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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“At present, 22 recruitment campaigns are under way, and, in the past 12 months, our efforts have led to approximately 200 new appointments, with a further 300 anticipated soon. As I said, officials are using the other recruitment approaches that I mentioned. I think that the first one is due to start in the coming weeks, but I can come back to the Member with more detail on that. I really want to emphasise that that is a key focus area for me. We can have all the money in the world, but it is no good to us if we have no staff to go out and do what needs to be done.”
“To build in that longer-term resilience, we are investing in more innovative recruitment models. I talked earlier about the academy approach that has been used, as well as the Talent Dog recruitment process being used by the Civil Service.”
“I spoke to that earlier. Filling vacancies in specialist roles is difficult. There is a 30% vacancy rate in administrative, engineering and industrial roles across our roads divisions. That is why we have established a people subcommittee. I know that that means nothing to the vast majority of people, but I hope that it shows that we are emphasising the need to tackle the issue. The workforce capacity risks need to be identified — we are at that stage — and managed.”
“However, as I said, I am entering discussions with my team to look at how we can prioritise road maintenance at the earliest possible stage this year, because I know that it will take us into the new financial year to deal with what we are dealing with. We need to front-load that budget as far as possible. It will not be easy — I am under no illusion about that — but I certainly do not want us to be in the situation that we are in. As well as that, there will be a cumulative impact from the other measures that I am taking regarding the new strategy, the digital survey and the recruitment campaign so that we see real results that will make a positive difference for everybody.”
“It was August or almost September by the time we got a finalised budget last year, and the exact reason was that we had such difficult decisions to make on so many competing priorities, including our road network and our waste water and public transport infrastructure — all the things that everyone in the Chamber wants to see improved, enhanced and delivered to the standard that the public expect. <BR /> <BR />We had an opening budget of £68 million, and I know that that fell well short of what was needed. That is why, when I had the opportunity to reallocate funding or obtain additional funding, I did so, bringing that budget up to just over £105 million. That still falls well short of what is needed and is not ideal because it is too late in the year, I think, to get ahead of what we are dealing with now.”
“We continually challenge all our arm's-length bodies (ALBs) to constantly review how they can make further efficiencies. In fairness to Translink, it has been doing that and has shown where it has made savings to try to live within its budget, as is expected of all of us. I commend Translink for that. This is ongoing work, and, as we go into a new budgetary period, we will hopefully have a multi-year Budget that will enable us to plan more efficiently and effectively to deal with the issues that you have outlined. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to come back to the Member on that where I can, but, as far as I am concerned, at this point, it is more about looking at what we can do in the future. We have a draft Budget, but, when we have our actual Budget, we will be able to give a more realistic analysis of what that will mean.”
“Given our discussions today, the Member will be aware that, over the past number of years, every aspect of departmental delivery has been under pressure because of the Executive Budget and the budgets that Departments are allocated out of it. We are all continually being challenged. I regularly engage with Translink, and I met it again in recent weeks to look at the potential for the budget. As I do not yet have an agreed budget for this year, we will continue to work on that. I do not underestimate that challenge, and we continue to work with Translink to find ways to ensure that we can mitigate any potential losses.”
“By the Assembly. I correct myself: I meant to say "the Assembly". Everybody understood what they were signing up to, but this is the first test of that Act. There are areas where it is down to interpretation and we have to understand what it means. From what I have seen, we should be able to proceed, and my priority is to win the appeal.”
“As I have said, we are going through the appeal process. My priority is to submit the most robust case so that we can win the appeal and deliver the road, as well as the other schemes that the Member mentioned. We are working closely with DAERA on that. It was agreed by the Executive —”
“As the Member is aware, we are currently going through an appeal. That is an indication that we are keen to evidence further why we think that the A5 road should be built under the existing legislation. That is why we are working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the involvement of which is fundamental. I am still of the opinion that we should be able to proceed with the scheme. It is important that I let the court case run its course, but we continue to submit a robust case.”
“I know how important that is for connectivity and for people, particularly the more vulnerable.”
