Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings - 2 July 2025

Committee for Infrastructure - 2 July 2025.pdf (213.03 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 Peter McReynolds MLA

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

 

Apologies:

Ms Nicola Brogan MLA

 

Via Video Conferencing:

Mr Mark Durkan MLA

 

In Attendance:

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Tom Armstrong (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr Oliver Briant (Clerical Officer)

 

The meeting commenced in public session at 10:01 am.

 

1. Apologies

As above.

 

2. Declaration of Interests

Mrs Deborah Erskine declared an interest stating that her husband has family members who are landowners along the A5 route.

 

3. Chairperson's Business

The Committee discussed the content of the Minister's announcement to the media regarding the next steps for the A5 Western Transport Corridor.

Agreed: To write to the Minister to:

  • express the Committee's disappointment at the manner of the announcement on 1 July 2025 to the media on a sitting day, rather than to the Assembly, and without informing the Committee beforehand of an intention to appeal the decision on the A5;
  • highlight the continued uncertainty for landowners and contractors arising from her decision;
  • establish the anticipated timescales of the Executive's consideration of her decision to appeal the judgement; and
  • establish what other measures are being considered by her to address other aspects set out in the judgement.

The Committee discussed the recent informal meeting with Logistics UK.

Agreed: To write to the Department requesting:

  • That the Department considers implementing a licence derogation for Class B licence holders to enable light goods vehicles to be driven on an ordinary licence;
  • That the Department considers implementing a parity of speed limits in line with the rest of the United Kingdom;
  • That the Department considers the development and implementation of a road haulage strategy.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 25 June 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

The Committee noted and discussed the absence of a response from the Minister to the Committee's urgent written questions arising from its meeting 25 June 2025 relating to the recent judgement on A5 Western Transport Corridor upgrade.

Agreed: That the Clerk forwards the response from the Minister to Members once received.

 

6. Correspondence

A response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding road safety on school buses.

Agreed: To schedule oral evidence from the Department on how compliance with safety measures for school buses will be enforced.

A response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the pedestrianisation of Hill Street.

Agreed: To write to the Minister to request a list of stakeholders consulted.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the degeneration of the Barmouth between Castlerock and Portstewart.

Agreed: To write to the Department to ascertain the forecasted cost of repairs and how this will be funded from existing resources.

Committee for Finance correspondence regarding the introduction and subsequent timeline of The Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Department to ask for its views on the provisions and contained under clause 17 of the Bill including the extent of powers proposed and whether this measure will be subject to review.

Committee for Finance correspondence regarding The Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee for Finance expressing that the Committee does not have a view on the Bill.

Committee for the Executive Office correspondence regarding the introduction and subsequent timeline of The Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee for the Executive Office expressing that the Committee does not have a view on the Bill.

Correspondence from Mr Peter McReynolds MLA highlighting that his proposal for a Private Members Bill on Tree Protection is now at the final proposal stage and that the consultation summary is available to be viewed .

Agreed: To schedule oral evidence with the Bill Sponsor at a suitable date as appropriate in the Forward Work Programme.

Correspondence from 'Into the West' request to provide oral evidence on rail infrastructure west of the River Bann.

