Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 12 March 2025

Committee for Infrastructure minute of proceedings 12 March 2025.pdf (205.41 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present:                               

Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Apologies:                            None

Via Video Conference:    

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Ms Nicola Brogan MLA

Mr Mark Durkan MLA

In Attendance:                   

Ms Barbara Love (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr Oliver Briant (Clerical Officer)

 

The meeting commenced in public session at 10:04 am.


1.            Apologies

None.


2.            Declaration of Interests

Mrs Deborah Erskine declared an interest as having family members who own land along the A5 route.


3.            Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson advised Members that, at its meeting on 6 March 2025, the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) agreed that the Clerk to the AERA Committee engage with the Clerk of the Committee for Infrastructure to scope out the possibility of a formal or informal concurrent meeting to consider the impact on farmers who are subject to a vesting order as part of the  upgrade to the A5 Western Transport Corridor, including related issues of planning for replacement farm buildings and ammonia emissions, as previously discussed,  taking into account the ongoing litigation.

Agreed:       That the Clerk engages with the Clerk to the AERA Committee to explore the potential for either a formal or informal meeting at an appropriate time to rehearse the issues relevant to the remit of each committee.


4.            Draft Minutes

Agreed:         Subject to a change advised by the Chairperson, the Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.


5.            Matters Arising

None.


6.            Correspondence

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding Business Plans & Performance.

Agreed:         To consider the Minister’s response under the Forward Work Programme (Agenda Item 12).

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding traffic congestion in Belfast City Centre.

Agreed:         To write to DfI to confirm that the Committee is content to receive a monthly summary technical monitoring report.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the gully pilot scheme.

Agreed:         To write to DfI to request, in the first instance, further detail on the features and anticipated benefits of the software being piloted and to receive a further update upon the conclusion of the pilot scheme.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding a query from Kate Nicholl MLA relating to medical fitness to drive.

Agreed:         To write to the Minister requesting an update on the outcome of the discussions once complete.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the RaISe Paper on Planning Applications and Flood Risk.

Agreed:         To write to the Department seeking detail of whether it has plans to undertake a review of PPS15 in light of the forthcoming Regulations under the Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.

Agreed:         To schedule oral evidence in the Forward Work Programme on:

  • the specific issues affecting development proposals as highlighted in the response;
  • DfI’s ‘short-term’ approaches to deal with development considerations and associated guidance including any limitations or barriers.

Correspondence from the Committee for the Economy regarding the Deluxe Group: Creative Arts on infrastructural issues including planning delays and their adverse impact on expansion.

Agreed:         To schedule oral evidence from the Deluxe Group on the specific issues referenced relating to industrial development including planning delays and infrastructural water and sewerage issues.

Correspondence from the Community Transport Association requesting to provide oral evidence to the Committee.

Agreed:         To schedule in the Forward Work Programme at an appropriate date.

Response from Translink to Committee correspondence regarding the lack of public transport accessibility to medical appointments.

Agreed:         To forward the response to the member of the public for information.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence relating to the costs arising from Storm Éowyn in the  Budget 2024-2025 year;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the Review of Residents’ Parking Scheme;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the SL1 – Moore's Lane, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
  • Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding a Statement to the Assembly on extending the use of temporary exemption certificates to help manage MOT waiting times;
  • Department for Infrastructure Press Release regarding the appointment of three Non-Executive members to the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority;
  • Committee for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs consultation on the Agriculture Bill;
  • Committee for Finance correspondence providing clarification on the status of Budget Sustainability Plans;
  • Committee for Finance correspondence providing information on capital easements highlighted in the Spring Supplementary Estimates as a result of ongoing legal challenge;
  • Committee for Finance correspondence providing Quarterly NICS sickness absence figures for October – December 2024 which have been published by NISRA;
  • Committee for Finance correspondence providing further detail on how Barnett consequentials have arisen and if any bids met were carried over from previous January Monitoring Bids;
  • Correspondence from the Construction Employers Federation providing follow up to NIEA oral evidence advising that CEF have not been advised of DfI/DfC working group but would be open to any invite in that regard and a copy of their submission to the consultation on the draft Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2025/26 dated March 2025;
  • Invitation from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce to the Momentum Conference on Thursday 3 April at Galgorm Resort; and
  • Response from Translink to Committee correspondence regarding budgetary funding following an oral evidence session on 12 February 2025.


7.           The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 - Post Legislative Scrutiny – Written Evidence

The Committee considered written evidence from the Department as part of its post-legislative scrutiny of the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 to establish whether it has delivered the intended legislative objectives.

Agreed:         To write to the Department of Finance to seek further detail on the input provided by the Minister in respect of the establishment of UK Government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce.

Agreed:         To consider the scope, functions and key outputs of the Taskforce at a future meeting.

 

8.           SR 2025-25 The Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-25 The Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed:         That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-25 The Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

Agreed:         To write to DfI seeking further information on the type of vehicles impacted by the rule including whether this extends to vans or business vehicles towing trailers.


9.           SR 2025-31 The Moore’s Lane, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-31 The Moore’s Lane, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed:         That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-31 The Moore’s Lane, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.


10. Subordinate Legislation – SR’s Not subject to Assembly Procedure

The Committee noted the following Statutory Rule that was laid in the Business Office and is not subject to Assembly Proceedings:

  • SR 2025-37 The Prohibition of Right-Hand Turn (Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.


11. Subordinate Legislation – SL1’s Not subject to Assembly Procedure

The Committee noted the following proposals for Statutory Rules, which are not subject to Assembly Proceedings:

  • SL1 - The Roads (Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
  • SL1 - The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025; and
  • SL1 - The Road Races (Tour of the Sperrins Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

 

12.         Forward Work Programme

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding Business Plans & Performance.

The Committee noted the response from the Minister to the Committee’s previous request for copies of the divisional plans and associated performance against the objectives.

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.

Agreed:         To write to the Minister seeking a written briefing from each Director on the year to date performance against the objectives within in their divisional business plans.

Agreed:         To commission research papers from the Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISe) on:

  • The provisions of, amendments to and issues regarding he Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 to support scrutiny of the forthcoming SL1s;
  • Policy Approaches to Transport Decarbonisation;
  • Technological Innovations in Advancing Decarbonisation;
  • Best Practice for the Management of Transport Demand;
  • Examples of Alternative Funding Models for Water and Sewerage Operators; and
  • An Overview of Best Practice for Sustainable Drainage Systems.

 

13.         Any Other Business

The Chairperson raised concerns around reported delays in the completion of remedial works following Storm Éowyn and potential impacts on other companies or bodies and highlighted recent media reports on these impacts to residents in and around Cypress Avenue, Belfast.

Agreed:         To write to DfI seeking its assessment of:

  • The outstanding remedial works and the impact of these outstanding works on other companies’ or bodies’ (utility, councils and water) ability to complete their own works;
  • The specific issues reported in the media relating to Cypress Avenue (including the related difficulties arising from temporary solutions); and
  • How the Department has engaged with other companies or bodies when co-ordinating the scheduling of required works.


14.         Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm.

 

 

Mrs Deborah Erskine

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

19 March 2025