Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 28 January 2026

Committee for Infrastructure, Minutes of proceedings of 28 January 2026.pdf (199.42 kb)

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

Present:

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Via Video Conferencing:

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Maoliosa McHugh MLA

Mr Justin McNulty 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 10:04 am in public session.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

3. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson referred to the recent storm Chandra and its impact, conveying the Committee’s gratitude to those who responded to deal with the situation.

Mr John Stewart MLA joined the meeting at 10:07 am.

Agreed: To write to the Department:

To seek its assessment of the arrangements that were in place to respond to Storm Chandra, how it evaluates these arrangements and how it embeds learning following adverse weather events; and
- To express the Committee’s concern over the apparent lack of co-ordination with emergency planning officers within local councils to ensure that the location and provision of flood protection measures are well communicated and accessible.

The Chairperson referred to the recent announcement by the Minister for Infrastructure of her intention to introduce Graduated Driving Licenses (GDLs) with expected implementation date of October 2026.

Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure to highlight the Committee’s frustration over the lack of engagement in respect of proposed reforms to introduce Graduated Driving Licences and to seek further detail on:

what recent consultation the Department has undertaken with stakeholder groups to inform these proposals and an overview of the responses received, including any issues highlighted in respect of capacity or resource implications;
an update on work and associated costs incurred by the Department to further the proposals on Graduated Driving Licences; and
a timeline for the publication of a public information campaign and when DfI will commence with its consultation with driving instructors, the PSNI and other relevant stakeholders.

Agreed: To write to Road Safe NI and Road Ahead to seek views on the reforms in respect of graduated driver licences.

Agreed: That Committee staff will liaise with the Department to explore the Minister’s availability to respond to issues relating the proposed introduction of GDLs.

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 21 January 2026.

5. Matters Arising

The Committee noted the Official Reports of the Committee for Regional Development’s oral evidence on the implementation of sustainable drainage systems during its visit to Cardiff in 2014

Members noted that thesecopies of the Official Reports will be included within the Committee’s Bill folder for future reference.

6. Correspondence

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure on the outcome of the December Monitoring Round.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking:

How confident it is that it will be able to manage the remaining unfunded pay pressure of £2.1 million, including any areas of risk the Department has identified; and
A summary the structural maintenance projects that will be delivered as part of the £13.2 million allocation, including how these projects have been prioritised, their anticipated cost and the timescales for their completion.

Copy of correspondence from the Committee for Communities in respect of the Construction Employers Federation’s response to the draft Budget.

Agreed: To write to the Committee for Communities outlining the Committee’s extensive engagement and oral evidence received in respect of the wider issues for funding Northern Ireland Water and impacts on the waste water network and to highlight the oral evidence received from the Construction Employers Federation as part of its scrutiny of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.

Mr Justin McNulty MLA left the meeting at 10:44 am.

Copy of correspondence from the Committee for Communities to the Department for Infrastructure regarding the application process for dropped kerbs.

Agreed: To note the correspondence and request a copy of the Department’s response once received.

Copy of correspondence from the Committee for Finance to the Minister for Infrastructure regarding Clause 17 of the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill.

Agreed: To note the correspondence and request a copy of the Department’s response once received.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

Notice of intention from the Minister for Infrastructure of her intention to make an oral statement to the Assembly on 20 January 2026 on the North South Ministerial Council Meeting on Inland Waterways.;
Response to Committee request for further information in respect of the Community Transport Sector;
Copy of the Big Youth Survey Report 2025; and
Copy of a response to Mr Jim Allister MP relating to public transport provision in Ballymena.

7. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill – Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) & Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) – Oral Evidence

The representatives joined the meeting at 10:46 am.

Mr Martyn Harvie, ICE Northern Ireland Vice-Chairperson;
Mr Adrian Baudrimont, Senior Research Manager, CIRIA.

A question and answer session followed.

The representatives left the meeting at 11:34 am.

Agreed: To write to ICE and CIRIA to seek a response on issues not covered during the session and for any additional information that may be relevant.

Agreed: To undertake an external meeting in the Downpatrick area in March to receive evidence on the Bill from local community stakeholders that have experienced flooding caused by severe weather events, including the Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group.

8. SL1 – The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Belfast) (Amendment) (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 25 February 2026;