Agreed: To write to Into the West requesting a detailed written evidence in the first instance with a view to scheduling an oral evidence session at a later date.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Notice of Minister for Infrastructure's intention to make an oral statement on Forensic Accountants Report on Northern Ireland Water's financial position and accompanying statement;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence on the National Protocol for the Handling, Transmission and Storage of Reservoir Information and Flood Maps;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn 2024-2025;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence regarding the allocation of additional funding;
  • Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the Climate Change, Road Traffic, The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2025;
  • Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure of her intention to make an oral statement on the North-South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways Sectoral Meeting and accompanying statement;
  • Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing the monthly update on Belfast City Centre congestion;
  • Press release from the Department for Infrastructure regarding the appointment by the Minister of non-executive board members to the Board of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners;
  • Correspondence from the Committee for the Economy regarding Planning Policy: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy;
  • Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing Analysis of 2025-26 Outturn and Forecast Outturn;
  • Correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs regarding the A5 Western Transport Corridor Scheme;
  • Correspondence from Pivotal enclosing its report on the 'Delivery of Public Policy in Northern Ireland';
  • Correspondence from the Wastewater Infrastructure Group providing the Committee with an advanced copy of their position paper on wastewater infrastructure and inviting the Committee to meet to discuss the report.
  • Correspondence from the Construction Employers Federation enclosing a copy of its response to the Department for Infrastructure's consultation on Developer Contributions for Wastewater Infrastructure;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee's correspondence regarding the implementation of recommendations contained within reports by the Public Accounts Committee;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee's correspondence regarding the impact on emissions targets arising from Active Travel projects;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee's correspondence regarding engagement between Translink and the Education Authority to compliance with the Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011;
  • Response from the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to the Committee's request for further detail of the 471 rivers and lakes that are failing to meet EU water safety standards; and
  • Department for Infrastructure - Investing Activity Report - June 2025.

 

7. Outcome of the Consultation on Biennial MOT Testing - Department for Infrastructure - Oral Evidence

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:20 am.

  • Dr Chris Hughes, Director of the Driving, Vehicle and Road Safety Policy Division, Department for Infrastructure; and
  • Dorcas Cutrona, Governance and Vehicle Policy Projects Branch, Department for Infrastructure.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The Departmental officials provided the Committee with an update on the Consultation on Biennial MOT Testing.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr Cathal Boylan, Mr Peter McReynolds, Mr Mark Durkan and Mr Keith Buchanan each declared an interest as a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

The departmental officials left the meeting at 11:21 am.

 

8. SL1 - The Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2025

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:22 am.

  • Rosemary Daly, Director of Regional Planning, Department for Infrastructure; and
  • Nola Jamieson, Principal Planning Officer (Legislation), Department for Infrastructure.

The officials provided the Committee with an overview of the proposal.

A question and answer session followed.

The departmental officials left the meeting at 12:01 pm.

 

9. SI 2025-678 The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2025

Mr Peter McReynolds left the meeting at 12:01 pm.

The Committee considered SI 2025-678 The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2025.

Agreed: The Committee noted the Statutory Instrument.

 

10. SR 2025-107 The Belsize Gardens and Belsize Way, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-107 The Belsize Gardens and Belsize Way, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-107 The Belsize Gardens and Belsize Way, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

 

11. SL1 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Mr Peter McReynolds re-joined the meeting at 12:03 pm.

The Committee considered SL1 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the proposal for the statutory rule.

 

12. Subordinate Legislation - SRs Not Subject to Assembly Procedure

The Committee noted the following Statutory Rules that were laid in the Business Office that are not subject to Assembly Proceedings:

  • SR 2025-114 The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
  • SR 2025-115 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Lisburn) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
  • SR2025-116 The Loading Bays on Roads Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

 

13. Subordinate Legislation - SL1s Not Subject to Assembly Procedure

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

  • SL1 - The Control of Traffic (Glengall Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
  • SL1 - The Parking Places on Roads (Coaches) (Glengall Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025; and
  • SL1 - The Waiting Restrictions (Boyne Bridge Place - Pick-up and Drop-off Point) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: To note the above proposals for Statutory Rules.

  • SL1 - The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

Agreed: To write to the Department to request further detail on the rationale under the proposal to de-restrict a length of Gardiner's Cross and defer its consideration of the proposal to a future meeting once a substantive response has been received.

 

14. Eastern Transport Plan - Department for Infrastructure - Written Evidence

The Committee noted the written evidence from the Department for Infrastructure on the Eastern Transport Plan.

 

15. 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.

 

16. Any Other Business

None.

 

17. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

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

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:10pm.

 

Mr John Stewart

Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

10 September 2025