“That would require engagement with local section offices as well, because they may well have prioritised those roads already. At this stage in the financial year, it is about where the capacity is for delivery. If the Member knows of specific locations where that is an issue, I am happy for him to pass them on so that we can check with teams, because there could be further consequences. <BR /> <BR />That re-emphasises the importance of our road network. It is not just there to allow all of us in the Chamber to get to work or from A to B; it is a lifeline for many people, particularly those in rural areas. That is why I targeted funding that I got recently in my opening budget and from in-year allocations at rural roads through the roads recovery fund.”
“I have outlined to Members on a number of occasions the number of defects that are being reported. That number is continually being added to. I hope that we can deal with more and more of the defects during the period of dry weather that we are seeing. If, however, there is scope for me to work with the Minister of Health to ensure that what the Member mentioned, which would deeply concern me, does not happen, I am more than willing to do so.”
“That has not been brought to my attention. It is deeply concerning. If there is a role for the Health Minister and me to work together on that, I am more than happy to do that. I have outlined the work that I am doing to try to tackle the serious deterioration of our roads over a relatively short time.”
“I thank the Member for his comments. Whilst we all want to see the legislation delivered as quickly as possible, we know that, if we do not get it right, it can lead to further issues and consequences. We have a dedicated team of people working on it, and they are making it their priority. We want to ensure that what we do is done right so that we can continuously reduce such incidents and reduce roads deaths in all our communities.”
“It is progressing towards a comprehensive package of measures, including legislation that is designed to reinforce the high level of care that is required of us all when driving past a bus that is carrying children. <BR /> <BR />As I have said previously in the House, I have met the Education Minister on the issue, because I recognise that, as Caitlin-Rose's mum said, it is not just legislation that is required; we need a wider piece, and I gave a commitment on that. I hope to be able to update the House on that fairly soon. I reassure and give confidence to the House that that work is progressing at pace. We have carried out extensive work to ensure that what we deliver will be delivered properly.”
“First, yes, I have met Caitlin-Rose's mum on a number of occasions. I completely admire her determination during a tragic, devastating time to turn her grief into action, and I very much appreciate her efforts in doing that. I gave a commitment to work hard to deliver the legislation. <BR /> <BR />The Member may be aware that, on the back of that, I developed the safer journeys to school programme. That has been established to improve safety for children and other vulnerable passengers, particularly when they are getting on and off buses. Road safety and the safety of our schoolchildren are absolute priorities for me as Minister. I am pleased to say that the Department's safer journeys to school programme is progressing at pace. We get regular updates from the team that is working on it.”
“It will be an ongoing process. At this stage, we have already seen the road network in full. We will certainly look at how we continue to utilise that. We could not just do one survey and say, "That's it. We're done. That's us for the next 10 or 15 years". There will be an ongoing review. It is more about ensuring that we better use resources and that decisions are data driven. The fact that we will need fewer staff to go out and do the survey means that they can be directed to do other work, which will help to build capacity in the system.”
“I have already answered all of those issues. I have set out not excuses but the facts. I have set out the actions that are under way and those that are going to happen in the time ahead. As I said, we are analysing the consultation responses. There has been a positive response to it, which I am very pleased to see. The publication of the final consultation report will help us to move towards the delivery of the final road maintenance strategy.”
“That is why the digital survey is very important; it will provide us with a more effective way of monitoring those repairs so that we can deal with them on a more widespread basis and ensure that they are rectified where necessary.”
“I have outlined what we do now and what we intend to do under the new strategy. At present, maintenance staff continue to inspect and make safe any existing defects. They also look at what has been done by other companies and inspect that work. On completion of the repair, my officials undertake a percentage check to assess the quality of the pothole repair, or, when it comes to utility openings, the scheme, and confirm works for payment if the repair meets the required threshold. If a repair fails to satisfy the required standards, officials will request that it is rectified, and it will be subjected to further inspection. That process will continue until the repair fully complies with all stipulated requirements. As I mentioned, that is a percentage, so I know that issues can still emerge.”
“We need more people who are equipped to do that and respond to the issues that impact on our roads. I am taking a targeted approach to recruitment so that we can do that and build in capacity for the future. <BR /> <BR />As well as that, building on the success of the Talent Dog recruitment exercise that was delivered by the Civil Service in the north-west, my officials intend to pilot that approach again in the recruitment of industrial staff. We intend to set out a number of recruitment opportunities. I hope that that will ensure that we start to backfill those vacancies and see a real impact in terms of response and delivery on our roads.”
