Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings - 8 October 2025

Minutes of 8 October 2025.pdf (234 kb)

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

 

Present:

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

 

Via Video Conference:

Ms Nicola Brogan MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

 

Apologies:

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds 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 advised Members that the Motion to Extend the Committee Stage of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill has been laid in the Business Office and has scheduled for Monday 13 October 2025.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 1 October 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

None.

 

6. Correspondence

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding concerns raised about the redefinition of "active travel spend" under the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 by Cycling UK.

Agreed: To forward to Cycling UK for information.

 

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure enclosing a copy of the Northern Ireland Water Integrated Report and Accounts for year ending 31 March 2025

Agreed: To schedule a briefing on the Report, Accounts and an operational update in the Forward Work Programme at a future date.

 

A report from the Northern Ireland Audit Office on Active Travel in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: To defer any course of action until confirmation by the Public Accounts Committee if it intends to look at this matter.

 

Department of Finance correspondence forwarded from the Committee for Finance regarding the A5 High Court Judgement.

Agreed: To write to the Department for Infrastructure to ascertain how funding allocated for the A5 can be used, including any scope for this to be reprofiled to other spending areas

 

Correspondence from a member of the public enclosing news articles on the Department for Infrastructure's Active Travel expenditure.

Agreed: To write to the correspondent to suggest that he should raise any concerns with the Department as part of its complaints process and to highlight the role of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.

 

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Correspondence from the Minister providing a breakdown of funding allocated to community transport organisations.
  • Correspondence from the Minister providing confirmation of the completion of the investigation into driving licence fraud.
  • Correspondence from the Minister to a Committee request to be notified of the proposed source of the funding for the repair of the Barmouth moles.
  • Correspondence from the Minister to Committee request of a summary of the review of Trust Ports powers or functions to be repealed and an assessment of the impact should they be repealed under any proposed Bill.
  • Correspondence from the Minister providing information on the Transport Sector Engagement vent.
  • Correspondence from the Minister providing an update on the solutions identified for cross-pavement charging solutions.
  • Response from the Department for Infrastructure to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs Call for Evidence on the Dilapidation Bill.
  • Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure: Annual Roads Report to Newry, Mourne & Down District Council 2025/26.
  • Committee for Communities correspondence to the Department for Infrastructure regarding the Disability & Work Strategy.
  • Committee for Finance correspondence regarding the October Monitoring Round.
  • Correspondence from Northern Ireland Water confirming attendance at Committee to give evidence on the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.

 

7. Operational Update and Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - Translink - Oral Evidence

The following representatives joined the meeting at 10:27 am.

  • Mr Chris Conway, Chief Executive, Translink; and
  • Mr Ian Campbell, Director of Service Operations, Translink

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

The witnesses provided the Committee with an introductory briefing.

A question and answer session followed.

The representatives left the meeting at 11:18 am.

Agreed: To write to Translink seeking its assessment of the historical costs for responding to severe weather events and forecasted costs over future years and details of the climate adaptability strategy.

Agreed: To write to the Department to establish what plans it has to provide the surety of funding to ensure the delivery of service under the public services agreements and, in its absence, to outline what plans it has to revise the available services to align with the funding received.

Agreed: To write to the Department to establish what role Translink has in supporting delivery towards the All Island Strategic Rail Review.

 

8. SL1 - The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) (No 2) Order 2025

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:24 am.

  • Eilis Ferguson, Transport Decarbonisation Unit, Department for Infrastructure; and
  • Emma Stockman, Transport Decarbonisation Unit, Department for Infrastructure.

The officials provided the Committee with a briefing on the statutory instrument.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr John Stewart assumed the role of the Chairperson at 11:28 am.

Mr Peter Martin left the meeting at 11:28 am.

Mr Peter Martin re-joined the meeting at 11:36 am and resumed the role of the Chairperson.

The departmental officials left the meeting at 12:04 pm.

Agreed: The Committee were content with the proposal for the Statutory Instrument.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking details of the number of electric vehicles registered in Northern Ireland, number of public chargers in operation and its assessment of the future capacity of the network to support delivery of climate change commitments.

 

9. SR 2025-148 The Carneyhaugh Business Park, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-148 The Carneyhaugh Business Park, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-148 The Carneyhaugh Business Park, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

 

10. SR 2025 -154 The U324 Cannyreagh Road, Donaghadee (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-154 The U324 Cannyreagh Road, Donaghadee (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure wishes to defer consideration of SR 2025-154 The U324 Cannyreagh Road, Donaghadee (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 until receipt of further information from the Department.

 

11. SR 2025-155 The Mill Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-155 The Mill Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-155 The Mill Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

 

12. SR 2025-156 The U1105 Killybracken Road, Dungannon (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-156 The U1105 Killybracken Road, Dungannon (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-156 The U1105 Killybracken Road, Dungannon (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

 

13. Subordinate Legislation - SRs Not Subject to Assembly Procedure

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

  • SR 2025-160 The Prohibition of Waiting (Schools) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

 

14. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: To schedule oral evidence from Northern Ireland Water, subject to Committee agreement on the scope of areas to be covered.

Agreed: To schedule a Committee strategic planning session.

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

 

15. Any Other Business

Agreed: To schedule oral evidence from APCOA on the new parking enforcement contract.

 

16. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 15 October 2025 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:07 pm.

 

Mr Peter Martin

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

15 October 2025