we can. I am keen to do that. A lot of work is ongoing, and I will get the most recent update to you.”
“Those partners have also joined with my Department to form the strategic road safety forum, which looks at how we can work together to improve outcomes.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is a priority for me, and you will be aware that, back in September, my predecessor, John O'Dowd, launched the road safety strategy until 2030 and the supporting 2024-25 action plan. The action plan contains 10 strategic interventions and 35 in-year actions, and it is led by my Department and its road safety partners, including the PSNI, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service, DAERA and DOJ.”
“I thank the Member for raising that important point, because, to me, all-island cooperation on road safety is critical and will help to reduce the number of people killed and injured on our roads, particularly in those border areas. Coming from one of those border areas, I am all too familiar with the impacts of that. <BR /> <BR />Last year, 69 people lost their lives on our roads. That is more than one person a week and more than one family a week who have had their lives changed for ever. So far this year — we are into the tenth week of the year, I think — 10 people have died, half of whom were pedestrians. Road traffic collisions have devastating consequences, and that is why it is not just an issue for one individual or for somebody else; it is an issue for all of us, as a society.”
“There are lots of things that we are doing, including on the transition to electric vehicles, which is a huge amount of work, but it is about trying to change people's mindsets and help them understand the impact of their behaviour and of making small changes. Those are the things that we are doing, but they are always open to improvement, and we are looking across all jurisdictions, on a European basis and globally, to see what other options are available to us.”
“I thank the Member for his kind words and well wishes. <BR /> <BR />On further opportunities, we are considering quite a number of methods of tackling and addressing climate change through the improvement of sustainable travel and transport options. My Department is working on the transport strategy, and the transport plans are more divisional right across the North. As I mentioned in the statement, we are also improving cross-border greenways and active travel, and there is then the broader piece on the decarbonisation of our transport fleet and giving people more options for how they get about.”
“I am committed to working on an all-island basis, because we are one unit and should not be working in isolation on these important issues. I am working closely with my counterpart in the South and his Department.”
“Similar to the South, my Department is committed to a just transition to net zero and encourages everyone to make any little changes that they can, including the decarbonisation of private cars. That will be one of the most impactful transport measures when it comes to tackling the climate crisis, which is an issue with which we are all too familiar. My Department continues to work with other jurisdictions and the private sector to develop that process. However, we also need to provide attractive and sustainable transport alternatives such as public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling opportunities, which will give people cleaner, greener and healthier towns and cities in which they can thrive. That goes back to those points about the importance of our cross-border greenways and active travel routes.”
“I know that the Member has submitted a number of questions for written answer on that issue, and I am in the process of coming back to him in more detail. We have a number of schemes in that area, including pollinator-friendly projects such as No Mow May. There is lots of work that we can and should be doing, and I am open to other suggestions. There is always more that we can do, and I am happy to look at that in more detail. I take the Member's point, but the statement is on one meeting and does not reflect the work of the Department as a whole.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Last night, I attended the primary-school road safety awards in the Glenavon House Hotel in Cookstown. It was fantastic to see 22 schools from right across the North at that event. This morning, I attended a similar event with business chief executives at the road safety police headquarters in Ravarnet. <BR /> <BR />I concur with the Member. We have a huge job of work to do. As recently as last week we saw more road deaths. We need to work harder to tackle that, because more families have just had their world shattered before us. I do not have a specific date for publication of the action plan, but I hope that it will be made available as soon as possible. I will keep Members updated.”
“Throughout the development of the A5 project there has been strong and regular engagement with the relevant authorities in the South. As I said to a Member who previously spoke, that has strengthened over the past year with the development of the new working group. We have worked very closely with the Department of Transport on the release of funding in line with the relevant budgetary and approval processes in both jurisdictions and with the Donegal national roads office on the A5 Donegal Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) projects interface. We have also been working with the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the mitigation of impacts on the River Foyle floodplain, as well as working closely with Monaghan County Council on the continued development of the N2 Clontibret to the border road scheme.”
“I thank the Member for his suggestion. At this stage, that has not been considered, but it is something that we could certainly look at, given the design of the Narrow Water bridge. That is aimed at tourism and at more active travel. I am happy to consider that and to come back to the Member on it.”