“As I mentioned, we continue to face significant staff recruitment and retention challenges across the Department. We face particular challenges in relation to specialist roles, which have impacted on our ability to deliver essential services and infrastructure projects. To strengthen our workforce planning arrangements internally, we have established a people subcommittee to ensure that workforce capacity risks are identified and managed. As I mentioned earlier in response to previous questions, in order to build long-term resilience in our workforce, we are investing in new and innovative recruitment models. Officials plan to use the already successfully established academy approach to recruit new industrial staff, which will enhance our capacity in the Department to directly target pothole repairs and the fixing of our roads.”
“It will also allow for longer-term life-cycle modelling and a much greater understanding of the implications of our investment decisions. That goes back to what I said earlier about a prevention-rather-than-cure approach. It will mean that we do not find that, come the end of each year, we have to react and almost firefight to try to deal with the emerging issues that our road network faces.”
“Whilst the quality of repairs is currently monitored as part of routine highway inspections, the new digital survey will be a major advance in the assessment of the condition and durability of repairs on the network, as well as the performance of reinstatements associated with utility openings, which, I know, are of major interest to the majority of Members. That shows that we are working towards improving that.”
“My Department will continue to take a more detailed look at all the responses and publish the consultation report with the aim of finalising the road maintenance strategy in due course. <BR /> <BR />I have also committed to investing £1·3 million in the provision of a groundbreaking digital survey of the North's entire road network. That will provide a level of detail that will allow my officials to make data-driven, efficient decisions and interventions. The data provided by the new digital stocktake will assist in targeting resources for routine maintenance activities, such as patching, to ensure the best utilisation of scarce resources.”
“Road resilience refers to how well a road network can withstand, adapt to and recover from disruptive events such as severe weather, flooding, landslides, accidents and infrastructure failures or long-term stresses such as climate change and increased traffic demand. On 2 December 2025, I launched a public consultation on the draft road maintenance strategy. The main objectives of the strategy are to improve the overall condition of the road network and enhance safety and quality as a means of improving resilience by delivering a targeted programme of intelligent maintenance investment and a sustainable maintenance regime. The consultation ended on 30 January, and, as I said earlier, initial indications show a positive response.”
“There were a number of questions in that. That is comparing apples and pears. We have a responsibility to improve road safety and to continually work to achieve zero deaths on our roads, where possible. I have been doing that through further investment in road safety advertising, working with the Road Safety Partnership and looking at what else we can do to improve road safety. <BR /> <BR />One thing that we can do is to deliver the A5, because that will improve road safety and save lives. We can do that in line with our climate change responsibilities, and that is what I am committed to doing. Whilst there may be different opinions on climate change, I will work within my remit to adhere to the responsibilities that I have.”
“That figure continues to rise and is now, I think, at approximately £1·6 billion, which probably does not even take into account the impact that higher rainfall and extreme weather conditions will continue to have. We continually assess that impact and work that into how we build resilience and sustainability into the roads as well as how we plan for flooding events. We have done significant work, including the development of a flood forecasting centre, flood alleviation schemes and other initiatives. <BR /> <BR />I reassure the Member that we constantly assess the issues and look into the future to see what we can expect and how we can get ahead of that.”
“That is a really good question, particularly given what we have seen in recent months. We have seen, I think, the wettest winter — certainly the wettest January and February — on record and the impacts of that not just on road maintenance but on the way in which we deal with flooding events. Given that the Member is on the Infrastructure Committee, he will be aware of the work that has been going on to plan and prepare for such events as well as to build resilience into what we are doing. <BR /> <BR />I have outlined to the Assembly today what I am doing on road maintenance. In 2017-18, the Barton review found that £1·2 billion would be needed to adequately maintain our road network.”
“As the Member is aware, my Department appealed against the judgement, and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Friends of the Earth were granted permission to formally intervene in the appeal on either side of the argument. The case was heard in part by the Appeal Court on 9 and 10 December 2025. The Court of Appeal referred the matter of the Climate Change Act back to the High Court, and the most recent hearing commenced last week. The Court of Appeal will reconvene following the outcome of that hearing. We will continue to focus on that. It is certainly my priority to deliver the most robust argument so that we get a positive resolution of that really important case.”
