Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 21 January 2026

Committee for Infrastructure, minutes of proceedings 21 January 2026.pdf (218.5 kb)

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

Present:                          

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Via Video Conference:    

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)                     

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 10.04 am in public session.


1. Apologies

As above.


2. Declaration of Interests

None.


3. Chairperson’s Business

None.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday,14 January 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

The Committee noted that issues relating to the road openings by utility companies is currently being considered by the Public Accounts Committee who has primacy until it has completed its inquiry.

Agreed: To refrain from taking further evidence relevant to the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry until it has been concluded.

Agreed: To forward all relevant correspondence in respect of road openings by utilities to the Public Accounts Committee for information.

 

6. Correspondence

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting the Departments assessment of the efficacy of the planning system in supporting the development of the local economy.

Agreed: To consider in conjunction with oral sessions on planning in February.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting an update on the Barmouth Moles Castlerock/Portstewart Project.

Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure to seek further detail on what additional Department funds will be required to complete the Barmouth Moles project and a breakdown of what funding has been provided by other organisations.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence providing an update in relation to road traffic accidents at the Ballymiscaw Road/Whinney Hill junction, Craigantlet.

Agreed: To forward the Minister’s response to the individual who originally raised the issue for information.

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding the Scrutiny of the Draft Multi-Year Budget for 2026-29/30.

Agreed: To write to the Department, Northern Ireland Water, Translink and Waterways Ireland seeking written evidence on their funding requirements for the period covered within the Department of Finance’s Draft Budget 2026-29/30.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee request for more detail on the process for deciding the allocation of funds during the December Monitoring Round;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting clarification on the position for legislating on developer contributions;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence requesting further detail on the number of improvement notices issued by the Department to utility companies over the last five years;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee on the exemption of ports under the Procurement Act any potential implications upon the Department’s plan for legislative changes once determined;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence providing the PSNI response to proposed legislation in relation to 20 mph Speed Limits;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee correspondence containing a breakdown and rationale for external consultancy costs incurred by Waterways Ireland;
  • Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure providing updated figures from regarding the vacancy rates as a result of the O&M Resilience Review;
  • Department for Infrastructure press release on the appointment of an Non-Executive Councillor Member to the Drainage Council;
  • Department for Infrastructure correspondence providing the Belfast City Centre Monthly Traffic Report – December 2025; and
  • Invitation from Jonathan Buckley MLA to a reception on behalf of Lidl Northern Ireland on 17 February 2026 in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.

 

7. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill –  Construction Employers’ Federation – Oral Evidence

The following representatives joined the meeting at 10:24 am.

  • Mark Spence, Construction Employers Federation;
  • David Magee, Antrim Construction Company;
  • Sam McKee, Turley;
  • Mark Hardy, Marrac Design; and
  • David Fry, Construction Employers Federation.

Agreed: that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.

A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson left the meeting at 11:27 am and Mr John Stewart MLA assumed the role of chairperson.

The Chairperson rejoined the meeting at 11:30 am and resumed the role of chairperson.

Mr Justin McNulty MLA declared an interest stating that he has worked with Paschal Taggart and Ger Perdisatt in relation to the ‘Newry Next’ Report.

The representatives left the meeting at 12:06 pm.

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA left the meeting at 12:06 pm.

Agreed: To write to the Construction Employers Federation to seek further detail on:

  • Whether it has undertaken any mapping of areas that are constrained for progressing construction project due a lack of waste water capacity; and
  • Any assessment it has undertaken to examine the wider impacts on the housing market as a result of the constraints within the waste water network.

Agreed: To commission the Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISe) to provide a paper on the key findings/outputs of the former Committee’s visit to Wales looking at sustainable drainage systems.

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA rejoined the meeting at 12:10 pm.

 

8. Speed Limit Review 2026 Consultation – Department for Infrastructure          – Written Evidence

The Committee considered the Speed Limit Review 2026 Consultation.

Agreed: To note the consultation and schedule an evidence session in the forward work programme at an appropriate date.

 

9. SL1 -  The Glencairn Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern     Ireland) 2026

Agreed: To note the proposal (SL1) for ‘The Glencairn Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026’ and publish the relevant documents on the Assembly’s webpage and issue a ‘Call for Views’ on Citizen Space.

 

10. SL1 -  The Prohibition of U-Turns (Belfast) (Amendment) Order        (Northern Ireland) 2026

Agreed: To note the proposal (SL1) for ‘The Prohibition of U-Turns (Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026’ and publish the relevant documents on the Assembly’s webpage and issue a ‘Call for Views’ on Citizen Space.


11. SL1 -  The St Andrews Square West, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order    (Northern Ireland) 2026

Agreed: To note the proposal (SL1) ‘The St Andrews Square West, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026’ and publish the relevant documents on the Assembly’s webpage and issue a ‘Call for Views’ on Citizen Space.

 

12. 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.

 

13. Any Other Business.

None.

 

14. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings

The meeting was adjourned at 12:18 pm.

 

Mr Peter Martin

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

 

 

 

28 January 2026