Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 9 September 2026

Committee for Infrastructure minutes of proceedings 9 September 2026.pdf (281.32 kb)

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

Present:

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mrs Sinéad Ennis MLA

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Apologies:

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)

Ms Ally McNamara (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 10:02 am in public session.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

3. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson thanked Mr Peter Martin MLA and Mr Maoliosa McHugh MLA for their contributions to the Committee and welcomed back Mr Cathal Boylan MLA.

Agreed:The Committee agreed to write separately to Mr Martin and Mr McHugh to thank them for their contributions to the Committee’s work and to wish them well in the future.

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 1 and 9 July 2026.

5. Matters Arising

None.

6. Correspondence

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence on what specific steps will be taken to fill the outstanding vacancies when responding as a statutory consultee.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking a response to the content and recommendations in the Committee’s Review of Planning: Regionally Significant Developments and Judicial Reviews.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence in respect of the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) Civil Engineering Market Study.

Agreed: To forward the response to the CMA for comment.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence in respect of the Department’s engagement with the Department for the Economy in relation to the statutory regulation of tourist accommodation and linkage to planning guidance.

Agreed: To forward the response to the Committee for the Economy for information.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence seeking DfI’s assessment of the impact of parking provision arising from Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Agreed: To forward the response to the Committee for Communities for information.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to Committee request for sight of the proposed departmental draft amendments to the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.

Agreed: To consider the correspondence at its meeting on 16 September 2026.

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure of highlighting her intention of making a written statement on the appointment of the Northern Ireland Civil Service’s Internal Audit to undertake a forensic audit of Northern Ireland Water.

Agreed: To write to the Department to request a copy of the Terms of Reference and associated timescales of the audit.

Response from the Department for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting detail on the composition/appointment of the Board(s) currently and how will this change/how will non-Executive Members be appointed under the Harbours Bill.

Agreed: To consider in relation to the Harbours Bill and be included in the Bill folder.

Response from the Department for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence on the Active Travel Delivery Plan following the oral evidence on 18 February 2026.

Agreed: To write to the Department to request copies of the minutes of the first Stakeholder Forum meeting arising under the Active Travel Delivery Plan.

Department for Infrastructure correspondence information on the cross-pavement solution pilot on the use of a cable cover for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging at homes without access to a driveway.

Agreed: To write to the Department to establish what liability, if any, exists in the event of any accident using approved equipment.

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure regarding a pilot scheme to trial the use of bi-lingual traffic signs in the Gaeltacht Quarter, West Belfast.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking a disaggregation of expenditure incurred for the pilot.

Department for Infrastructure correspondence providing notification of the targeted consultation on proposed changes to Green Card requirements in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: To schedule oral evidence upon the conclusion of the consultation.

Department for Infrastructure correspondence providing a copy of the 2026 Speed Limit Review Consultation Response Report.

Agreed: To note and include in the Committee papers for the oral evidence session scheduled for 21 October 2026.

Department for Infrastructure correspondence providing a Consultation paper seeking views on proposals to the ‘Review of the Classes and Thresholds in the Schedule to the Planning (Development Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

Agreed: To schedule an oral evidence session upon the conclusion of the consultation.

Department for Infrastructure correspondence providing an update on the Safer Journeys to Schools Programme.

Agreed: To write to the Department to seek a timeline for the proposals to amend existing legislation as part of programme.

Department for Infrastructure correspondence regarding the Strangford Lough Ferry Service amended byelaws update.

Agreed: To write to the Department to seek a timeline for the proposals to amend existing byelaws for the service.

Correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in relation to a Call for Evidence for the Hunting with Dogs Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee to confirm a nil response.

Correspondence from the Committee for the Economy in relation to a Call for Evidence for the Renewable Electricity Generation Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee to confirm a nil response.

Correspondence from the Committee for Communities in relation to a Call for Evidence for the following bills:

Charities (Amendment) Bill;
Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill; and
Housing (Amendment) Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee to confirm a nil response for each of the bills.

Correspondence from the Committee for Justice in relation to a Call for Evidence for the Victims and Witnesses of Crimes Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Committee to confirm a nil response from the Committee for Infrastructure.

Copy of the Ulster University Strategic Policy Unit’s Report ‘Unlocking NI’s Potential: A Framework for Economic Transformation’.

Agreed: To forward the report to the Department for a response to the issues contained within the report.

Correspondence from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) containing updated information on motor insurance premiums in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: To write to the Department for Justice and to seek its assessment of the reasons for the disparity of awards in Northern Ireland.

Correspondence from a member of the public requesting Committee assistance in the progress consideration of the Frosses Road/Dunloy Crossroads issue.

Agreed: To write to the member of the public to highlight the Committee’s role in scrutinising the wider strategic policies of DfI and to suggest that she engages with her constituency MLAs for support on this issue.

