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 thank the Minister for her answer. My office continues to get complaints about raw sewage in Christie park, a park along the banks of the River Bann that walkers, runners and families use. Does the Minister recognise that that is a health and safety issue as well as an infrastructure one?
I do not know the specifics of the scheme. As I said earlier, a key priority for me is to ensure the delivery of waste water infrastructure. I continue to work with NI Water to progress that work, which is essential. I recognise the significant financial constraints, but we must keep going with what we have in order…
Absolutely. As I have said to other Members through the course of today's Question Time, the Department is committed to ensuring that we engage with the community at every opportunity. It is important that they have their input. We are committed to ensuring that we give people the choice to walk, wheel or cycle for…
I thank the Member for the question. Lagmore Avenue Belfast cycling network scheme is programmed to start on site on 10 March. West Belfast greenway phase 1A is also programmed to start this financial year but is dependent on the land agreement that is currently being finalised. Scheme designs are complete for Island…
Yes, without getting into the detail of the case, it is important that we recognise that. It is an important part of the scheme. However, I have a responsibility to ensure that anything that is approved by me or through the Department meets the criteria required. I understand that this is a very important scheme that…
I thank the Minister for her answer. This is a long-running issue, and I have started to feel like Andy Dufresne writing to ask for more books for Shawshank library. Minister, I am unaware that it was ever the case that the upgrade of the roundabout was the entire responsibility of the developer. Yes, there was a…
I thank the Member for his cordial words. I recently met officials in relation to that scheme. The upgrade and signalisation of Caw roundabout is the responsibility of the developer, as included in the planning consent for the adjacent H30 development. The Department continues to work with the developer on the matter.…
My Department has developed a draft active travel delivery plan including draft network maps for our larger towns and cities such as Bangor, Donaghadee and Holywood in the North Down area. Public consultation on the draft plan closed on 28 February, and I thank everyone who took the time to respond. My officials will…
Yes, that is critical. From the outset, we want to ensure that areas do not get a reputation that goes before them in a negative way. We all have a responsibility to play our part and ensure that, where such issues arise, we work together to resolve them. The most important thing is to put an end to such issues. No…
Does the Minister agree that it is important that that consultation happens with the community? I was a representative when that bus service was withdrawn in 2016 and when we got it back in 2018. It is important that youth workers, unions, bus drivers, Translink and community reps work hard. That delivers for…
I outlined initially that, when such incidents happen, we will continue to work with communities and elected representatives in the areas where they happen. Translink would be in a better position to answer the question about the safety of its workers and to talk about lone working policies and things like that. I am…
I thank the Minister for her answer. It is crucial that communities have access to public transport. I think that there is a demand for services after 6.00 pm in the Lagmore area and beyond. I understand that there may have been a recent change to Translink's decision. Does the Minister agree that worker safety and…
Public transport connects and enhances our communities, providing a convenient, flexible and accessible way to travel. The safety of our public transport workers and passengers is vital. Indeed, our public transport workers deserve to feel safe doing their job and should not be subjected to attacks, whether verbal or…
I am still here. Just give me a second. Yes, I am committed to increasing investment in active travel. I have to do that, if we are to meet the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2022. In addition to the delivery of active travel projects, my Department routinely invests in existing pedestrian and cycling…
The Member has potentially answered his own question, because, given that it is so well used, it is important. It has been surveyed, and it is important to those who use it to invest in maintaining our existing pedestrian and cycling facilities to ensure that infrastructure remains safe, effective and attractive to…
I welcome our year 11 students from Methody, as Kate said. I welcome the upgrading of any cycle lane, and the one on the Stranmillis embankment is well used. However, it is an existing embankment that is well used, and we are spending scarce resources closing it down, when there are other active travel opportunities…
The Lagmore Avenue scheme is programmed to start on site in the coming weeks. The west Belfast greenway phase 1A is also programmed to start very soon — sorry, I have lost my train of thought. The joys of technology. It is dependent on land acquisition being finalised. There are other schemes for which the design is…
I thank the Minister for her answer. I commend the officials who have been engaging with residents and the community on this. Without integrated infrastructure to make cycling safer and more efficient, people will not make that transition to active travel. As well as the Stranmillis embankment work, what schemes is…
Work to upgrade the eastern footway and cycle track on Stranmillis embankment commenced on 27 January this year and is expected to take approximately 15 weeks. It is a sizeable investment to upgrade our existing cycling infrastructure in Belfast, with investment from my Department of £580,000. I recognise the value of…
I thank the Member for his comments. The Enterprise service that he alludes to has been highly successful. We have seen a 49% increase in passengers, which is a success story in itself for public transport. The Portadown to Armagh line, with an onward connection to Mullingar, was identified as a medium-term…
The Minister's Department deserves huge credit for the hourly Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin. It is a game changer for public transport, so well done. Will the Minister please give an update on the reopening of the Armagh to Portadown line?
Yes, I am aware of that line in particular, given that it goes through my constituency as well. With all of the projects, engagement and consultation with communities are critical. While we await the outcome of the feasibility studies, we will consider, in the next steps, what that consultation will look like. I hope…
The Minister will know that there is a lot of excitement across Northern Ireland about the potential reopening of old lines. In particular, one that is well known to her, as it is to me, is the Portadown to Armagh railway line in our constituencies. Following on from her answer to the previous question, what…