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I thank the Minister for his answer. Rural community transport providers do vital work. They pick up in places that general public transport does not. However, information that I have received from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust shows that it spent £2·3 million on private taxis and, to be fair, private…
The computer cannot keep up with you. On 9 September 2024, I met Minister Nesbitt and Minister Muir to discuss the cross-departmental working group on community transport, which I established during my previous tenure as Minister. We collectively agreed that the group will consider whether transport in the community…
I do agree. When you look at Belfast's Gaeltacht Quarter, you see that it has a thriving Irish-speaking community where the language is used and visible. It is only right and proper that Departments such as mine support and promote it in line with the work that is being done by many in the voluntary and business…
I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome the pilot scheme in the Gaeltacht Quarter. Does the Minister agree that the Irish language should be more visible across all areas of our public sector?
Apologies. On 10 October 2024, I announced a bilingual traffic sign pilot scheme for the Gaeltacht Quarter in west Belfast. As part of the pilot, bilingual traffic signs and road markings will be installed on the Falls Road between the Springfield Road and Whiterock Road. The majority of signs and markings relate to…
If the Member wishes to write to my private office, I will consider the invitation and respond in due course. Regardless of where roadworks are taking place, I understand commuters' frustration when they are caught up in them. However, they will see the benefits of not only the roadworks when they are completed but…
I echo the comments of my constituency colleague. Many people in Ballykelly are quite frustrated with the ongoing scheme and would like to have seen the investment being made in a bypass. I appreciate that a bypass would probably require substantially more investment. Will the Minister commit to come to Ballykelly to…
I suppose that the same answer can be given to both questions. The transport plan will determine whether a bypass is still required around Ballykelly. I cannot give you a firm date as to when that transport plan will be delivered. We are working our way through those plans. They are quite staff intensive. A lot of…
I thank the Minister for his response. Minister, you will be aware that, over the past few years, there have been three road schemes on that route, which have caused many delays and detours. Given that it is 16 years since I attended the public consultation on the proposed A2 Ballykelly bypass, at a time when 16,000…
Our preferred route for a Ballykelly bypass was announced in 2010. However, in advance of any decision to prioritise the scheme, officials would need to undertake a reassessment of the route due to the passage of time. The estimate for the bypass that was compiled back in 2008 was in the range of £35 million to £40…
First, I would like to add my thanks to those of the Member to my staff who worked over the weekend dealing with Storm Ashley. I commend them for their work, whether they were working in the background providing information to the public or on the ground clearing up during the storm and after it passed. I do not know…
Minister, after Storm Ashley, I thank you and your Department for the quick clean-up of the seaweed and all the mess that was thrown onto the A20. I welcome the long-awaited road improvements near Teal Rocks, because it is an accident black spot. Shell grip has been removed from the road in that area. Will the…
Yes, and my thoughts go out to all those involved in that accident. Thankfully, there were not more serious injuries than those that did occur, and everyone will have a full recovery. I assure the Member that road safety is the priority for my Department. We will cooperate fully with the police investigation into that…
I thank the Minister for his answer. I look forward to the results of the assessment of the 40 mph extension. Minister, in light of the recent road accident involving a bus transporting children from Strangford College, will you reassure families that your Department is working to maximise safety on those rural links?
As the Minister responsible for promoting and improving road safety, I want, with partners, to actively reduce death and serious injuries on the roads. Following the Adjournment debate on 12 March 2024, I asked my officials to take forward a review of the A20 Portaferry Road from Newtownards to Teal Rocks to establish…
I remind Members that I provided them with a written ministerial statement as early as, I think, April or May, which outlined the challenges that Belfast would face as a result of the works that would have to be carried out as part of the public realm works for Belfast Grand Central Station. Members have been briefed…
Clearly, there are big projects that need to happen. I will touch on two projects that are happening — the maintenance at the Sydenham bypass and Belfast Grand Central Station — and on all the disruption associated with them. I support both those things happening — I am clearly a huge supporter of Grand Central — but…
I accept that the status quo is far from ideal. We need to make a significant investment in the York Street area and move forward with a project that benefits not only commuters who travel through the area but those who live in and do business in the area. That was the reason for the placemaking report. I am studying…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, do you accept that the delay in progressing the project causes serious environmental issues at various bottlenecks and economic delays for constituents in East Antrim in particular, and that it restricts the future and enhanced use of the Belfast-Derry and Belfast-Larne…
Major road schemes are an important part of the work that is delivered by my Department as it seeks to reduce journey times, increase reliability and improve road safety. In October 2022, I published a report on the placemaking and active travel review (PATR) of the scheme and asked my officials to carry out further…
It is clear that we have to provide a good surface for all road users. I suppose that that is often categorised as being simply motorists, but it is right and proper that we provide a surface for all road users, whether they are motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians or, as in this case, cyclists. I will endeavour to…
The Minister mentioned issues with structural maintenance across the road network. I ask the Minister for a bit more detail on what his proposals are for ensuring that the roads are of a quality that is safe for all users, specifically cyclists.
I thank the Member for the question. I have no doubt that, at some stage, we will move on to the roadworks that are going on around Belfast. Members will have noted that there has been increased activity on the ground, from DFI staff and contractors, to repair, renew and correct defects across the network. I welcome…
Minister, I welcome your Department's efforts to address structural maintenance priorities in my constituency of South Antrim, particularly in a number of rural locations. I remain deeply concerned, however, about the defects in the structural maintenance programme, not only in South Antrim but across the North more…
The Member raises a very good point about ensuring that my Department is using its budget to guarantee accessibility and inclusion for all citizens in our society. That is one of the key areas that I am bringing forward in the Department. I can assure the Member that I am acutely aware of the need to prioritise…