Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
I will go back to my previous answer and say that that is exactly one of the reasons why my predecessor, John O'Dowd, initiated the work on the planning improvement programme. It is critical for everything across government that we talk about here, whether it be housing, the economy, education or health. I agree with…
Thank you, Minister, for your response. PRM, in my constituency, has seen significant growth in its business through dual market access. It has just completed a planning application to help it realise that. That took three years. That company is embedded in my community. Other people will not wait around for three…
The planning system plays a key role in supporting sustainable development and economic growth. It must operate in the public interest and provide a fair and balanced framework for all types of development, regardless of the extent or scale of investment. We are all very aware that planning is a collective issue, and…
I do not have specific detail on that question, Sian, but I am happy to come back to you about it. This is more specific to Glenshesk Road. I will come back to you in writing about the detail of your question and confirm the point.
As my North Antrim colleague Philip McGuigan outlined, 17 months is a long time for a community to be cut off. I am glad to hear that there will be preventative works. Will there be any works to the parallel Drumavoley Road to take some of the strain away from Glenshesk Road and alleviate future risks?
To be blunt, it is very difficult to prevent future slippages along the road, given the ground conditions and the topography. To reduce the risk of and potential for future slippages, my Department will incorporate an improved drainage regime along the carriageway that will, hopefully, help to alleviate some of the…
I thank the Minister for her answer. More importantly, the residents of Glenshesk Road, who have been severely impacted on as a result of the landslide since March 2024, will welcome the completion of the work in August. Given that that was not the first landslide on the Glenshesk Road, will the works that you have…
I am happy to advise that the works associated with a significant embankment failure on the Glenshesk Road commenced on Tuesday 18 March this year. The works will involve drainage improvements, slope reconstruction and resurfacing. It is anticipated that all works will be completed by the end of August 2025, with a…
As I have said, there is some cross-departmental work ongoing between DFI, DFC and the Department for the Economy. We will look at that as part of those discussions.
The issue continues and, year-on-year, worsens in my constituency, in Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock etc. Minister, will you commit to an additional meeting with the Department for Communities to talk about the issue? If we keep pushing it back to councils, we will not find any answers.
As I said, I appreciate that that remains a major area of concern, not in all council areas but, as Members have outlined, in certain ones. As things stand, the LDPs have some means of addressing the issue of second homes at a local level. Notwithstanding that, I can advise that early discussions by the…
As I said, we have the planning improvement programme, which is an opportunity to feed all those issues into the discussion. We are engaging with local councils, councillors, architects and all the stakeholders who are involved in that process. If, coming out of that, there is scope to intervene, we can definitely…
Minister, this is a well-rehearsed issue, and it is disappointing that you and your Department keep deferring to councils and blaming them for it. You have ultimate responsibility for implementing the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, and, through it, you have powers to intervene and take more action. Will the…
I take the Member's point. However, the extent of the short-term let or the changes to the use or the character of the property will impact on whether planning permission is required. The situation varies for different units. You will be aware that decisions on planning applications that seek permission for a change…
Minister, you are probably aware that there are cities in Britain and parts of Dublin in which there is a litany of Airbnbs but few, if any, are registered. It is concerning, Minister, that you do not believe that the planning system should be used to crack down on the use of Airbnbs and short-term holiday lets. Will…
I will take into consideration what the Member said. I appreciate that it is a very important issue. As I said, it relates more to the local development plans. It is important that councillors, as elected representatives, feed into that as best as possible. It is about trying to strike the right balance as well.
I thank the Minister for her answer, but, given the pressures that short-term holiday lets can place on the local housing supply and on community cohesion, is she prepared to set plans in place to introduce specific measures, such as requiring planning permission or establishing control areas, to better manage the…
The Department's regional development strategy 2035 and the strategic planning policy statements support the creation of balanced communities. The policy approach to all types of housing is to facilitate an adequate and available supply of quality housing to meet the needs of everyone. Council local development plans…
I have had regular engagement with officials, particularly those in DFI Rivers, because a huge amount of work has gone into the study. As I outlined, there were 22 recommendations, and we need to make sure that we are well prepared, because, as we are all aware, such incidents will become more frequent, particularly…
On the feasibility study of flood mitigation measures, will the Minister commit resources in order to expedite putting such measures in place to prevent any further flooding?
Part of my constituency was impacted on by what the Member outlined. I can speak only about my Department and what we were allocated. We were provided with £10·5 million of additional funding for the response and remedial actions that were required following the major flooding incidents that he mentioned. That was…
It recently came to light that only half of the money that was allocated to give desperately needed help to businesses in places such as Downpatrick after the floods was actually allocated to businesses. Instead, it was allocated to Departments such as the Minister's. Does she think that it was fair on those…
The published 'Review of South East Flooding: Autumn 2023' detailed 22 recommendations, which the Department and multi-agency partners will be responsible for delivering. The recommendations include developing flood forecasting capability and further enhancements to communications, resilience and surface water…