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.
The Member makes a flippant remark, but the reality is that, had I followed the Member's advice and not carried out the necessary works in Newry, the flooding in Newry last year would have been worse than it was. Had I followed your advice and your campaign, it would have been to do nothing, because you did not come…
The regional community resilience group has been set up, in discussion with other agencies, to see how we can work with other agencies and communities to assist communities in their response to flooding and how they can assist when flooding incidents happen, particularly in the distribution of sandbags etc and in…
The 'Review of South East Flooding Autumn 2023' contains 22 recommendations that cover a range of measures, including the provision of flood forecasting, the development of additional flood risk management infrastructure and further improving communications and resilience. My Department is progressing a study to…
The spillage monitors, which Mrs Dodds referred to, will give us evidence-based information on the areas that are under the most pressure from overflows and spillages. I also hope to be able to invest in a flood forecasting centre for here, which will be hugely beneficial. It is quite a significant investment, but,…
I have. I have a constant course of engagement and discussion. As I said in answer to one of the previous questions, I am engaging with my Executive colleagues to see if we can have more financial capability in this financial year. I am looking at legislation through a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) Bill. That…
Removing storm overflows completely would cost billions upon billions of pounds and may not be the best, most effective usage of public moneys in that context. There is no question about it: we have to operate and install new waste water treatment works. However, the most efficient waste water treatment works will…
I thank the Member. I agree. The Lough Neagh issue is multifaceted. Finger-pointing and blaming will not get us anywhere. We have to identify the issues and find resolutions to them. In regard to my responsibilities as Minister of the sponsoring Department for NI Water, I am working with my Executive colleagues and…
Storm overflows are a critical part of any waste water system, and, during periods of heavy rainfall, are designed to allow diluted sewage to spill into water bodies in accordance with regulations set out by NIEA. Spills from storm overflows are made up of waste water from households and businesses that is heavily…
Schools are a rich source of promoting active travel, if we can provide the proper infrastructure and a safe environment for pupils and parents to walk to and from school. Schools will be a central part of the plan. As I said, I hope to launch that consultation in November, and there will be much discussion. If young…
That will happen when we have firm proposals to bring forward. I understand the frustration of elected Members and members of the public, but, changing the traffic going through a town or a village has implications for the roads and networks in and around that town or village. Therefore, we have to rule out taking…
My message is this: the driver of the vehicle should have been taking all precautions to protect the pedestrians on the footpath. There is no, "I have to mount the footpath". You drive at a speed that is appropriate to the area, and you respect other road users. The Member is pointing his question in the wrong…
As the Minister responsible for promoting and improving road safety, I want to work actively with partners to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. I believe that the targeted provision of infrastructure at local schools can go a long way to making our roads and communities safer. I am aware of the ongoing…
Yes, and schools struggle with this every day. I am a parent, and I know from going to my local primary school that some of the parking and behaviour, by a minority, is totally unacceptable, and it presents a danger to children leaving and entering that school. I appeal to everyone to be considerate of how they park…
I hope to be able to launch our active delivery plan for consultation in November. Links to schools and other attractors are priorities in that plan. Work in the area also includes consideration of measures that can be used in the vicinity of schools, such as we have discussed, to improve the environment for parents…
For Members who are not familiar with the scheme, the School Streets initiative means that a designated street is closed off to all traffic at certain times of the day — obviously, the opening and closure times of the schools. We are looking at it as part of broader work on active travel and how we promote more active…
I thank the Member for that question. As I said, I want the Committee to be given the opportunity to review the report before I publish it. I expect that to happen within the next number of weeks. The report's findings have been positive, however, and it is good to see such feedback from teachers, pupils and parents…
I am pleased to confirm that the review of the part-time 20 mph speed limit at schools initiative, which saw the facility introduced at 216 schools, is complete. I have had the opportunity to consider the review report and am content. However, I want to share the report with the Infrastructure Committee before it is…
We will constantly keep under review any measures we can take to improve road safety, particularly on the A1, given its horrific traffic accident history. As I have said to Members before, the most effective way of improving road safety is changing road user behaviour. We have to ensure that, when we use the road, we…
This has been raised with me on several occasions, and my officials have carried out studies to see whether there is a solution for Royal Hillsborough. We have not as yet found a solution that would not cause significant traffic congestion and disruption on outlying roads. I am due to meet the Member's party…
I am not sure that I can say "regardless of budget", because a procurement exercise is going on and we want to get the best value for the public purse. The current cost estimates for the scheme are around £110 million to £120 million. That will come out of my Department's budget. I have already made a commitment to…
The proposed A1 junctions phase 2 scheme from Hillsborough to Loughbrickland has been developed to address the most prevalent safety issues on 25 kilometres of the dual carriageway, particularly focusing on the closure of all gaps in the central median, including the installation of a concrete safety barrier, the…
I dare not rebuke you, given that the Speaker did not. The landslide in the area to which the Member refers is significant. It is another one that requires a significant engineering solution, if one can be found, given the scale of the landslide and the undermining of roadworks in the area. My officials continue to…
The Member has raised that issue with me on a number of occasions. We will organise a visit to the site at some stage. The initial landslide was quickly cleared, but there remained a risk because the embankment was unstable. As a result, my Department installed temporary measures. The land in the area is of…
I recognise the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of one lane of the Shore Road, Rostrevor, and the Kilkeel Road, Hilltown, due to landslips caused by the unprecedented weather in November 2023. My Department has appointed a specialist geotechnical engineer to assist in design solutions. However, the scale…
Well, I am sure that there are several thousand Translink bus routes. I could stand here all day and read them out, but that would test the patience of the Speaker. I am more than happy to get the information that the Member has requested and forward it to him.