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Mr John O'Dowd: Assembly records
All of Mr John O'Dowd’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
In the lead up to the recent storm, storm Bert, there was, for a period, notification of that storm approaching. My officials managed to visit a number of sites about which they had concerns to check, in particular, drainage and the covers on drains, and whether drains were blocked by any materials. That was the case…
It is the ambition of my Department to introduce such a measure. However, such things incur significant costs. I keep the matter under review through budgetary periods to see whether I can set aside the funding even to start such alerts and reach a point where we have an up-to-date flood identification programme.
My Department has published flood maps for all areas across the region. Those maps identify areas that may be vulnerable to flooding. A regional flood risk management plan (FRMP) for 2021-27 has also been developed by my Department. This FRMP, which is readily available on my Department’s website, includes a range of…
We will examine how we can secure the road. The Member, and other Members, may have seen the video footage taken of the most recent damage to the road. It is significant. The topography of the area makes it very difficult to remedy, and, due to the intensity of some of the rainstorms that we have had recently,…
In order to address the safety issues on the Glenshesk Road, I have allocated £275,000 to manage the damage associated with the slippage on 27 March 2024. That funding will facilitate surveys and enabling works and will allow for the completion of the detailed design throughout this financial year. Further funding…
I am happy for my Department to engage in any conversations as to how we assist the public, whether in accessing healthcare or other matters, particularly in rural communities. Many rural communities have been left behind for far too long when it comes to the provision of public transport. Even as part of the…
I met Ministers Nesbitt and Muir on 9 September to discuss the cross-departmental working group on community transport, which I established in my previous time as Minister. We collectively agreed that the group will look to consider whether transport in the community can provide a more cost-effective, value-for-money…
Safety in general is one of the factors that is taken into account in the provision of street lighting. I am aware of the launch of the policy on ending violence against women and girls. A number of areas in my Department will have to have a rethink as to what services we provide and how we provide them. I believe…
The future delivery of that project rests with the local transport plan. We hope to be in a position to launch a consultation on the Derry City and Strabane District Council transport plan early next summer: I believe that the date is set for that. That will then fit into how we strategically move traffic in and…
My Department's policy on the provision of street lighting in rural areas is detailed in policy and procedure guide E072. The policy, which has been in place since 1993, uses two main criteria when considering the provision of street lighting in rural areas. They relate to the density of development along a road or…
The Member raises a relevant and important point about the inclusivity of active travel moving forward. We are working closely with the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC) on that. I believe that Dermot Devlin was present and gave an address at the recent launch of the document. We are engaging…
As I mentioned, I recently launched the active travel consultation document. I encourage Members and others to make themselves familiar with that document and respond to it in due course. It sets out the Department's vision of what active travel will look like in the future. We have given a number of examples and…
The Member will be aware that the project received planning permission in September 2022 and has gone through the local council. All the issues related to residents' concerns will have been dealt with through the planning process. My understanding is that Ards and North Down Borough Council is moving ahead with the…
The proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge forms part of the Newtownards to Bangor greenway. Planning approval for the project, including the bridge, was granted in September 2022. Ards and North Down Borough Council is leading on the delivery of the project, and I am pleased that my Department has been able to provide…
I understand that the Department for Communities is bringing forward a specific programme of work for Sandy Row, and fair play to it for doing so. I am aware that the business organisations in the city regularly meet my Executive colleagues to discuss issues. Again, I emphasise that one of the reasons why Belfast is…
I have often heard the leader of the Opposition talking about being a constructive Opposition. What is constructive about misrepresenting what I have just said? I said that I agreed to meet the group. The date that goes into my diary is organised between my private office and the organisation that I am meeting. I…
Those who claim to have Belfast's interests at heart would do well not to broadcast constantly the fact that there is traffic chaos in Belfast. There is traffic congestion in Belfast. Last Thursday night was particularly difficult as a result of traffic accidents on the M1 and M2, the weather conditions and the…
The Member needs to understand the distinct legal entity that is Translink. As I stated yesterday, my Department is not in breach of any planning conditions in relation to the planning application. My Department is working its way through a number of planning matters in Translink's programme of work in and around…
In advance of the planning application in 2017, Translink undertook extensive community engagement in the Sandy Row and Grosvenor Road areas. Much of the feedback received was incorporated into the design for the new station, such as ensuring easy access to Sandy Row from the station, once the project was complete,…
Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Before I formally introduce the statement, I add my sympathies to the friends and family of Jody Gormley. He is a great loss to them and to the entire community. With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle and in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish…
I recall the Question Time when the Member asked me that question. It has been constantly under review, because one of our concerns is whether there is enough space on the footpaths at that junction for the number of pedestrians who gather there to cross the road. We were concerned that there could have been an…
Belfast city has quite a good public transport system, even in comparison with other cities. I am sure that Members will be able to jump up with examples of cities that are much better than Belfast. I have always said that, when it is available to you, you should use public transport. If you are driving into Belfast…
I accept that there are delays and that journeys through the city centre by car are taking longer than normal while work is ongoing. That is why I previously made a statement to the Assembly to warn about and raise awareness of what was to come. The bigger, more general issue is that there are too many cars on the…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. First, I thank Ms Forsythe for securing this important debate on the need for significant road works in South Down, and I thank the other Members for contributing to it. I have listened intently to the comments and issues that were raised and have heard Members' concerns…