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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“The introduction of new traffic law requires detailed assessment, public consultation and coordination across several agencies, including the PSNI, education bodies, bus operators and road safety specialists. That approach ensures that any changes that are brought forward are practical and enforceable and that they deliver the greatest possible benefit when it comes to the safety of children and young people going to and from school. The next steps will be determined by the ongoing safer journeys to school consultation on overtaking and passing buses. <BR /> <BR />I cannot over-emphasise the importance of the support from the Infrastructure Committee and of all of the House in making the necessary statutory changes at the earliest opportunity. I intend to introduce legislation this autumn, subject to Executive and Assembly processes.”
“As the Member will be aware, I have been clear about my commitment to take forward actions that enhance pupil safety, ensuring that any measures that are introduced deliver the safest possible outcomes whilst remaining proportionate and workable in practice. That is important to remember. Trying to put measures in place to protect children as they go to and from school is complex. <BR /> <BR />As I have said, legislating to ban overtaking stationary buses on our road network is a complex undertaking, given the diverse mix of rural and urban environments. We also have varied road layouts, and there are practical challenges with enforcement.”
“The SDLP should allow me to answer the question, instead of jeering. The reality is that the SDLP will point blame elsewhere. I have not heard it condemning the Government in the South. I have not heard it condemning the British Government, who are choosing war over the people for whom the SDLP claims to stand up. Shame on you. Be real. The Executive will continue to do everything that we can collectively to ensure that we deliver for people here, but the reality is that your MPs are cosying up to the Government who are delivering this reality for people here.”
“The SDLP loves gaslighting people. It knows full well where the responsibility lies. Maybe its MPs in Westminster will table a no confidence motion.”
“As the Member knows, he listed people who do not all come under the responsibility of my Department. My private office is engaging with hauliers to hear about their issues, but I do not think that they are under any illusion about who is responsible for the challenges that they and many others face. That is why they are taking their fight to Westminster, where the impact is being created. We will continue to support them and everyone who is feeling the impact in the time ahead.”
“You have given only one example of a person who has allegedly lost faith. I have been taking action, and we have made progress: over 5,500 new homes have been connected and capacity has been unlocked through dedicated ring-fenced money for NI Water. That is OK as a sound bite in the Chamber, but I continue to get on with the work to ensure that we keep moving forward, rather than standing still or going backwards. I continue to work with everyone to ensure that I listen to whatever solutions others can provide. The only suggestion that I hear right now is domestic water charging, which would put more pressure on people and households that are already struggling. I am providing solutions that, I know, will help us to keep moving forward.”
“Absolutely not, and I will not give cover to a British Government who shirk their responsibility and send billions to fund such wars whilst wringing their hands and saying that they cannot do anything else. We continue to bang on the British Government's door to make sure that the people whom we represent get what they are entitled to.”
“Absolutely. I cannot reiterate that strongly enough, particularly given what people face now. We have seen what has happened in recent weeks on the global stage and the impact that that is having on ordinary people. Such decisions are taken when Governments in Britain and America choose war over people. That is the reality of the situation. They are not the people who feel the pain; it is the people whom we represent, the ordinary people who are struggling to keep their head above water, to put food on the table, to put oil in their tank and to get fuel to take them to and from their job. Many of those people are domiciliary carers. Am I prepared to add to that strain and burden?”
“Members on the Benches to my right can snigger and laugh at my approach, but my focus is on making sure that we continue to move forward, that we make progress and that we find solutions within the restricted and constrained environment in which we are all operating. I continue to work with all organisations, all bodies and all Members who are willing to work with me and are realistic about what we can achieve and about how we can make this place better for everybody.”
“As I have said repeatedly, I am clear that developer contributions are not the solution to all our problems. Will they go some way to making an impact? I think that they will. The CEF welcomed the announcement. I spoke at its event the day after, and it alluded to that. <BR /> <BR />The challenges facing our waste water network are still huge, but I am committed to finding solutions and working our way through them. Progress can be slow, but that is a direct result of the underfunding of the Executive. The Member's colleague who sits on the Executive will be all too familiar with that. This year alone, we have a potential £400 million overspend. That does not happen by accident; it happens as a result of decisions taken in London.”
