Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 11 June 2025

Committee for Infrastructure Minutes of proceedings 11 June 2025.pdf (197.43 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast

Present:                               

Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA (Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Via Video Conferencing: 

Ms Nicola Brogan MLA

Mr Mark Durkan MLA

In Attendance:                   

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Philip Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr Oliver Briant (Clerical Officer)

 

The meeting commenced in public session at 10:02 am.


1.            Apologies

As above.


2.            Declaration of Interests

None.


3.            Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson discussed her recent attendance, alongside Committee members Andrew McMurray and Peter McReynolds, at the launch of the Fiscal Council’s report into the sustainability of funding in the water sector in Northern Ireland.


4.            Draft Minutes

Agreed:         The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, subject to an amendment.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed the minutes of the Concurrent meeting  with the Committee for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs held on Wednesday, 3 June 2025.


5.            Matters Arising

None.


6.            Correspondence

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the introduction of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.

Agreed:         To forward a copy of the correspondence to Assembly Research and Information Service to request a list of suggested stakeholders that the Committee might wish to engage with should the Bill progress to the Committee stage.

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure notifying of her intention to introduce a revised enforcement policy that will enable Fixed Penalty Notices to be issued for the misuse of school bus safety lighting.

Agreed:         To write to DfI to establish:

  • what engagement it has undertaken with the Education Authority and Translink to ensure compliance with the Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations  (Northern Ireland) 2011
  • whether responsibility for compliance under the Regulations rests with the driver; and
  • its assessment of how enforcement can be effectively undertaken given the limited window of opportunity to observe compliance.

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing a copy of the Terms of Reference for the Review of Class C Taxi Licensing.

Agreed:         To note and schedule an evidence session in the forward work programme following the conclusion of the consultation.

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing a copy of the NI Fiscal Council report on the Sustainability of Funding for Northern Ireland Water.

Agreed:         To note the oral evidence session scheduled with the NI Fiscal Council on 18 June 2025.

Correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee regarding procurement matters for the Driver & Vehicle Agency.

Agreed:         To write to DfI to establish what change it has implemented to its procurement processes arising from reports published by the Public Accounts Committee.

 

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Monthly update report - ‘Belfast Traffic Congestion - May 2025
  • Response to Committee correspondence regarding concerns over the termination of the Driver and Vehicle Agency vehicle testing equipment contract.
  • Correspondence from Paula Bradshaw MLA providing the consultation summary on the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill.
  • A call for evidence from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to facilitate a review of Assembly Committee engagement on cross-cutting Executive strategies.
  • Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing further information on the Analysis of 2024-25 Outturn and Forecast Outturn; and
  • Copy correspondence to the Department for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs regarding single farm payments.;


7.            SR 2025-85 Kensington Avenue, Banbridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-85 Kensington Avenue, Banbridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

Agreed:         That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-85 Kensington Avenue, Banbridge (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.


8.           2025-86 The Rathenraw Industrial Estate, Antrim (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-86 The Rathenraw Industrial Estate, Antrim (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

Agreed:         That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-86 The Rathenraw Industrial Estate, Antrim (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.


9.            Main Estimates - 2025-26 – Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:14 am:

  • Susan Anderson, Director of Finance, Department for Infrastructure;
  • Declan McGeown – Deputy Secretary for Water and Departmental Delivery, Department for Infrastructure;
  • Colin Woods – Deputy Secretary for Transport and Road Asset Management, Department for Infrastructure; and
  • Judith Andrews – Acting Deputy Secretary for Climate, Planning and Public Transport, Department for Infrastructure.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The officials provided an overview of the Department’s Main Estimates - 2025-26.

A question and answer session followed.

 

10.         In-Year Monitoring: June Monitoring Round – Department for Infrastructure - Oral Evidence

The officials remained from the previous session.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The officials provided an overview of the Department’s June Monitoring Round - 2025-26.

A question and answer session followed.

The officials left the meeting at 11:51 am.


11.         Active Travel - Progress Review for 2024-25 and Future Plans – Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:55 am.

  • Colin Hutchinson – Director of A5WTC and Active Travel, Department for Infrastructure; and
  • Peter McParland – Deputy Director for Active Travel, Department for Infrastructure.

Nicola Brogan left the meeting at 12:01 pm.

The Departmental officials left the meeting at 12:52 pm.

Agreed:         To write to the Department to seek further detail on:

  • what modelling it has undertaken to examine the impact on emissions arising from active travel initiatives;
  • an overview of council led greenway schemes; and
  • an overview of the assessment methodology to determine the priority of active travel initiatives.

 

12.          Planning and flood risk – Assembly Research and Information Service – Written Briefing

The Committee noted the written briefing paper from Assembly Research and Information Service on Planning and Flood Risk

 

13.         Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme.

Agreed:         To proceed with the scheduled evidence as set out in the draft Forward Work Programme and to reflect to any changes agreed in the course of the meeting.


14.         Any Other Business

None.


15.         Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

 

Mrs Deborah Erskine

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

11 June 2025