Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings - 10 September 2025

Committee for Infrastructure - 10 September 2025.pdf (217.94 kb)

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

Present:

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:

Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA (Chairperson)

Via Video Conferencing:

Ms Nicola Brogan MLA

Mr Justin McNulty 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 10:05 am.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

3. Chairperson's Business

The Chairperson raised the first anniversary of the opening of Grand Central Station which took place on Monday 8 September 2025.

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 4 July 2025.

5. Matters Arising

The Committee discussed a Clerk's memo providing a summary of the technical reports received from the Department which provided statistical information on Belfast Traffic Congestion.

Agreed: To write to the Department advising that the Committee wished to continue receiving the technical reports.

6. Correspondence

A response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting a breakdown of funding awarded to community transport organisations against what was originally sought by each organisation/operator.

Agreed: To write to the Minister requesting that the information is provided at the earliest opportunity.

A response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence seeking further information in relation to the investigation into driving licence fraud.

Agreed: To write to the Minister requesting confirmation that the investigation has been completed and if there has been any disciplinary action taken against the suspended staff.

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure to providing a copy of the Independent Review of NI Water's resource budget management in 2024 - 2025 by PWC.

Agreed: To schedule an evidence session from Northern Ireland Water at a future date in the Forward Work Programme.

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure providing a copy of the Driver and Vehicle Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025.

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA joined the meeting at 10:10 am.

Agreed: To schedule an evidence session from the Driver and Vehicle Agency at a future date in the Forward Work Programme.

A response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting the rationale for the proposed change to the speed limit on the Gardiners Cross Road and the implications for residents on the route.

Agreed: To consider the SL1 - The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 at the Committee meeting on 17 September 2025.

A response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee request for information on the extent of the powers proposed in Clause 17 of the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill.

Agreed: To forward to the Committee for Finance for information.

A response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence following the informal meeting with Logistics UK regarding concerns for the haulage industry.

Agreed: To forward to Logistics UK for information and comment.

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing a copy of the Accounts and Annual Report for the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company for 2024-2025.

Agreed: To schedule an evidence session in the Forward Work Programme from Translink on a suitable date.

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing a copy of the Business Plan Monitoring Report for 2024-25.

Agreed: To schedule an evidence session in the Forward Work Programme on a suitable date.

A response from the Minister for Finance to Committee correspondence regarding the increase in car insurance premiums.

Agreed: To write to the UK Motor Insurance Taskforce reiterating the Committee's position and to include the response from the Minister for information.

Agreed: To forward the response to the Committee for Justice in relation to insurance premiums and personal injury claims.

Correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee requesting that the Committee shares any correspondence relating to the recent ruling on the delivery of the A5 upgrade with Members.

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA declared an interest as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.

Agreed: To write to the Public Accounts Committee providing any correspondence received in relation to the ruling.

Correspondence from Committee for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs in respect of a call for evidence on the Dilapidation Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs stating that the Committee has no observations on the Bill.

Correspondence from Committee for the Economy in respect of a call for evidence on the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee for the Economy stating that the Committee has no observations on the Bill.

Correspondence from Alex Easton MLA requesting that the Minister for Infrastructure review the handling of a proposal regarding the use of Turbulent Vortex Turbines to electrify Northern Ireland's railways and support hydrogen production using renewable hydropower.

Agreed: To write to Mr Easton stating that the Committee does not usually consider individual complaints and referring the individual to local MLAs.

Correspondence from Cycling UK regarding the Active Travel Budget.

Agreed: To forward to Minister for Infrastructure for information and comment.

Request from Mineral Products Association Northern Ireland to meet with the Committee for discuss the roads maintenance budget.

Agreed: To schedule an oral evidence session in the Forward Work Programme at a future date.

Correspondence from a member of the public requesting that the Committee explores the potential of free public transport for disabled people.

