Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 18 March 2026

Committee for Infrastructure Minutes of proceedings 18 March 2026.pdf (206.35 kb)

Meeting Location: St Patrick’s Visitor Centre, Downpatrick

Present:                          

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

Apologies:                      

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

In Attendance:                

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Ms Aoife Keating-Fitzpatrick (Senior Assistant Clerk)

Mr Philip Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr Oliver Briant (Clerical Officer)

 

The meeting commenced at 10:13 am in public session.

 

1. Apologies

As above.


2. Declaration of Interests

None.


3. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson referred Members to the recent judgement by Justice McAlinden in respect of the legal case on the A5 Western Transport Corridor upgrade.

Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure to seek her views on the recent judgement as part of the ongoing A5 appeal, her assessment of the anticipated plans for the delivery of the project if able to proceed and the associated timescales for delivery.

Agreed: To write to the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to seek his views on the recent judgement as part of the ongoing A5 appeal.

Agreed: To write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to seek their views on the recent judgement as part of the ongoing A5 appeal and their assessment of the potential impacts this may have on the delivery of wider Executive flagship projects.


4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.


5. Matters Arising

The Committee considered an options paper in respect of a proposal to undertake a review into planning related issues.

Agreed: That the Clerk would prepare draft Terms of Reference focussing on regionally significant projects and on legal challenges for consideration at a future meeting.

The Committee discussed the Public Accounts Committee report on Major Capital Projects: Follow-up Review.

Agreed: To write to the Public Accounts Committee to ascertain when it is expecting receipt of a Memorandum of Reply from the Department of Finance in response to its report..


6. Correspondence

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence on the current phases of the review of Community Transport.

Agreed: To write to the Minister to seek further detail of the timescales of the review and her consideration of its findings and to establish when the Committee will receive the report to provide it with the opportunity to express its views.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting further detail on the Department’s assessment of the impact from the proposed capital allocation under the Draft Budget 2026-29/30.

Agreed: To give further consideration once a revised draft Budget is published.

Response from the Minister of Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence in respect of issues highlighted by the Motorcycle Action Group

Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure seeking further detail of how the needs of motorcycle users have been incorporated into the draft Transport Strategy.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence in respect of the appointment of an independent Chairperson/Champion for Active Travel;
  • Copy of the Minister for Infrastructure’s oral statement on Residents’ Parking Zones;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting a summary of the totality of claims submitted by road users as a result of damage to their vehicles;
    • Notification of an oral statement from the Minister for Infrastructure on extending the use Temporary Exemption Certificates during 2026-27 to help manage MOT waiting times;
    • Copy correspondence from the Department of Finance summarising the additional funding allocated to the Executive following the Chancellor’s Spring Statement;
      • Correspondence from The Speaker providing a copy of a Public Petition titled ‘Fairhill Street, Ballycastle‘ that was laid in the Assembly on Tuesday, 24 February 2026 by Mr Philip McGuigan MLA;
      • Correspondence from The Speaker providing a copy of a Public Petition titled ‘Build the Knockbreda Road Crossing‘ that was laid in the Assembly on Monday 9 March 2026 by Mr Matthew O’Toole MLA; and
      • Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee, House of Lords, in respect of a decision to add the Regulation (EU) 2025/14 The Approval and Market Surveillance of Non-road Mobile Machinery circulating on Public Roads and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.


7. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill – Newcastle Concerned Residents Group and Down Business Centre – Oral Evidence

The representatives joined the meeting at 11:04 am.

  • Sheila Maginn, Resident, Newcastle Concerned Residents Group;
  • Sam Anderson, Resident, Newcastle Concerned Residents Group;
  • Gareth Jones, Resident, Newcastle Concerned Residents Group; and
  • Emma Bohill, Chief Executive, Down Business Centre

The Committee agreed that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.

A question and answer session followed.

The Committee suspended at 11:49 am.

The Committee restarted at 12:04 pm with the following Members present:

Present: 

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

The representatives left the meeting at 12:42 pm.

Agreed: To write to DfI seeking further detail on:

  • The progress of the implementation of recommendations arising from the Review of Flooding in the South East;
  • The composition of the Flood Strategy Steering Group, including the number of times it has met and what outputs have been delivered;
  • What further follow up actions have been taken by the Department to address concerns highlighted by the RCRG following their meeting with the Minister; and
  • The service and maintenance regimes for valves and gullies to ensure their operation is optimised.


8. Proposed Changes to Regulations to support the uptake of Zero   Emissions Goods Vehicles in Northern Ireland – Department for Infrastructure – Consultation

The Committee noted Proposed Changes to Regulations to support the uptake of Zero   Emissions Goods Vehicles in Northern Ireland – Consultation.

Agreed: To schedule oral evidence in the Forward Work Programme at an appropriate date.


9. Taxis in Bus Lanes Experimental Traffic Control Scheme (ETCS) – Department for Infrastructure - Consultation

The Committee noted Taxis in Bus Lanes Experimental Traffic Control Scheme (ETCS) – Consultation.

Agreed: To schedule oral evidence in the Forward Work Programme at an appropriate date.


10. SL1 - The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration

The Committee considered the SL1 - The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.

 

11. SL1 – The Comber Road, Dundonald (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration

The Committee considered the SL1 – The Comber Road, Dundonald (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed statutory rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.

Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 22 April 2026.

Agreed: To indicate whether they are content that a briefing from officials is not required at this stage.


12. SR 2026-26 The Glencairn Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered the SR 2026-26 The Glencairn Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2026-26 The Glencairn Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and has no objection to the rule.


13.  SR 2026-27 The St Andrews Square West, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered the SR 2026-27 The St Andrews Square West, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2026-27 The St Andrews Square West, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and has no objection to the rule.


14. SR 2026-47 The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered the SR 2026-47 The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Statutory Rule.


15. SR 2026-48 The Road Races (Circuit of Ireland Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered the SR 2026-48 The Road Races (Circuit of Ireland Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: The Committee was content with the Statutory Rule.


16. 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 during the meeting.


17. Any Other Business

None.


18. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:02 pm.

 

Mr Peter Martin

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

25 March 2026