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.
Only yesterday, I got an email from the Department in relation to the lack of budget for dropped kerbs. How is the Department prioritising safe crossing points for people with disabilities or those who are using prams, and how will we see that reflected in investment in East Antrim?
My Department has been operating in a difficult financial environment for a number of years due to underfunding and austerity by successive British Governments. As a consequence, new maintenance regimes have been adopted that are commensurate to the levels of funding that are available to my Department. That,…
I have not engaged directly with the Communities Minister at this stage. As I said to one of your colleagues, however, we are at the start of this process rather than at the end of it. It will require legislative change, and consultation takes place, as part of any legislative journey, with fellow Ministers, other key…
Has the Minister engaged with the Minister for Communities regarding the cost consequences of this proposal and its potential negative cost impact on the provision of social housing?
The Member will be aware that developers pay a bond towards roads and other public services maintenance in areas. Before any bond is used to complete a site, however, I believe that it is only right and proper that my officials explore to the nth degree why a developer cannot do that themselves. In itself, the bond is…
Developers are saying that they already contribute. We have a number of unadopted sites in Northern Ireland, yet developers say that they have contributed in some way. Is the Minister working on anything to try to combat that?
The current obstacle is the legislation that we have available to us, which does not allow us to take contributions from developers in order to pay directly towards waste water treatment works. It is common practice that developers will pay for the separation of storm water and sewage and foul waste but, at the…
As I said in my answer, that will require legislative change, and part of that change will involve a consultation process where views can be aired and taken on board, whether from the point of view of the developer, the house purchaser or whoever it may be. The House will have to vote on the legislation. There are a…
Minister, what do you say to those who raised concerns with me recently that they fear that developer contributions to address our waste water system capacity risk creating a two-tier system for development and passing costs on to house buyers?
I recognise the current waste water capacity challenges and am taking a three-pronged approach to the matter. First, I continue to work with my Executive colleagues to ensure appropriate investment for NI Water. Secondly, I am introducing new legislation on sustainable urban drainage, which will help to store storm…
I am aware of it. As a constituency MLA, I am aware of the practice. It does not fall under the direct remit of my Department, but I am more than happy to go back and enquire of my departmental officials what role, if any, we can play. It is vital that drivers who use those schemes be treated fairly and equitably…
On parking schemes, Minister, are you aware of any tactics used by individual companies that are privately managed and privately run to get money out of people? There are several parking places in Cookstown that you drive into that have no signage or very small signage, and then you are fined £100 for a two-hour stay.…
I thank the Member for his question. As the Member rightly says, that long-awaited report will be published, and the Committee will have an opportunity to see it. It will set out the pathway for how we deliver future parking schemes, whether in Derry or elsewhere. While I am keen to move forward with as many schemes…
I look forward to reading the long-awaited report on Rugby Road, given that the development of any residents' parking scheme across the North has been contingent on the publication of that review's report. My Foyle colleague mentioned the Bogside parking scheme in Derry. Is the Minister aware that all our parking…
My Department is aware of the parking difficulties caused by commuter parking in the Bogside area in Derry. In 2011, work started on the development of a potential residents' parking scheme for that area. The scheme, known as the Rossville Street residents' parking scheme, was to cover an area of the city centre…
The first residents' parking scheme, on Rugby Road and College Park Avenue in Belfast, came into operation in April 2018. My Department has completed a review of the scheme and our wider approach to residents' parking. I am content with the findings of the report and have asked officials to arrange for the report to…
As I mentioned to Mr McNulty, a key piece of policy that has been passed by the Executive and will allow me to bring legislation to the House relates to sustainable urban drainage. That will be an exciting way forward in how we hold surface water and rainfall in certain areas and release it more slowly into the…
I have not had direct engagement with developers regarding Newry town centre specifically. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade. That was a useful and informative discussion with a cross-sectoral group of businesses and interests in the Newry area, and they highlighted their…
I thank the Minister for his answer. He will be aware that the water and waste water infrastructure is, increasingly, becoming a barrier to housing and commercial developments in Newry. Does he recognise that addressing those issues inadequately will impede the success of projects to develop and enhance Newry city…
My Department has provided NI Water with nearly £500 million of public money this year to enable it to deliver essential water and sewerage services for all areas, including Newry. NI Water has developed a strategic outline case to access the options for upgrading the Newry waste water treatment works. That project…