“First, I offer my condolences to the family of the person who lost their life on the A5. It is another stark reminder of why we are doing what we are doing and working so hard to deliver the A5: so that no other family experiences what that family is going through. <BR /> <BR />As the Member will know, the High Court judgement on the A5 last year, which went against my Department, was hugely disappointing not just for me but for all the families and campaigners, such as the A5 Enough is Enough group, who have been extremely diligent and steadfast in their commitment to ensuring that the road is built.”
“As the Member will be aware, the Climate Change Act is not legislation from my Department, and it was agreed by the Assembly. Therefore, the Assembly’s agreement would be required to make any changes. I am committed to focusing on the appeal and winning it, because it is about saving lives. There may be other views about what the legislation means. My team and Minister Muir's team in DAERA are working extremely hard to evidence that we have followed the Act appropriately to win the appeal. I am committed to doing that because my ultimate priority is to build the A5 and get all the other road schemes under way.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Climate Change Act does not remove the need for vital road infrastructure, but it does require a more considered and robust approach that balances road safety, regional connectivity and economic growth with our statutory climate obligations.”
“<BR /> <BR />In practical terms, the Climate Change Act means that road infrastructure projects must continue to be assessed not only on their strategic economic and safety benefits but on how they align with climate objectives and legal requirements, and that includes ensuring that environmental considerations are fully integrated at each stage of development. It is also important that the Department allows appropriate time for the completion of legal proceedings, including those currently under way in relation to the A5, so that the Court of Appeal’s ruling can be fully understood. I consider it prudent to reflect on any lessons learned across other major road schemes to avoid the risk of further legal challenge and exposure to financial risk.”
“My key transport decarbonisation policies and actions are already set out in the first draft climate action plan for 2023-27. My Department has been actively engaged in that process. Alongside DAERA, we hosted a transport sector decarbonisation stakeholder engagement event in September last year, and officials have since reviewed and assessed the transport responses from the public consultation. That work is ongoing in close collaboration with DAERA and other Departments, as the draft climate action plan is refined.”
“The Climate Change Act 2022 provides an important statutory framework that will shape how my Department plans and delivers road infrastructure going forward. I remain determined to do everything possible to improve road safety through the development of new and upgraded roads. Major schemes, such as the A5, the A4 Enniskillen bypass and the A1 junctions phase 2 project, continue to play a vital role in saving lives, supporting economic growth and improving regional connectivity. That is why they remain key commitments for me and why I am awaiting the outcome of the current A5 legal appeal. <BR /> <BR />The Act also reinforces the need to ensure that road infrastructure is planned and delivered in a way that is consistent with our climate change and decarbonisation obligations.”
“As a member of the Infrastructure Committee, the Member knows what is included in that strategy and what it sets out to do. We are in the process of finalising the consultation report, and the early indications are that there has been a relatively positive response to what was set out in the draft road maintenance strategy. I look forward to hearing other proposals, if there are any, on how to deal with this and of solutions that will have a real and lasting impact, from within our limited financial budget.”
“As I am not on the council, I cannot speak to what decisions took place at that council. However, we can get further information on that. There are standing orders and protocols in place on the tabling of motions at council, so I suspect that, if the motion did not get through for debate, it was not for any other reason than that. However, without all the information, I cannot comment on that. <BR /> <BR />I have outlined clearly what I am doing and what I intend to do to deliver a better outcome for our roads. Our roads are in a terrible state — absolutely — but I am focused on and will continue to focus on finding solutions. All the things that people have been calling on me to do: we are already doing or working towards doing them. I hope that we will see more of that, particularly through the strategy.”
“In the time ahead, particularly in this financial year, it is about ensuring that we use that strategy appropriately, look at what we have put into it and implement that. I am also looking at front-loading my budget to see how we can get ahead of the issue from April onwards and target investment to where it is most needed. That is where I am at.”