“I have also asked my officials to continue working on the potential introduction of a compulsory levy in the future. <BR /> <BR />The purpose of the initial voluntary scheme is to help unlock critical capacity in NI Water's waste water infrastructure so that, as I said to the Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, more residential and commercial development can proceed in areas that are currently constrained. It will deliver improvements by enabling developers to advance essential projects, especially new homes, and give would-be homeowners and tenants access to more housing in areas currently restricted by waste water capacity.”
“As the Member will know, the three-pronged approach, which I have well articulated to the Department — securing more funding from the Executive and introducing the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill and now, as I mentioned, launching developer contributions — underlines my commitment to delivering innovative solutions in partnership with NI Water, Executive colleagues and developers to improve the waste water network, including how the system disposes of waste water. <BR /> <BR />As I announced in my written ministerial statement on 19 March, developer contributions will be implemented by way of a phased approach. The initial focus will be on designing and legislating for a scheme to enable voluntary contributions.”
“I am not familiar with whether there have been discussions about that. I am not even sure whether that would be appropriate. I encourage the Member to write to the Department so that I can provide a more detailed response. I am aware of recent schemes that have been delivered in Lagmore. Whilst I appreciate that delays and disruptions to people's daily lives can be very frustrating, I hope that the outcome has been widely welcomed, because I know that those works were badly needed. My colleague Danny Baker is not here, but I know that he has been lobbying for some time to ensure delivery in that area. I appreciate that frustration has been caused, but I hope that people will benefit from that work now.”
“I encourage the Member, if she so wishes, to write to the Department about that specific case to give me a wee bit more detail. I am not familiar with that case off the top of my head. I will be happy to look at that and see whether there is any way of expediting that. I am not sure about the reason for the delay, but I am happy to look at it. If that is a potential way of finding a solution to allow those homeowners to move forward with their lives, we will, absolutely, be happy to do anything that we can to facilitate it.”
“<BR /> <BR />In some of the conversations that we have had, developers have been quite frustrated. There may be areas of constraint where, with the current price control, NI Water has not been able to get that work done. There may be potential for some developers to come together to unlock capacity in certain areas, and that would enable them to do so where they are willing to make that voluntary contribution. The existing legislation does not allow for that, and that is why I have chosen to bring that forward on a voluntary basis at the beginning. We will review that to see whether we can look at a compulsory contribution scheme going forward.”
“First, I am delighted to see the Member back, and I hope that Olivia is doing well. It is great to have you back, but I know that you have had a busy time over the past number of months. <BR /> <BR />Developer-led contributions are slightly different, and it is important to provide that clarity. At present, NI Water cannot accept funding to deliver waste water connections for a developer. The contributions that I am bringing forward will allow developers to fund connection so that they can make a contribution to allow that to go ahead. That will help to unlock capacity in areas where NI Water cannot, at present, deliver the connections. It is slightly different in the sense that it will allow developers, through a contribution-based approach, to carry out works to the standard that NI Water would deliver.”
“I think that there are a number of factors. The Member is right in saying that there are other things that do not involve cost, but everybody needs to take responsibility to find a solution. It is totally unfair that those homeowners are left in that position, but the reality is that the cost to rectify that will be huge. We have to think about how we got to this position. As I said, I will continue to look at things on a case-by-case basis, because not all cases are the same. Whilst there are probably common themes, there are some cases that we can continue to work on. That is why I have said that we will keep things under review, and, where possible, I am willing to provide support through the Department.”
“In September 2025, I announced the introduction of new private streets enforcement guidance that strengthens how and when enforcement action is taken. The guidance establishes a clear threshold for initiating enforcement action two years after a development reaches 80% occupancy. Alongside that, my Department has amended bond release thresholds, which enables a larger proportion of the bond to be retained. That provides greater assurance that sufficient funds are available to bring new developments up to an adoptable standard where enforcement becomes necessary. <BR /> <BR />Taken together, those measures significantly reduce the risk of new developments remaining unadopted and provide stronger protection for homeowners while maintaining the principle that responsibility for private streets rests with the developer until adoption.”
“I take the Member's point that it is not good enough to keep it under review, but we have to remember where the issue arose from. There were measures in place to try to ensure that it did not happen. We will continue to engage on it and will see what else is available to us, but, at this point in time, I have brought forward policy changes to try to protect people as best I can within the remit that I have.”
