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Public transport use during the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was exceptionally strong, with Translink carrying more than 1·7 million passenger journeys across its bus and rail network during the eight-day event. That represents an increase of over 620,000 journeys compared with the same week in 2025 and reflects the…
The Member referred to one aspect of why we are carrying out the audit. I hope that it has been made clear that that is part of the picture. Both I and my Department have concerns about a number of different areas. That is the focus of the audit. For me, it is about getting a clear insight into the issues and being…
I thank the Minister for announcing the investigation, especially given that, in approximately the past year and a half, NI Water has spent £225,000 on investigations, the outcomes of which none of us knows. Minister, can you assure us — the public — that the audit will not be a toothless tiger, that it will not shy…
In my initial answer, I said that several raising a concern investigations have been carried out to date. That is on the public record. The concerns that I mentioned have intensified recently owing to insufficient assurance, coupled with the raising a concern investigations; legacy and current breaches of a "Dear…
Accountability and transparency are essential, Minister, particularly where public funding is involved, as you will know. You touched on the audit's remit. Have any individuals, be they internal or external to NI Water, come to you to raise their concerns about tendering practices and the awarding of contracts by…
I have no reason to doubt it. The point of the audit is to assure us that everything that is done in the organisation, particularly on governance, meets the standards that we expect. I have outlined my concerns about what has led us to that point. I am pleased that NI Water has said that it is willing to engage and be…
I have instructed the group head of NI Civil Service internal audit to progress the forensic audit. As I said, I have asked for it to be done as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. I hope that that answers the Member's question.
Minister, I welcome the steps that you have taken to ensure that the correct checks and balances are in place for what is a publicly funded organisation. Who will undertake the audit?
I hope that what I have outlined today demonstrates how seriously I am taking the issues that I have identified. The House relentlessly says that I need to give NI Water more money, but I need to ensure that the money that we give it is used properly. I say without prejudice that we have a number of concerns, and it…
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. In the summer of 2025, we saw the outcome of your Department's forensic review of NI Water and read in the regional press about NI Water's leadership. You have now commissioned a further review, which your permanent secretary characterised as a familiarisation exercise. Judging…
When I announced the audit, earlier in the month, the Department outlined concerns about governance and control matters in NI Water, and I will require further assurance on the adequacy of NI Water's risk management, governance and systems of internal control. The Department's concerns were intensified recently due to…
As someone who has always been raising those issues in my constituency, I know how important it is to get safe crossings and what the Department calls "local transport and safety measures" to enhance road safety in all constituencies. The answer that I provided to the previous Member outlines some of the challenges…
Minister, I welcome the work that you are doing to keep young people at school safe. As elected representatives, we are often inundated with requests for pedestrian crossings. Many have found that process time-intensive. Why is the process so time-intensive? Furthermore, a high number of applications seem to be…
I thank the Member for raising that. Officials undertook a pedestrian survey on the Belfast Road in Ballynahinch in March of this year. The outcome of that assessment was that the location met the Department's criteria for consideration of a controlled pedestrian crossing and was added to the list of potential…
Minister, in light of your commitment to road safety, will you provide an update on the proposed pedestrian crossing at Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch, following the unfortunate incident when a pedestrian was knocked down? It is a matter of real concern for families and staff. I would appreciate a clear…
I thank the Member for her comments. I am keen that we do as much as possible in the rest of the mandate to improve road safety, particularly for children and young people going to and from school. Following the roll-out of the third tranche of the part-time 20 mph speed limit schemes at 40 schools across the North…
Minister, I commend you on the work that you have done around safety, particularly for young people and children attending school. The work that you have done in response to the death of one of my constituents on the road has been greatly appreciated in my local area. What specific action are you taking around safety…
The Member makes a valid point. Obviously, we want to move at pace. As I outlined in my substantive response, there is still a process to go through, and we have to allow for any input into that. Subject to no objections being raised, we should be able to move ahead. I do not have the exact date, but we kept it broad…
I thank the Minister for her answer and for coming to the school to speak to the local school council. I appreciate that the crossing will be completed and installed. However, my understanding was that that would done before Christmas rather than before the end of the financial year. Will the Minister elaborate on…
As I have said in previous responses, road safety remains an absolute priority for me and my Department, and we are committed to working proactively to make our roads safer and to address the needs of all road users. We are acutely aware that children and young people are amongst the most vulnerable groups using our…
As constituency representatives, we are all too familiar, unfortunately, with the dangers of e-scooters. The Member will know that it is illegal to use e-scooters on our public roads and public spaces here, so anyone who is using an e-scooter illegally may be subject to enforcement action by the PSNI. We have seen…
The Minister has outlined some welcome measures that are progressing to improve road safety and reduce the risk to road users. Some of those measures have been in the pipeline for a while. I did not hear anything about the road safety concern that I hear most from constituents, and that is around e-scooters and…
First, I commend St Ronan's. I am very familiar with it. I know that that has been a fantastic development and will be a huge boost for the community and for the staff and the pupils, who are very proud of their school. I can get further detail for the Member on where that is at. I do not have that to hand, but I am…
Minister, I welcome anything that you can do to improve road safety, especially in the vicinity of schools. In Lurgan, the new campus at St Ronan's College, which is fantastic, has been attracting pupils from Aghagallon, Aghalee and Ballinderry, and parents have been lobbying for a safe crossing at Bells Row. Your…