Request from LCD Academy for assistance in respect of a Clerical Error (SR 2015/6) & Unlawful Code 78 Trailer Restrictions.

Agreed: To forward the correspondence to the Department to establish what work, if any, is being undertaken by the Department to address the issues contained.

Response from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council providing a Research Paper summarising the issues identified through the Council’s research on rural affairs.

Agreed: To forward the research to the Department for a response to the issues contained in the paper.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding an oral statement on North South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways Sectoral Meeting held on 29 May 2026;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence regarding the Voluntary Motor Insurance Transparency Code in the Republic of Ireland.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence regarding bids by DfI or by any of its Arms-length in respect of Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG);
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence on the nature and associated timelines for the completion of the capital projects within the initial tranche;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting a more detailed breakdown of the nature of the £16.7 million spend on ‘Development Fees’ as part of the York Street Interchange Project;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting further detail on the demonstration projects surrounding the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Planings;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence around an underspend of PeacePlus funding and the Consolidated Fund Extra Receipt.;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence in relation to the Department’s revised spending plan;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence on actions taken due to the absence of an agreed budget, the impact on services and capital project progression;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting information relating to a planning application for a Residual Waste Treatment Facility (Arc21) number of judicial reviews to date;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting quarterly updates on the delivery of the Appointed Person project;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence fundings that has been provided to Community Transport and Shopmobility operators in the absence of an agreed budget;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence seeking DfI’s response the findings contained within the Northern Ireland Audit Office’s report on ‘Flood Risk Management in Northern Ireland’;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting details of the applicable criteria used when referring a planning application to the Planning Appeals Commission;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting the Department’s views on the content of the recent report by the Wastewater Infrastructure Group;
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure providing an update on the progress of the review of Class C taxi licensing;
Written evidence from the Department for Infrastructure in relation to ‘The Railways (Interoperability in Northern Ireland) (Convention on International Carriage by Rail) (Amendment) Regulations 2026’;
Copy of a response from the Department for Infrastructure to the Committee for Finance on the progress of the Lagan Pedestrian Cycle Bridge;
Response from the Department for Infrastructure to the Committee’s request for a copy of the Road Maintenance Strategy and Consultation Report;
Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing confirmation of an ongoing human resources related process within Northern Ireland;
Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure enclosing upcoming advertising campaign to inform the public of the introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL);
Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing a copy of correspondence to a member of the public regarding a complaint in respect of Warrenpoint Harbour;
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance on 2025-26 Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn – May (R2) Position;
Correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding the misuse of Scramblers and E-Scooters in public places;
Correspondence from the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee on Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026 on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles;
Correspondence from The Speakers Office providing a copy of the Public Petition ‘Save Our Trees’ that was laid in the Assembly on Monday, 29 June 2026 by Mr Alan Chambers MLA;
Copy of the Department for Infrastructure Investing Activity reports for June 2026, July 2026, and August 2026;
Invitation from the Northern Ireland Marine Taskforce to attend the Sea Across Society launch event on Tuesday 3rd November from 2:00 pm in the Long Gallery;
Copy of the Driver and Vehicle Agency Annual Report and Accounts for 2025-2026;
Invitation from the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council to a conference on Northern Ireland’s public finance issues on 25 September 2026 at PWC’s offices in Belfast;
Report from Mr Peter Archdale on joined-up governance issues relevant to flood risk and environmental delivery in Northern Ireland;
Department for Transport correspondence providing an Explanatory Memorandum on the EU’s proposal (2026)1808 regarding amendments to implement Euro 7, the alignment of the GB medium series scheme with the EU’s equivalent, the costs associated with Automated Valet Parking;
Correspondence from a member of the public regarding Translink’s consultation on potential fare and service changes;
Correspondence from a member of the public regarding the provision of facilities provided by Translink;
Correspondence from Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA enclosing correspondence from a member of the publics relating to exemptions under the Graduated Driver Licensing Scheme;
Copy correspondence from the Department for the Economy providing a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Consumer Council and the Utility Regulator; and
Correspondence from a member of the public in respect of the Curraghinalt public inquiry.

The meeting was suspended at 10:19 am.

The meeting resumed at 10:26 am with the following members present:

Present:

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mrs Sinéad Ennis MLA

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

7. Harbours Bill – Consideration of a motion to extend Committee Stage

The Committee considered the proposed date to extend the Committee Stage of the Harbours Bill.

Agreed: To Commission legal advice on the provisions within the Harbours Bill and to establish the scope of the Minister’s powers in relation to issuing directions to ports.

Agreed: To table the following motion in the Business Office:

“That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 15 January 2027, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Harbours Bill (NIA 37/22-27).”

8. SL1 - The Little Victoria Street Car Park, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration

The Committee considered The Little Victoria Street Car Park, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

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

9. SL1 - The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration

The Committee considered The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

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