“As I said, I am not in any way underestimating its impact, but I have to ensure that I have the ability to deliver on it. That is why I have said that I will keep it under review. There are a number of factors that we have to carefully consider as part of that. As the Member said, it is a long-standing issue. It is impacting on many sites across the North. I can only imagine that the scale of that and the cost of rectifying it would be significant. We have to be careful about what we promise people because it is another thing to be able to deliver on it. <BR /> <BR />That said, we have to continually look at that to see what else we can do. I have tried to ensure that we put in place policy that protects people going forward. That is a recognition of the significant impact. I am happy to continue to work on it.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said in response to the previous question, I will continue to keep that position under review and to engage with the Executive and the Assembly on the issue, because I recognise that it is stressful for anybody who is impacted on. It is important to take all that into consideration in moving forward.”
“At present, there are no plans to review or amend the private streets legislation. It is important to recognise that any legislative change would need careful consideration, particularly in relation to cost, fairness and legal liability. <BR /> <BR />We had a discussion following the previous question on the ability to maintain our roads to a standard. We struggle to maintain the adopted roads that are already within our responsibility, so we have to be cautious about adding further costs to the mix. I am not shirking my responsibility. The Department has not caused the situation, but we are trying to tighten measures to protect people.”
“As I said, I appreciate the strength of feeling around legacy issues where people have been caught in such situations, particularly where the developer is no longer trading. I regularly receive correspondence from the many people who are in such situations across the North where that issue has had an impact.”
“That has improved how and when enforcement action is initiated, tightened bond release arrangements and significantly reduced the risk of new developments entering long-term unadopted status. While those measures cannot retrospectively resolve all legacy cases, they represent an important step in better protecting homeowners. I will continue to keep the position under review and engage with Executive colleagues and the Assembly on that complex and longstanding issue.”
“In such circumstances, there is no legal obligation on my Department to fund the shortfall between the bond value and the cost of completion, and there is currently no dedicated budget to do so. <BR /> <BR />That said, my Department continues to take a case-by-case approach. Officials will pursue developers where they remain in existence, seek to maximise the use of any available bond and engage with residents to explain the options available. Where enforcement action is considered appropriate and proportionate, it may be taken, subject to available resources and legal considerations. <BR /> <BR />More importantly, I am determined to prevent those situations from arising in the future. Following the Assembly's consideration of the issue, my Department introduced strengthened private streets enforcement guidance in 2025.”
“I will answer questions 3 and 7 together. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the very real difficulties that are faced by homeowners who live in unadopted developments, particularly in cases where the developer is no longer trading and the bond held by the Department is insufficient to complete the works that are required to bring the streets up to an adoptable standard. Responsibility for constructing roads and associated infrastructure to an adoptable standard rests with the developer. Where a developer fails to do that, my Department has discretionary enforcement powers under the private streets legislation, including the option to draw down on any bond of surety that is in place. However, in a number of older developments, the value of the bond does not fully reflect the cost of the outstanding works.”
“With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle,”
“I continually make that case, but other Members in the House need to join me so that that voice is heard as strongly as possible, because delivering on that is in all our interests. <BR /> <BR />The strategy will go some way towards delivering within our very constrained budget and improving our roads. However, the more money that I can get, the more that we can deliver and the greater the impact that we will see right across the North.”
“We know why that is. <BR /> <BR />We can pass the buck all that we want, but the reality is that the Executive are facing the situation of our being consistently underfunded. Nobody in the House disagrees with that. I will continue to make the case to ensure that we are properly financed. That does not rest just with the Finance Minister. As much as Members in the House wish to give the British Government cover, they have underfunded us way below what is needed not only to deliver what is needed now but to catch up on what we should have been able to deliver 10, 15 or 20 years ago. The impacts of that underfunding are probably most widely seen in our roads network.”
“We have been operating a limited service policy, which was introduced by the DUP over 15 years ago —.”
“No, but the point that I am making is this: name me an Infrastructure Minister in the past 25 years who was able to get ahead of it.”
“It is your opinion that they are worse than ever. I think that we have been in this position for many years, and we have not seen a real impact —.”
“I know that it falls well short of what is needed because of the impact of the weather. We continually see that. The rain has not stopped yet, as anyone who was out and about over Easter knows. However, it sends a clear message that we are serious about it, and we will use all resources that are available to us to ensure that we maximise what we can do. Staffing is a huge part of that, and that is why I am very focused on recruitment. I hope to see really good results coming out of the recent recruitment campaigns.”
“I thank the Member for her lovely comments. It is very important that we reflect the huge amount of work that staff do in a very difficult situation. I am also cognisant of the fact that we have a large number of vacancies right across our teams, which also adds to the difficulty in responding to issues as they arise. I have been very focused on that. The Member may be aware that we recently launched recruitment competitions for industrial workers across the Department. We have had huge interest, which I am really pleased about. That will help us to see better staffing and, I hope, better results for people on the ground. Since I have been able to secure additional funding, I have certainly seen a huge amount of activity happening out there when it comes to road repairs.”
“As I have said, I welcome the recommendations that have come out of that report. The quality of some reinstatements is an issue — I think that it is fair to say that it is a real bugbear — not just for Members across the House but for the wider public. As I have said, we have already acted on some of the recommendations and will continue to work to see how we can further implement and deliver better-quality outcomes for everybody. I have reinforced my commitment to ensuring that our road network is maintained to the standard that we all expect, and which the public rightly deserves, within a very financially constrained environment. I am confident that the new strategy can help to achieve that and that we will see real, positive benefits in the future.”
“I am committed to taking that on board and seeing how we can continually improve, based on those recommendations. We are also enhancing our assurance arrangements, maintaining annual reporting of utility performance and contributing to benchmarking across these islands. Whilst progress has been made, I recognise that there is more to do. My Department remains committed to developing and delivering further improvements and addressing the issues raised by the PAC.”
“As I said in my previous answer, we will consider the response to the consultation and any further comments from the Committee, which we will factor into the final strategy. I welcome the NIAO report and the opportunity to consider its findings through the Public Accounts Committee. My Department has already acted on several of those recommendations, including strengthening article 18 notifications to improve coordination with utilities and better protect resurfaced roads. As the Member will know, to improve transparency and understanding of road deterioration, I have commissioned a full digital survey of the network, which will help to inform analysis of the impact of utility openings and support our review of warranty periods based on robust evidence. I am aware that this issue has been coming up for many years.”
“The consultation on my Department's draft road maintenance strategy ran from 2 December 2025 to 30 January 2026. Feedback has been very positive. I thank all those who provided feedback to the consultation for the positive comments that were made. I am working closely with officials to finalise the draft consultation report, which will be shared with the Infrastructure Committee shortly for any further comments as the final stage of the process. Following any comments from the Committee, I will consider whether any amendments are needed before publishing a final road maintenance strategy, along with the consultation report itself. Once it is published, my Department will be in a strong position to progress a modern, data-driven approach to road maintenance across the North.”
“Yes, absolutely. As I said very clearly during the recent Adjournment debate, I do not want any delay to the A1 scheme. I am absolutely committed to the A1 scheme. Whilst I had to take an extremely difficult decision, I have to be rational and responsible in my role, and that is what I am doing, in the same way as I have applied this to all the other major infrastructure projects that would potentially be at risk of litigation should I proceed while the current appeal is ongoing.”
“At this time, my officials and I, along with the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and officials in his Department, are focused on winning the appeal, and we will continue to focus on that so that we can move forward positively.”
“Given that we have had this discussion previously, the Member will know that my focus at this time is on the appeal and on delivering the strongest, most robust argument in relation to the appeal. That is my priority. I have also said that, in the meantime, we will continue to look at what other options are available to us so that, in the event of an unsuccessful outcome to the appeal, we can move at pace to ensure that the delivery of the A5 proceeds. That is my focus at this time. <BR /> <BR />This is not just a result of the current judicial review; there has been a long-running crusade of objections to the A5 that got us to this point.”
“<BR /> <BR />Officials continue to monitor safety on the A1, including reviewing collision data and emerging patterns, while the long-term solution remains delivery of the full phase 2 scheme.”
