Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 29 April 2026

Committee for Infrastructure minutes of proceedings 29 April 2026.pdf (201.89 kb)

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

Present:                          

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Via Video Conferencing:

Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

Apologies:                      

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

In Attendance:                

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Philip Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)

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 highlighted to Members the recent fatalities arising from a number of road traffic accidents.

The Committee wished to extend its condolences to all of the families and wider network of the victims and reiterated its commitment to work collaboratively with the Minister to improve road safety.

The Chairperson referenced the recent media reports regarding the disturbances caused by anti-social in and around areas of North Down.

Agreed: To write to Translink to seek further information on how it engages with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in relation to large numbers of people travelling to the area by train.           

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.

 

5. Matters Arising

The Committee considered a Clerk’s Memo in relation to the upcoming stakeholder event as part of the Committee’s review of planning related issues.

Agreed: The outlineprogramme for the event and questions that will be covered.

 

6. Correspondence

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure regarding its Public Consultation Summary Report, the proposed Shaping Sustainable Places programme.

Agreed: To note in the context of the proposed joint concurrent meeting.

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure regarding the Public Consultation Report and Summary of Responses in respect of the draft Road Maintenance Strategy.

Agreed: To write to the Minister to highlight that the Committee would wish that the strategy contains further detail on the role of utility companies in maintaining the road network and that it has regard to reports and recommendations of the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee.

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

Correspondence from Ards and North Down Borough Council regarding the proposed abandonment of land at Green Road, Conlig.

Agreed: To forward the response to the Department for information and request that the previous proposal for the statutory rule be resubmitted under the new Assembly procedure.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the granting of Planning Permission (Ref: LA04/2017/1388/F) in respect of a new integrated public transport interchange;
  • Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing the 2025-26 Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn - March (R12) Position;
  • Copy of correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to the Department for Infrastructure regarding administrative functions of the Northern Ireland Planning Portal;
  • Copy of correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to the Department for Infrastructure regarding Northern Ireland Water’s response to the Utility Regulator’s (UR) Statement of Regulatory Principles and Intent (SORPI);
  • Invitation to the Belfast premiere of Building Culture showing a short film spotlighting five architecturally and culturally significant buildings it has helped bring to life.


7. SL1 – The Meenan Square, Derry/Londonderry (Footways) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration

The Committee considered the SL1 – The Meenan Square, Derry/Londonderry (Footways) (Abandonment) 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 27 May 2026.

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

 

8. SL1 – The Road Races (Loughgall Stages Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration

The Committee considered SL1 – The Road Races (Loughgall Stages Rally) 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 27 May 2026.

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

 

9. SL1 – The Road Races (Rally Lecale) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Initial Consideration

The Committee considered the SL1 – The Road Races (Rally Lecale) 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 27 May 2026.

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

 

10. SL1 – The Railways Safety Act 2002 (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration

The Committee considered the SL1 – The Railways Safety Act 2002 (Commencement No. 1) 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 27 May 2026.

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

 

11. Public consultation on a Grant Scheme to support reservoir managers         - Summary of Responses – Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence

The Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:38 am.

  • Alison Clydesdale – Director of Water and Drainage Policy, Department for Infrastructure;
  • Ryan Robinson – Head of Flooding & Drainage Policy, Department for Infrastructure; and 
  • David Courtenay – DfI Rivers, Department for Infrastructure.

The Committee agreed that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.

A question and answer session followed.

The departmental officials left the meeting at 11:07 am.

The Committee agreed to move into closed session at 11:13 am.

 

12. Water, Sustainable Drainage & Flood Management Bill – Initial Deliberations

The Committee considered the evidence received to date alongside the relevant provisions in the Bill.

Mr John Stewart MLA joined the meeting at 11:17 am.

Mrs Liz Marsh, Bill Clerk joined the meeting at 11:24 am.

Mr Peter McReynolds left the meeting at 12:03 pm.

Agreed: That the Clerk will produce a summary of the issues discussed during the deliberations.

Agreed: That the Clerk would examine existing planning legislation to identify whether green space excludes sustainable drainage systems within any definition.

Agreed: To write to the Department for the Economy to establish whether it is undertaking a pilot scheme to provide financial support to businesses in response to flooding events.

Agreed: To write to the Department for Communities to establish what existing or proposed support is available to social housing tenants to respond to flooding incidents.

Agreed: That the Clerk will review previous departmental responses to establish whetherthere has been any assessment on the potential impacts the Bill could make to unlocking wastewater capacity and wider economic opportunities.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking further detail on:

  • The impact on eligibility of those wishing to apply for a grant under the Homeowner Flood Protection Grant Scheme against sea defence grants.
  • Why the Department considers it is necessary to legislate to replicate repealed powers under the European Communities Act 1972 as set out under Clause 9 of the Bill; and
  • Intended timescales for the commencing provisions under Clause 1 – 12 of the Bill.

Mrs Liz Marsh, Bill Clerk, left the meeting at 12:24 pm.

 

13. 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.

 

14. Any Other Business

Agreed: To write to the Department to seek an update the remaining work required to complete Maydown Bridge, Benburb, and associated timescales.

 

15. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

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

The meeting was adjourned at 12:28 pm.

 

Mr Peter Martin

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

6 May 2026