Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings - 3 December 2025

Committee for Infrastructure - 3 December 2025.pdf (204.26 kb)

Meeting Location: Steeple Suite, Antrim Civic Centre, Antrim

 

Present:

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Maoliosa McHugh MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

 

Apologies:

Mr Stephen Dunne 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)

 

The meeting commenced at 10:08 am in public session.

 

1. Apologies

As above.

 

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

 

3. Chairperson's Business

The Chairperson drew the Committee's attention to the persistent, ongoing delays in the planning sector in Northern Ireland and the potential for a Committee review into the matter.

Justin McNulty MLA joined the meeting at 10:18am.

Agreed: To request an update from the Department for Infrastructure on the Transformation Fund project;

Agreed: To commission RaISe to undertake comparative research on planning processes in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland including equivalent timescales for securing planning permission.

Agreed: For the Clerk to investigate the remit of the Committee with regards to the work of the Planning Appeals Committee.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 26 November 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

The Committee discussed the Office of Environmental Protection investigation into the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Agreed: To request a copy of the response to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs from the Minister.

 

6. Correspondence

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure providing details of diversion signage and information to inform road users journey distances related to the road closure at Kilrea Bridge, as well as, what consideration has been given to support traders that have been detrimentally impacted as a result of the repairs.

Agreed: To write to the Minister for Communities to ascertain if there is any work ongoing to provide support to the businesses in the area that are affected by the closure.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee request for further information on any issues that are yet to be resolved and the estimated timeframe for recommencement of the gully pilot scheme.

Agreed: To request detail of the issues that are yet to be resolved and the applicable timescales for the recommencement of the gully pilot.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee request regarding what costs have been incurred to date in defending the judicial review and projected ongoing costs to the Department in relation to Irish language signage at Belfast Grand Central Station.

Agreed: To write to the Minister to request a full breakdown of the costs incurred by the Department in defending the judicial review on Irish language signage at Belfast Grand Central Station once known..

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee request providing a list of organisations invited by the Department to respond to the consultation on the Rail and Transport Bill, including which of these provided a response.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking detail on the proposed subordinate legislation referred to in the response.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee request regarding the anticipated timescales for the introduction of proposed new legislation to prohibit inconsiderate parking on pavements.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking detail on the proposed subordinate legislation referred to in the response.

Notification from the Department for Infrastructure of the launch a public consultation on the findings of its Draft Speed Limit Review 2025.

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

Correspondence from a member of the public in relation to a complaint regarding the on-going obstruction of access for parking for a disabled vehicle.

Agreed: To refer the individual to the Department's complaints procedure, and to the NIPSO if not satisfied with the response, and/or to constituency MLAs.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Notification from the Minister for Infrastructure of her intention to make a press statement in relation to Controlled Parking Zones;
  • Notification from the Minister for Infrastructure of her intention to make an oral statement to the Assembly on the NSMC Transport Sectoral Meeting;
  • Copy correspondence to the Committee for Communities from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the Sign Language Bill - Public Transport Accessibility;
  • Response from the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs regarding provision of information on Inter-Departmental meetings on the A5;
  • Copy correspondence to the Committee for Communities from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the Sign Language Bill - Public Transport Accessibility;
  • Copy correspondence to the Committee for Communities from Translink regarding the Sign Language Bill - Public Transport Accessibility;
  • Correspondence from Department for Infrastructure enclosing a copy of the 2025 Annual Report to Mid Ulster District Council (MUDC) area;
  • Correspondence from the Committee for Finance 2025-26 Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn October (R7);
  • Correspondence from the Committee for Finance Department of Finance update regarding the Review of Arm's Length Bodies;
  • Correspondence from Build Homes NI pm the recent evidence session from Departmental officials on the Consultation on Developer Contributions;
  • Press release from the Office of Environmental Protection on the launch of an investigation into the Department for Infrastructure, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Utility Regulator on discharges into Belfast Lough; and
  • Copy correspondence from Save the Moat to the Department regarding the formal statutory notification on wind turbine noise (including low frequency and infrasound) and requested substantive actions.

 

7. December Monitoring - Department for Infrastructure - Oral Evidence

The following officials joined the meeting at 10:34 am.

  • Susan Anderson - Director of Finance, DfI;
  • Peter Rice - Director of Public Transport Operations, DfI;
  • Alison Clydesdale - Director of Water and Drainage Policy, DfI; and
  • Cindy Noble - Divisional Roads Manager, Southern Division, DfI

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

A question and answer session followed.

The officials left the meeting at 11:28 am.

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

  • Confirmation of the applicable timescales for the commencement of the Ballynahinch Bypass; and
  • Its assessment of the percentage of road projects that have been delayed due to the A5 judgement and a breakdown of the contractors impacted for each project.

 

8. Road Noise Action Plan - Notification of Consultation - Department for Infrastructure - Written Evidence

The Committee considered the Road Noise Action Plan - Notification of Consultation - Department for Infrastructure - Written Evidence.

Agreed: To schedule an evidence session in the forward work programme at an appropriate date following the conclusion of the consultation.

 

9. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill - Consideration of Responses received to date

The Committee noted written submissions in response to its 'Call for Evidence' from:

  • The Woodland Trust; and
  • Committee for the Executive Office.

Agreed: To publish the responses on the Committee webpage.

 

10. SR 2025-180 The Belvoir Road, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-180 The Belvoir Road, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-180 The Belvoir Road, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the Rule.

 

11. SL1 - The U5390 Church Hill, Jonesborough (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SL1 - The U5390 Church Hill, Jonesborough (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the proposal for the statutory rule.

Justin McNulty MLA voiced his express discontent with the proposal for the statutory rule due to concerns regarding the safety of the retaining wall associated with the abandonment order in question.

 

12. SL1 - The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 - Revised

The Committee considered SL1 - The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 - Revised.

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the proposal for the statutory rule.

 

13. Subordinate Legislation - SRs Not Subject to Assembly Procedure

The Committee noted the following Statutory Rule, which is not subject to Assembly Proceedings:

  • SR 2025-186 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: To note the Statutory Rule.

 

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 during the meeting.

 

15. Any Other Business

None.

 

16. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

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

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 am.

 

 

Mr Peter Martin

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure