Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of proceedings 18 June 2025
Committee for Infrastructure Minutes of proceedings 18 June 2025.pdf (200.86 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast
Present:
Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
Via Video Conferencing:
Ms Nicola Brogan MLA
Mr Mark Durkan MLA
Mr Keith Buchanan MLA
Apologies:
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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 10:01am.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
None.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson drew to members’ attention recent media reports highlighting potential industrial action by Translink staff over the summer and the potential impact this could have on public transport users generally and on notable events planned during this period.
Agreed: To write to DfI to seek detail of any discussions it has had with Translink relating to ongoing pay negotiations and to establish what contingency planning has been undertaken to mitigate the impacts of industrial action.
Agreed: To write to Translink to seek detail of any discussions it has as part of ongoing pay negotiations and to establish what contingency planning has been undertaken to mitigate the impacts of industrial action on services generally and for notable events.
The Chairperson drew to members’ attention a recent media report highlighting the quality of water in rivers and lakes in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: To write to the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of the recent water quality reports for Northern Ireland’s rivers and lakes including whether Northern Ireland Water is a contributor to the pollution levels.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 11 June 2025.
5. Matters Arising
None.
6. Correspondence
Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure providing an advance copy of the Departments public consultation on potential policy proposals which could be included in a Rail and Transport Bill.
Agreed: To schedule oral evidence in the FWP on DfI’s consultation on policy proposals for a Rail and Transport Bill upon the conclusion of the consultation.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting detail of funding for community transport services.
Agreed: To write to the Minister seeking a detailed breakdown of funding to Community Transport for each community transport provider or association to include the amount originally sought and amount allocated for the 2025-26 financial year.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting details of the cross-departmental working group, including membership, regularity of meetings and any plans to extend the membership.
Agreed: To forward a copy of the response to the Community Transport Association for information.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting an update on the ongoing investigation into allegations surrounding the fraudulent issue of driving licences by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).
Agreed: To write to DfI seeking detail of the key stages including the discovery of alleged fraud, start and conclusion of internal investigation, when the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) was notified and whether any individual(s) have been suspended.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting the Department’s assessment of the current timeline of its proposed legislative reform of Trust Ports.
Agreed: To write to the Minister to set out that, following the oral evidence received to date, the Committee would be supportive of legislative reform, and to ask for a timescale for a decision.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting if the Department is in discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in relation to wastewater in Belfast Lough.
Agreed: To forward a copy of the response to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for information.
Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing its report outlining the summary of responses received on its review of Trust Ports.
Agreed: To schedule a briefing in the Forward Work Programme in September.
Correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee enclosing correspondence from a member of the public regarding review of planning decisions by local councils.
Agreed: To write to the individual advising that the Committee has no role in considering individual complaints and to refer them to their local MLAs in the first instance and highlight the work of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO).
Correspondence from a member of the public regarding a complaint about Translink bus services.
Agreed: To write to the individual advising that Committee does not consider complaints from individuals and refer the individual to their local MLAs in addition to highlighting the work of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO).
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
- Written statement from the Minister for Infrastructure relating to informing the Assembly on National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN) for the Northern Ireland rail network;
- Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting the Terms of Reference for the transformation fund for planning;
- Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence forwarding correspondence from the Committee for Economy regarding emission type-approval; and
- Correspondence from Into the West providing Rail Usage in NI - Passenger Numbers and Trends - Summary 2023-24.
- Response from Translink to Committee correspondence regarding a complaint about the out of hours service.
7. SL1 - The Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
The Committee considered SL1 - The Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.
Agreed: To schedule oral evidence in the Forward Work Programme to allow members to explore the operational effects of the proposed changes to the legislation.
8. Subordinate Legislation – SRs Not Subject to Assembly Procedure
The Committee noted the following Statutory Rules that were laid in the Business Office and are not subject to Assembly Proceedings:
- SR 2025-105 The Road Races (Down Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
- SR 2025-106 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025; and
- SR 2025-108 The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.
9. Subordinate Legislation - SL1 - Not Subject to Assembly Procedure
The Committee noted the following proposal for a Statutory Rule, which is not subject to Assembly Procedure:
- SL1 - The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Lisburn) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
Mr Mark Durkan joined the meeting at 10:16 am.
10. Update on the Review of Residents Parking – Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:19 am:
- Laura Irvine – Head of Parking Policy, Department for Infrastructure; and
- Mark White – Parking Policy, Department for Infrastructure.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The officials provided an update on the Department’s Review of Residents Parking.
A question and answer session followed.
The departmental officials left the meeting at 11:01 am.
Mr Mark Durkan left the meeting at 11:01 am.
The meeting was suspended at 11:09 am.
The Committee recommenced in public session at 11:19 am with the following members present:
In person:
Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
Via Video Conferencing:
Ms Nicola Brogan MLA
Mr Keith Buchanan MLA
11. Report on the Financial Sustainability of Water Delivery Services in Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland Fiscal Council – Oral Evidence
The following representatives joined the meeting at 11:19 am:
- Sir Robert Chote, Chairperson, Northern Ireland Fiscal Council;
- Mr Jonathan McAdams, Chief of Staff, Northern Ireland Fiscal Council;
- Professor Alan Barrett, Member, Northern Ireland Fiscal Council; and
- Ms Maureen O’Reilly, Member, Northern Ireland Fiscal Council.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The representatives provided oral evidence on the report on the ‘Financial Sustainability of Water Delivery Services in Northern Ireland.’
A question and answer session followed.
Miss Nicola Brogan left the meeting at 12:16 pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 12:47 pm.
12. Forward Work Programme
The Chairperson reminded members of the oral evidence from the Interim Regional Planning Commission (IRPC) during which representatives had indicated that it was their intention to finalise its report in May 2025.
Agreed: that the Clerk liaises with the secretariat to the IRPC to establish whether if its report has been finalised with a view to scheduling further evidence at a suitable date in the 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.
13. Any Other Business
None.
14. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:49 pm.
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
25 June 2025
