Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of proceedings 19 February 2025
Comittee for Infrastructure minutes of proceedings 19 February 2025.pdf (185.95 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy 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:
Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA(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)
The meeting commenced in open session at 10:06 am.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Declaration of Interests
None.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the Chairperson has been invited to and is available to attend the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, Northern Ireland Region Gala Dinner on 20 March 2025 in the Clayton Hotel, Belfast.
Agreed: That the Chairperson attend the event on behalf of the Committee.
Agreed: To contact the Chartered Institution of Highways to confirm the Chairperson’s attendance on the Committee’s behalf and to request that all communications with regards arrangements for the event are copied to the Committee’s public email.
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the new Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins MLA, has indicated that she will only be able to attend Committee on 26 February 2025 for an hour.
Agreed: To explore the potential to begin the briefing earlier or alternatively to schedule an additional session with the Minister.
The Deputy Chairperson referred to recent information released in respect of the amount of money that has been paid out to cover compensation claims for damage to vehicles and associated legal costs for the settlement of cases by the Department for Infrastructure and the Driver and Vehicle Agency.
Agreed: To write to DfI and DVA to seek further detail of the number of claims for damages, average cost of claims and number of cases that are progressed through the courts.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 19 February 2025.
5. Matters Arising
None.
6. Correspondence
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding sickness levels within the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
Agreed: To write to DfI to seek quarterly written updates on the sickness absence level for each division and to highlight that the Committee intends to receive oral evidence at a future date in its work programme.
Correspondence from a member of the public expressing concern about the lack of more frequent & more accessible public transport to hospitals in NI.
Agreed: To write to Translink enclosing the correspondence relating to public transport service for those required to attend hospital appointment for a direct response to the issues raised but copied to the Committee for information.
Correspondence from Sepha Ltd requesting assistance with regard to a completion of a road realignment to provide access to a new facility in Dundonald.
Agreed: To write to DfI enclosing the correspondence Sepha Ltd for a direct response to the issues raised but copied to the Committee for information.
Correspondence from a member of the public regarding the Council’s review of past decisions which has recently been a matter under consideration by the Public Accounts Committee.
Agreed: To consider following receipt of correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee.
Correspondence from the Motorcycle Action Group requesting feedback from the evidence session on 11 September 2024.
Agreed: To write to MAG enclosing the responses received from the Department and the PSNI for information.
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
- Correspondence from DfI regarding the appointment of a Chair and three non-executive members to the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority; and
- Correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding an oral briefing from the Open Government Network on the status of open government in Northern Ireland.
7. Draft Budget 2025-2026 – Northern Ireland Water – Oral Evidence
The following representatives joined the meeting at 10:17 am:
- Dr Sara Venning, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Water; and
- Ronan Larkin, Director of Finance and Regulation, Northern Ireland Water.
- Anthony Lynn, Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Northern Ireland Water.
The representatives provided the Committee with an update on Northern Ireland Water’s budgetary requirements for 2025-2026.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The representatives left the meeting at 11:50 am.
Agreed: To write to Northern Ireland Water to request the following:
- Information on studies setting out the cost implications of ‘stop/start’ projects as referred to in the course of the evidence; and
- An overview of the specified amounts within the consequential written agreements for all relevant price controls.
Agreed: To write to DfI requesting it details all instances of where the Department has engaged with NI Water to inform the development of proposals relating to the potential introduction of developer contributions and RRI borrowing.
8. Licensing Regulations for Wedding Vehicles – Northern Ireland Wedding Vehicle Association - Oral Evidence
The following representatives joined the meeting at 11:50 am:
- Mike Barr, Witness, Wedding Car Representatives; and
- Peter McCracken, Witness, Wedding Car Representatives.
The representatives provided the Committee with an update on the issues experienced by the industry regarding the Licensing Regulations for Wedding Vehicles.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA left the meeting at 12:15 pm.
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA left the meeting at 12:25 pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 12:32 pm.
Agreed: To write to DfI seeking details of the Department’s response to correspondence from an attendee at CPC training event where it was alleged that inappropriate content had been shown by the training provider.
9. 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, subject to any changes agreed during the meeting.
10. Any Other Business
None.
11. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 26 February 2025 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:44 pm.
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
26 February 2025