“I thank the Member for his question. That is very important, particularly given that both the Health Minister and I were at the meeting. It is important to recognise that cross-border greenways encourage greater levels of active travel, whether that is walking or cycling. It takes people out of private cars. More people are getting out, and that has health and environmental benefits for all our communities. <BR /> <BR />Six cross-border corridors have been identified in the national cycle network. Informal and statutory consultations were undertaken with the relevant authorities in the North during their development. They will inform and help deliver projects that will continue to benefit people's health and connectivity not just in border areas but right across our island.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The specifics for the working group are all being worked through. We recognise that engagement, North and South, has been strengthened over the past year. The working group is being set up. As more information on what the group will look like and what it will set out to do becomes available, we will make sure to share it with Members.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Funding was discussed, and we hope to see further progress on that. The Minister of Transport did not provide any specifics, but we agreed to ongoing engagement. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to answer his other question, which is not related to the statement, because I have provided a response to his colleague's question for written answer. That is an operational matter for Translink, as he will be aware, which has advised that it is linked to seating arrangements on the trains and buses and that tickets can be purchased on the bus or the train or at individual ticket stands. I raised it with Translink, and it provided that response.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers agreed to include an enhanced road safety item as an area of cooperation on the NSMC transport sector work programme. The Council recognised the progress that has been made in the delivery of the jurisdictions' respective road safety strategies. Ministers welcomed the presentation by Dr Kiran Sarma on mobile phone use while driving. <BR /> <BR />The Council agreed to hold its next transport meeting in October 2025. My officials and I look forward to working with the Minister of Transport and his officials in all areas of cooperation in the transport sector.”
“Ministers noted that officials from both Administrations will progress agreed cross-border sustainable travel and transport projects, continue to liaise on policy development and seek opportunities for further collaboration. <BR /> <BR />Ministers noted that officials have progressed plans for an environment-themed workshop to showcase and share information on biodiversity best practice across the transport sector. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC welcomed the continued sharing of knowledge and experience between officials in both jurisdictions on the delivery of road safety measures and the agreement that future engagement between the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Transport will include structured working group engagement between relevant officials to support the delivery of positive road safety benefits in both jurisdictions.”
“<BR /> <BR />The NSMC welcomed the hourly Enterprise services between Dublin's Connolly station and Belfast Grand Central station that commenced in October 2024, with funding of €12·5 million provided through the Shared Island Fund and match funding provided by the Department of Transport. The Council also welcomed the publication in July 2024 of the all-island strategic rail review. The Council noted the ongoing review of the potential for government support for renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and from Dublin to City of Derry Airport. <BR /> <BR />The Council acknowledged collaboration to date on policies and projects related to sustainable mobility and decarbonisation and welcomed a commitment to continue that work by the relevant Departments in both jurisdictions.”
“The Council welcomed progress on the implementation of commitments on infrastructure investment that were outlined in the New Decade, New Approach agreement of January 2020. Ministers commended the progress on cross-border greenways, including the Sligo to Enniskillen greenway, the Ulster canal greenway and the Carlingford lough greenway, and the completion of the north-west greenway network. The Council noted that an expert-led review commissioned by the Dublin Government on potential cross-border greenway opportunities is ongoing and is expected to be completed in quarter 2 of 2025.”
“Ministers noted the progress on the establishment of a cross-border working group, which is expected to be operational in the coming months, to ensure successful outcomes through the planning processes.”
“In compliance with section 52 of the NI Act 1998, I wish to make the following statement on the meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in the transport sector held on Thursday 27 February 2025. The meeting took place in Dublin and was chaired by Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Transport. I attended the meeting with Mike Nesbitt MLA, Minister of Health, who attended as the accompanying Minister. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC noted the significant progress made since the last meeting with the formal decision to proceed with the first phase of the A5 western transport corridor and that the A5, Donegal Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and N2 road infrastructure projects continue to progress, with the Administrations working collaboratively, including on the mitigation of impacts on the River Foyle floodplain.”
“That was a very important conversation because it underlined the importance of having a plan and recognising that we cannot do everything all at once. If we can do things in phases as funding becomes available, that will help us to recruit and retain the required staff. <BR /> <BR />That is the scoping that we are doing at the minute. I do not have specifics around funding.”