Agreed: To write to the individual highlight that the Committee will give future consideration to the wider transport provision for those living with disabilities upon the publication of the consultation of the draft Transport Strategy.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting information on ongoing pay negotiations with Translink staff and what contingency planning has been undertaken to mitigate the potential impacts of any resulting industrial action;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence seeking further confirmation of when a decision is to be made on the Review of Trust Ports legislation;
Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure confirming the outcome of June Monitoring for the Department and decisions on the distribution of the additional resource and capital allocations;
Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure providing confirmation of approval of Planning Reference: SPD/2024/0052/F - Ballyrobert Crossroads;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee request for a list of consultees for the Hill Street pedestrianisation project;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting information on the attendees at the roundtable discussion on flood risk, climate change & development, the key themes emerging and details of any proposed solutions to inform the Department's work;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting a timeline, overview of advice and options provided to the Minister in relation to decisions to commence with the vesting of land from 25 November and associated cost implications in light of the legal challenge of 19 November;
Department for Infrastructure Press Release Press release notifying of the Appointment of Three Non-Executive (Specialist) Members to the Drainage Council;
Copy of the Department for Infrastructure's final EQIA report on the Budget 2025-26 outcome;
Department for Infrastructure correspondence providing updated Model Licence Conditions for Caravan and Traveller sites under the Caravans Act (NI) 1963 which took effect from 1 July 2025;
Invitation from the Department for Infrastructure to the Planning (Development Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 workshops being held as part of phase 2 of the review process;
Department for Infrastructure press release notifying of the appointment of two non-executive members to the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority;
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing a copy of the Department of Finance - Budget 2026-2029/30 information gathering;
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing a copy of the NI Fiscal Council assessment of the implications of the Spending Review;
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing an update on a meeting between devolved Ministers and the Motor Insurance Taskforce;
Copy correspondence from the Northern Ireland Policing Board to the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the legislative change to the Road Traffic (Order) (Northern Ireland) 1995;
- Copy correspondence from the Northern Ireland Policing Board to the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the legislative change to the Road Traffic (Order) (Northern Ireland) 1995;
- Copy of the response from the Royal Society of Ulster Architects to the Department for Infrastructure's recent public consultation on developer contributions for wastewater infrastructure;
- Copy of the Department for Infrastructure Investing Activity Report - July 2025 from the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland;
- Copy of the Department for Infrastructure Investing Activity Report - August 2025 from the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland; and
- Copy of Databank information from the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council;
- Correspondence from the Speaker's Office providing a copy of the Public Petition - Ashgrove Roundabout: Safe Crossing for Children.

7. Review of Trust Ports Consultation - Next steps - Department for Infrastructure - Oral Evidence

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

Ms Sian Kerr, Director of Transport Planning and Policy, Department for Infrastructure
Mrs Adele Campbell, Gateways Branch, Department for Infrastructure
Ms Royanne Kincaid, Gateways Branch, Department for Infrastructure

The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.

The Departmental officials provided the Committee with an update on the next steps for the review of Trust Ports.

A question and answer session followed.

Agreed: The Departmental officials agreed to provide further detail of departmental powers that would be repealed through proposed legislative changes for Trust Ports.

The departmental officials left the meeting at 10:45 am.

The Committee suspended at 10:45 am.

The Committee recommenced at 10:56 am with the following members present:

Present: 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

Via Video Conferencing: Ms Nicola Brogan MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

8. SR 2025-138 The Penalty Charges (Prescribed Devices) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:56 am.

Ms Sian Kerr, Director of Transport Planning and Policy, Department for Infrastructure;
Ms Laura Irvine, Head of Parking Policy, Department for Infrastructure;
and
Mr Declan Murphy, Parking Enforcement Operations, 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 11:04 am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule and would consider the rule at its next meeting.

9. SR 2025-128 The Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-128 The Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-128 The Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

10. SR 2025-134 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-134 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-134 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

11. SL1 - The Carneyhaugh Business Park, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SL1 The Carneyhaugh Business Park, Newry (Abandonment) Order (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 2025-123 The Road Races (Ulster Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SR 2025-130 The Control of Traffic (Belfast City Centre) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SR 2025-131 The Control of Traffic (Glengall Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SR 2025-132 The Waiting Restrictions (Boyne Bridge Place, Belfast - Pick-up and Drop-off Point) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SR 2025-133 The Parking Places on Roads (Coaches) (Glengall Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025; and
SR 2025-139 The Road Races (Bushwhacker Rally) 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 Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SL1 - The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SL1 - The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SL1 - The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SL1 - The Parking Places on Roads, Loading Bay and Waiting Restrictions (Newcastle) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025;
SL1 - The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025; and
SL1 - The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: To note the above proposals for Statutory Rules.

14. 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.

15. Any Other Business

None.

16. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 17 September 2025 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 am.

Mr Peter Martin

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

17 September 2025