“Following the A5 judgement, the restricted list was extended for one year as a deliberate step to protect the viability of the scheme during a period of legal uncertainty. <BR /> <BR />The issues being examined in the A5 case are relevant to the approval of all major infrastructure projects, including the A1, and it is therefore considered appropriate not to take key decisions on those projects until there is clarity from the final determination of those proceedings. To protect the delivery prospects of the A1, I must ensure that any next steps align with the final legal position and avoid exposing the scheme to avoidable litigation risk. Extending the restricted list preserves the work already completed, avoids unnecessary delay or cost and maintains flexibility to move to the invitation-to-tender stage, when it is appropriate to do so.”
“As previously outlined in a recent Adjournment debate, the A1 junctions phase 2 scheme is a mature and well-developed project. The statutory processes have been completed, including the public local inquiry, and an approved outline business case is in place. <BR /> <BR />In July 2024, the scheme was confirmed as proceeding as a single, coherent package of works, reflecting its strategic and safety importance, and it moved into the procurement phase, completing the preparatory procurement activity with a restricted list of tenderers being established. In February 2025, a restricted list of tenderers was put in place, positioning the scheme to progress efficiently when appropriate.”
“However, it is also important to recognise that the ongoing appeal has wider implications for the delivery of major road schemes. A positive and clear resolution would provide the certainty needed for projects such as the A1. <BR /> <BR />I thank Members for giving me the opportunity to, hopefully, give clarity as to why we are where we are. Whilst I appreciate the remarks about my sincerity, it is not about me: it is about the families, the people and those in the future who will use that road daily. I hope that we can remain united in our efforts to deliver the scheme and that that will be done sooner rather than later.”
“I am equally committed to ensuring that it is delivered in a way that is safe and legally robust. Road safety remains my top priority. My determination to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads is unwavering, and I will continue to do all that I can not just in physical infrastructure projects but in everything that we do, so that we continually reduce those road deaths. <BR /> <BR />Work continues in the Department to progress the scheme appropriately with a focus on reducing risk and ultimately improving safety for everyone who uses the A1. I will continue to work to ensure that schemes such as the A1 are delivered in a way that stands the test of time and delivers real benefits for the public. <BR /> <BR />I respect fully the independence of the courts and the need for the legal process to conclude.”
“I emphasise strongly, however, that my officials, officials from DAERA and our two legal teams are working incredibly hard to ensure that we deliver the most robust and strongest case possible. My priority was ensuring that this important project was not lost, reset or weakened during this uncertain period, and nor do I want to acquire any unnecessary delay or cost. Therefore, extending the restricted list, as John said, ensures that the scheme remains in a position to move forward as soon as we can do that. We are ready to go as soon as we have a green light. It gives officials the flexibility to move into the tender stage at any time during the extension. <BR /> <BR />In closing, I want to be clear about my intent. My commitment to the delivery of the A1 junctions phase 2 scheme is solid.”
“That is something that I have discussed with officials. I know that some interim safety measures have been done in recent years. It is my understanding that that is the maximum that can be done without having to do the upgrades that have been approved in the scheme. We continually review that and on the A5 as well. If there was a way, we would not be standing here. We also have to take that into consideration with all the other schemes that were mentioned and that are in various stages of progress but are in a similar scenario. <BR /> <BR />The most responsible, albeit the most difficult, decision to take was to await the outcome. I hope that that moves at pace, but, as I said, we are back at the Court of Appeal, and the outcome remains to be seen.”
“I had to be honest about the reality, and taking the risk, which, I feel, is significant, of legal challenge is just something that we should not do. Not only would that be irresponsible with regard to public money and ending up in court again, but it could add further delays to the project and lead us further down the line, whereas, if we get a successful outcome on the A5, we can move at pace.”
“What I said in the House in the aftermath of the original ruling was that I was also focused on ensuring that we had a contingency plan in the event, because we do not know what happens once we go into a courtroom. No one knows, and it is down to interpretation. That was the first test of the climate change legislation. I remain confident that we can deliver the most robust case. In the event that we do have an unsuccessful outcome, however, I remain committed to ensuring that we find the solutions, and I will continue to do that. What those solutions may be is not something that I will get into at this stage, because we have to work through the process, but we cannot sit on our hands. We are seeing the real impact of that. <BR /> <BR />As I said, I agonised over the decision and worked with officials to find another way.”