“I mentioned the digital roads survey and how that will enable us to take more of a prevention-rather-than-cure approach to tackle and get ahead of the issues on our roads. <BR /> <BR />I will build on what I said about recruitment in my previous response. We have a significant number of vacancies across the Department, particularly among our industrial staff. We are taking a targeted recruitment approach to see how we can fill those vacancies and build capacity within the Department, so that we can have more people out dealing with the issues that impact on our roads. <BR /> <BR />Lastly, it is about looking at the strategy and how we can use that. Whilst it is a plan, it is a strategy.”
“In addition to what I have said, in my efforts, I have been proactive and tried to get ahead of the issue for next year. No one in the Chamber can say that this issue is new or has just happened in the past number of months. It is a result of years upon years of underinvestment. We all have to make difficult decisions on our budgets. As we prepare for price control 28 on waste water, we see another significant funding ask. I am cognisant of my responsibilities on that. <BR /> <BR />On the approach that I have taken, I mentioned the additional investment for this year. That is about maximising the funding available and the resources within the Department, and looking at which external contractors can help support us to deal with the significant deterioration of our road network.”
“Members will be aware that I have invested £1·3 million in the digital roads survey. That has enabled us to use data to drive where we target resources and to look to prevention rather than cure. We can see, at an earlier stage, where roads are likely to break down and get to that much sooner, rather than trying to react to major defects, such as those that we have seen recently. Lastly, on recruitment, vacancies across the Department have been a huge issue, particularly among our industrial staff, whom we rely on to go out and fix our roads, particularly potholes. We have a number of recruitment campaigns coming up that will target that area specifically.”
“Members are aware that my Department has developed the draft road maintenance strategy, which takes a new approach to how we deal with road maintenance, including doing simple things such as not just repairing one pothole while skipping potholes around it because they do not meet the criteria but instead looking at doing a larger patchwork of repairs in order to help build resilience and sustainability in order to ensure the integrity of the road. <BR /> <BR />Members are aware of the increased investment that I have allocated to our roads since December in response to the issues that we have experienced. Since December, I have allocated over £40 million. That is being used as we speak, including for 40 schemes that would not have got on track had we not been able to secure that additional money in this financial year.”
“I am really glad that the Member asked that question, because, as I have said repeatedly, particularly in recent weeks, we have only to look back year-on-year to see that the issues are not new but ones that come up time and again. That is not an excuse. Rather, it is the reality. Yes, we have seen unprecedented levels of rainfall. That is a fact. We have heard it said by experts and seen it reported in the media and on the news. That has had a huge impact on the condition of our roads.”
“— society, we must continue to work together to ensure that, whatever the journey, everyone gets home safely.”
“Ultimately, reducing the number of road deaths requires action from all of us, and, as a —”
“It adopts a risk-based approach to inspection, maintenance and intervention to ensure that the most severe defects are addressed in a timely manner. In addition, targeted safety schemes are developed using analysis of PSNI data to identify high-risk locations where there is evidence of collision history or emerging safety concerns and a common causation that could be addressed through engineering improvement measures. Interventions are prioritised in line with the funding available and are supported by collision analysis and engineering assessment. <BR /> <BR />Keeping people safe on our roads is a shared responsibility, and my Department continues to work collaboratively with the PSNI, the road safety partnership, local councils and a wide range of stakeholders to promote safer behaviour and improve outcomes.”
“Road traffic collisions can have a range of contributing factors, and, although the evidence available at this time indicates that the road network's condition was not identified as the principal causation factor in road deaths, its condition and safety is kept under continual review. <BR /> <BR />As Members will be aware, and as we have talked about on many occasions, particularly in recent weeks, the winter period has taken a severe toll on the road network, and that has been exacerbated by the many years of underfunding and underinvestment. The exceptionally poor weather in recent months has had an immediate impact. My Department is working extremely hard to fix the defects in the road network, using all the resources available to it.”
“I first offer my sincere condolences to the families, friends and communities of all those who lost their lives in recent road traffic collisions. Just last week, we saw another fatality on the A5. Every death on our roads is a tragedy and has devastating consequences for everybody in that person's family and across the community. <BR /> <BR />All collisions are investigated by the PSNI, which will then share any relevant findings with my Department. My officials work closely with the PSNI to assist it with its enquiries and then take forward any actions that are within the Department's remit.”