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.
I do agree. When you look at Belfast's Gaeltacht Quarter, you see that it has a thriving Irish-speaking community where the language is used and visible. It is only right and proper that Departments such as mine support and promote it in line with the work that is being done by many in the voluntary and business…
Apologies. On 10 October 2024, I announced a bilingual traffic sign pilot scheme for the Gaeltacht Quarter in west Belfast. As part of the pilot, bilingual traffic signs and road markings will be installed on the Falls Road between the Springfield Road and Whiterock Road. The majority of signs and markings relate to…
If the Member wishes to write to my private office, I will consider the invitation and respond in due course. Regardless of where roadworks are taking place, I understand commuters' frustration when they are caught up in them. However, they will see the benefits of not only the roadworks when they are completed but…
I suppose that the same answer can be given to both questions. The transport plan will determine whether a bypass is still required around Ballykelly. I cannot give you a firm date as to when that transport plan will be delivered. We are working our way through those plans. They are quite staff intensive. A lot of…
Our preferred route for a Ballykelly bypass was announced in 2010. However, in advance of any decision to prioritise the scheme, officials would need to undertake a reassessment of the route due to the passage of time. The estimate for the bypass that was compiled back in 2008 was in the range of £35 million to £40…
First, I would like to add my thanks to those of the Member to my staff who worked over the weekend dealing with Storm Ashley. I commend them for their work, whether they were working in the background providing information to the public or on the ground clearing up during the storm and after it passed. I do not know…
Yes, and my thoughts go out to all those involved in that accident. Thankfully, there were not more serious injuries than those that did occur, and everyone will have a full recovery. I assure the Member that road safety is the priority for my Department. We will cooperate fully with the police investigation into that…
As the Minister responsible for promoting and improving road safety, I want, with partners, to actively reduce death and serious injuries on the roads. Following the Adjournment debate on 12 March 2024, I asked my officials to take forward a review of the A20 Portaferry Road from Newtownards to Teal Rocks to establish…
I remind Members that I provided them with a written ministerial statement as early as, I think, April or May, which outlined the challenges that Belfast would face as a result of the works that would have to be carried out as part of the public realm works for Belfast Grand Central Station. Members have been briefed…
I accept that the status quo is far from ideal. We need to make a significant investment in the York Street area and move forward with a project that benefits not only commuters who travel through the area but those who live in and do business in the area. That was the reason for the placemaking report. I am studying…
Major road schemes are an important part of the work that is delivered by my Department as it seeks to reduce journey times, increase reliability and improve road safety. In October 2022, I published a report on the placemaking and active travel review (PATR) of the scheme and asked my officials to carry out further…
It is clear that we have to provide a good surface for all road users. I suppose that that is often categorised as being simply motorists, but it is right and proper that we provide a surface for all road users, whether they are motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians or, as in this case, cyclists. I will endeavour to…
I thank the Member for the question. I have no doubt that, at some stage, we will move on to the roadworks that are going on around Belfast. Members will have noted that there has been increased activity on the ground, from DFI staff and contractors, to repair, renew and correct defects across the network. I welcome…
The Member raises a very good point about ensuring that my Department is using its budget to guarantee accessibility and inclusion for all citizens in our society. That is one of the key areas that I am bringing forward in the Department. I can assure the Member that I am acutely aware of the need to prioritise…
My Department has been operating in a difficult financial environment for a number of years due to underfunding and austerity by successive British Governments. As a consequence, new maintenance regimes have been adopted that are commensurate to the levels of funding that are available to my Department. That,…
I have not engaged directly with the Communities Minister at this stage. As I said to one of your colleagues, however, we are at the start of this process rather than at the end of it. It will require legislative change, and consultation takes place, as part of any legislative journey, with fellow Ministers, other key…
The Member will be aware that developers pay a bond towards roads and other public services maintenance in areas. Before any bond is used to complete a site, however, I believe that it is only right and proper that my officials explore to the nth degree why a developer cannot do that themselves. In itself, the bond is…
The current obstacle is the legislation that we have available to us, which does not allow us to take contributions from developers in order to pay directly towards waste water treatment works. It is common practice that developers will pay for the separation of storm water and sewage and foul waste but, at the…
As I said in my answer, that will require legislative change, and part of that change will involve a consultation process where views can be aired and taken on board, whether from the point of view of the developer, the house purchaser or whoever it may be. The House will have to vote on the legislation. There are a…
I recognise the current waste water capacity challenges and am taking a three-pronged approach to the matter. First, I continue to work with my Executive colleagues to ensure appropriate investment for NI Water. Secondly, I am introducing new legislation on sustainable urban drainage, which will help to store storm…
I am aware of it. As a constituency MLA, I am aware of the practice. It does not fall under the direct remit of my Department, but I am more than happy to go back and enquire of my departmental officials what role, if any, we can play. It is vital that drivers who use those schemes be treated fairly and equitably…
I thank the Member for his question. As the Member rightly says, that long-awaited report will be published, and the Committee will have an opportunity to see it. It will set out the pathway for how we deliver future parking schemes, whether in Derry or elsewhere. While I am keen to move forward with as many schemes…
My Department is aware of the parking difficulties caused by commuter parking in the Bogside area in Derry. In 2011, work started on the development of a potential residents' parking scheme for that area. The scheme, known as the Rossville Street residents' parking scheme, was to cover an area of the city centre…
The first residents' parking scheme, on Rugby Road and College Park Avenue in Belfast, came into operation in April 2018. My Department has completed a review of the scheme and our wider approach to residents' parking. I am content with the findings of the report and have asked officials to arrange for the report to…
As I mentioned to Mr McNulty, a key piece of policy that has been passed by the Executive and will allow me to bring legislation to the House relates to sustainable urban drainage. That will be an exciting way forward in how we hold surface water and rainfall in certain areas and release it more slowly into the…