Debate contribution: Road Maintenance Strategy
Debate contribution by Mr Cathal Boylan on .
- MLA
- Mr Cathal Boylan
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 15 September 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Road Maintenance Strategy
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5100258
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I speak as Sinn Féin's transport spokesperson. I thank the Members for tabling the motion. I am sure that none of us around the Chamber, as constituency MLAs, are any different when it comes to the volume of roads-related casework that comes through our offices. There is no denying that some roads across the North are in very poor condition. However, I acknowledge recent progress in my area, including a £590,000 resurfacing scheme on the Armagh to Keady road. Investment in rural roads such as that one shows the Minister's commitment to improving the road network, which is vital for connecting our businesses and our communities. I agree with the motion and believe that we need a different approach to road maintenance to that which we have seen in recent decades. We have to ensure that we use every method available to us so that road maintenance is timely, efficient and sustainable. The introduction of new technologies, AI in particular, could enable a more targeted approach where roads are deteriorating and show what the best method of maintenance is. I would welcome any information that the Minister can provide on the role of new technologies in road maintenance. We cannot avoid the biggest issue when it comes to this matter: funding. After decades of British government austerity decimating public services here, we have to recognise that it is imperative that we are funded at our level of need to ensure that investment is possible. As I said in the Chamber last week, the ongoing duplication of public services on this island due to partition does not help the matter. When we engage with local section and divisional offices, we often hear about staff shortages. I welcome the initiatives taken by former Minister O'Dowd and Minister Kimmins to increase the number of people joining DFI. In January of this year, 29 newly qualified trainee civil engineering assistants started at DFI. That positive initiative creates opportunities for people while helping to address the workforce shortages that the Department has experienced. I support the motion. I support the Minister in her bid to improve our roads. I will continue to work with her to deliver investment in our local road network, particularly in Newry and Armagh.
373 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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